The Czech Republic’s Digi CZ aims to eventually have 200,000 subscribers, or roughly the same number as the incumbent O2, for its IPTV services.
However, speaking to E15, its director Vladimir Rusnak said that while “definitely real”, this was its medium-term target.
The company does not want to go in the direction of giving its services away for free, as has been done before, prefering instead to explain that its offer has value, quality and must therefore cost money.
Digi CZ is owned by Lama Energy Group, which entered the Czech DTH market in spring lasty year when it bought RCS&RDS’s assets in the country. Its internet TV service was launched in autumn this year.
Rusnak spoke about the growth potential for pay-TV services, with penetration in the Czech Republic currently standing at roughly 45-55%, compared to 95% in Slovakia and 97% in Hungary.
He also said the company held an advantage over O2 in sport, holding the exclusive rights to the Premier League.
More generally, he said that the company believed in linking its satellite and internet offers. Its next step would be the long-term improvement of its programme structures.