The president of Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has asked Cyfrowy Polsat and Telewizja Polsat to provide information about their activities with respect to the transmission of Euro 2016.
In a statement, the Office says that among the issues raised are the quality of the internet signal, switching off of channels on which matches could be viewed free of charge and the rates charged for the option of showing matches publicly.
It adds that it has received complaints concerning relationships with both consumers and firms that wish to show matches to the public.
Most of them refer to the quality of transmission of the ipla on demand service.
Cyfrowy Polsat offers paid access to two channels which are showing all the matches in HD. Consumers have been pointing out, however, that the transmission provided is of lower resolution or is frequently interrupted. Viewers are saying that the company has not been responding to complaints submitted via the helpline or by e-mail. UOKiK has therefore asked Cyfrowy Polsat among other things how it intends to compensate for inadequate service. In the Office’s view, customers should at least receive refunds.
UOKiK also says it has received information that Cyfrowy Polsat might have removed two channels which are in German – ZDF and Das Erste, from the list of channels that are publicly available. These channels were showing Euro 2016 matches, broadcast using an open signal that can be received free of charge by anyone who has the appropriate receiver.
The Office is also looking into whether Cyfrowy Polsat has been misleading consumers by informing them that having a complete range of Cyfrowy Polsat sports channels will mean free access to transmission of all of the matches during the championship.
In addition, the Office asked Telewizja Polsat about the conditions of offers for public showing of transmissions during the championship. Among other things, UOKIK is reviewing the manner in which fees for towns and cities that wanted to allow residents to watch transmissions in fan zones are calculated.
UOKiK says that it may fine the company a maximum of 10% of its turnover in the preceding year should it decide that unlawful practices occurred. It may also required customers to be reimbursed.
It concludes by saying that it also acted against Cyfrowy Polsat over transmissions of Euro 2008.
