Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has begun to investigate the terms and conditions under which rebroadcasting rights are granted to operatotrs in the country.
Quoting UOKiK, Wirtualne Media reports that this follows numerous indications about irregularities, adding that it may initiate antimonopoly proceedings against individual entrepreneurs if they have been found to restrict competion. This could result in them being fined up to 10% of their revenues.
The UOKiK also says that it will also check for limitations imposed on operators imposed by broadcasters, such as limiting their freedom to decided on placing a channel in a basic or premium package.
In addition, it will examine possible price differentaition by broadcasters for channels and channel packages.
As previously reported by Broadband TV News, Telewizja Polsat’s decision to raise the distribution fees for its channels has been criticised by the Polish Association of Electronic Media and Telecommunications Employers (Mediakom).