Slovakia’s TV industry is exceptional, even by Central and East European standards.
Serving a population of around 5.4 million, it has in recent years developed into one of the most interesting in the region. Furthermore, whilst having close links with the one in the Czech Republic, it also has a number of unique features.
Perhaps the most important of these is the diverse nature of its pay-TV market, with cable, DTH and IPTV all well represented. And unlike the Czech Republic, terrestrial TV remains somewhat on the sidelines despite boasting a pay platform and currently undergoing the transition to DVB-T2.
Broadband TV News held its first business briefing in the country in May 2015, when the hot topic of discussion was the introduction of HD services and plans by some broadcasters to charge for their distribution. Nearly two and a half years later – as is always the case in our fast-moving industry – there are several other issues occupying the minds of those involved in the country’s TV market.
Readers of Broadband TV News will be aware that one of the most contentious of these in recent months has been increased carriage fees and how this has pitted cable operators against commercial broadcasters such as Markiza and JOJ.
However, there are many others, including technological developments such as the trialling of 4K services, and competition in general, which is placing growing pressure on providers of pay-TV services.
It is with this in mind that Broadband TV News will be returning to Slovakia in October to hold another briefing. Organised jointly with SES, it will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Bratislava on Thursday, October 26, between 4pm-6pm, and take a somewhat different format to previous events held by our company. Focused on debating the issues that really matter, it will be largely given over two panel discussions in which leading industry stakeholders will be represented.
Registrations for this must-attend event are now open. To make sure of your free place, and for further information about the event, please click on this link.
We look forward to seeing you in Bratislava on October 26.
