Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has asked the owners of the largest electronics stores and online sales platforms not to take advantage of the transition to DVB-T2 by raising the cost of equipment.
In a statement, it notes that some 2.27 million households still do not have TV sets adapted to receive DVB-T2, which will be the sole broadcasting standard for terrestrial service from July 1. Over half (56%) are single person households, and over 40% of the occupiers being over 70 and 81% over 50.
According to Tomasz Chróstny, the president of UOKiK, “Many people are already looking for a new TV set or set-top box, which will allow them to watch new generation TV in a better standard. Increased demand may create a temptation to unjustified price increases for these products. That is why I have appealed to the owners of electronics stores to shape the pricing policy of terrestrial television equipment in the spirit of corporate social responsibility. I asked the owners of the largest online sales platforms to do the same. I asked them to react to unfair offers”.
The appeal has been sent to Euro-net, Media Saturn Online, Terg, Neonet, Morele.net, Allegro and Ceneo.
UOKiK notes that disadvantaged people will be able to buy DVB-T2 equipment subsidised by the government.
