Romania’s TV market has changed beyond all recognition in recent years but still remains one of the most dynamic in the Balkan region, indeed CEE as a whole.
On February 13 Broadband TV News returns to the country to host its latest business briefing, organised jointly with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting. Don’t be fooled by the title of the event: Digital TV broadcasting in Romania may sound rather vague, but there is so much going on in the market we felt it would be wrong to focus on one specific issue.
Take the DTH sector. In the space of a couple of years we have seen the market consolidate from five to three platforms and then grow to five again with the launch of Orange TV and Freesat. How are the latter now doing? Is this situation sustainable?
Then there is the simple matter of the three leading providers of electronic communications services in Romania: RCS&RDS, Romtelecom and UPC. What is the state of play at each and what are their plans and prospects for the future?
RCS&RDS, we know, has exited two other countries in CEE in the last year and is now quite focused on its home market. It is also launching more proprietary channels. Romtelecom, on the other hand, is in the process of merging with Cosmote, while UPC’s cable and DTH operations are more than holding their own in what is a highly competitive market.
It is also a market that is finally preparing to see the launch of DTT services, much later than that in most other countries in CEE. Given the large size of both the cable and DTH sectors – the former, in particular, is growing both in terms of subscriber numbers and turnover – will DTT have any meaningful role to play?
Also up for discussion will be such issues as must-carry and the rollout of advanced services, to name but two.
The business briefing will take place at the Marriott Hotel in Bucharest, between 4-6pm, on Thursday, February 13. Entrance will be free but requires registration.
For further details, including a list of confirmed speakers/panelists, which is continually being updated, and to register, please click on this link.
