Slovak cable and IPTV operators may be forced to significantly increase their subscription fees from the beginning of 2017.
Quoting a statement from Robert Tavoda, the president of the cable association APKT, Medialne and Parabola report that this will be due to plans by Markiza and Joj, the country’s two leading commercial broadcasters, to start charging for the distribution of their channels.
Given that operators’ only source of income is from their customers, they will have no alternative but to raise subscriptions fees by over €2 a month or to stop carrying the channels. The latter include a number of thematic channels and their exclusion would be to the detriment of viewers.
In response, Markiza said it will not comment publicly on negotiations with platforms, adding that it had signalled its intention to introduce charges, which are due to come into effect in January, three years ago.
APKT has 22 members including UPC, the country’s leading cable operator.
In its view, the planned charges, initially for HD services, are excessive.
