The Hungarian regulator NMHH has imposed a fine of HUF10 million (€26,328) on Canal+ Luxembourg, which operates the DTH service Direct One.
In a statement, it says that it took the action last year because the company “failed to amend the (general terms and conditions) regarding the composition of the broadcasting package and omitted the essential elements of the related subscription notification.
“In addition, in the now closed procedure, the authority ordered the service provider to repay about HUF1.5 million due to the “penalty” charged to the subscribers. Subscribers were not provided with adequate information during the notice of the change and were therefore unable to exercise their right to terminate without legal consequences, as the service provider discontinued the distribution of many TV channels in such a way that subscribers could not detect this subsequent change at the time of termination”.
NMHH says that the ament affected more than 200,000 subscribers and “the service provider is obliged to repay a total of more than HUF1.5 million to the approximately 100 subscribers who have terminated their contracts after the 45-day deadline”.
It also says that the sanctions have been set under previous rules, as the violations took place before new regulations came into force on June 30 last year. Under the new provisions, service providers already have more freedom to amend contracts unilaterally. In contrast, subscribers can terminate a contract that has become unfavourable to them within 45 days without legal consequences, but also in the event of any substantive change.
