• Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Columns
    • Chris Dziadul
    • Julian Clover
    • Robert Briel
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

Bulgaria’s bTV faces investigation

June 8, 2020 10.26 Europe/London By Chris Dziadul

The Bulgarian national commercial broadcaster bTV is to be investigated by the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) for allegedly unfair competition on the basis of contracts with the Bulgarian Sports Tote (BST).

Capital reports that this follows a complaint from its main competitor Nova TV claiming that bTV on the one hand sells part of its programming time to BST and broadcasts a hidden commercial message and on the other increases the commercial airtime on TV. This is currently limited to 12 minutes an hour by law but in practice often exceeded.

It is also alleged that for the past two years BST paid bTV a fee for broadcasting the TV show Sport Toto, which could also be considered a form of advertising.

Capital says that Nova decided to refer the matter to the CPC following the publication of photos of contracts between bTV Media Group and BST. They appeared in the title Blitz.

Significantly, this came at the same time as the main owner of the National Lottery published a memo from a meeting with one of the owners of Nova recording an advertising budget of BGN20 million (€10.2 million) a year, with the full support of the State Gambling Commission and in compliance with Bulgarian law.

bTV is currently owned by Central European Media Enterprises (CME), whose interests in CEE are in the process of being sold to PPF Group.

Meanwhile, Nova TV has been under new ownership since early last year, having previously been backed by Modern Times Group (MTG).

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Central & East Europe, Editor's Choice, Newsline, TV Tagged With: BST, bTV, Bulgaria, CPC, Nova Edited: 9 June 2020 10:10

About Chris Dziadul

Chris is our Central & East Europe Editor. You can talk to Chris on Twitter @chrisdziadul or by email at cdziadul@broadbandtvnews.com

Latest News

  • EBU details role in keeping Ukraine PSB on-air
  • NBCUniversal to close Olympic Channel
  • WOW streaming service to launch on Telekom’s Magenta
  • ducktv makes a splash on Ziggo
  • Serie A returns to MENA screens after new broadcast contract

Watch Video

Amino supporting RDK & Android platforms – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Julian Clover speaks to Amino's Jonny McKee about the company's transition towards standards platforms to support the launch of OTT services. Recorded at ANGA COM in Cologne. … [Watch Now ...]

EKT backing RDK – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Jill Mulder, VP Marketing, EKT discusses how viewing habits and the role of the operator is changing and why EKT now backing RDK, with Broadband TV News editor Julian Clover. … [Watch Now ...]

Free Ebook

eBook: Overcoming the Top 5 Challenges in Server-side IP Ad insertion

IP video is a game-changer for advertising. However, unlike traditional television, IP video is more dynamic, with new devices, formats, content and services to consider. … [Download the eBook...]

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Broadband TV News

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2022 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

 

Loading Comments...