The Ukrainian regulator National Council has provided a detailed explanation as to why it has so far not added Viasat World’s TV channels to the list of foreign services allowed to be distributed in the country.
Having received many requests for their inclusion from various bodies and organisations, it analysed a significant number of documents and materials, including from open sources, in order to provide this explanation.
Broadband TV News notes that among those it approached was the UK regulator Ofcom. The Ukrainian regulator concluded that the ultimate owner of Viasat World was Baring Vostok Manager Holding Limited, registered offshore in Guernsey, but with close links to Russia. Indeed, it also received 47% of its total income from Russia.
National Council said that on February 10 this year it received a letter from Viasat World “which reported on the process of significant corporate and operational changes, including regarding Viasat Ukraine”.
It added that it informed Viasat World that after the completion of all processes it will consider the issue of adding its TV channels to the list of foreign services allowed to be distributed in Ukraine.
In conclusion, National Council said: “In view of all the information presented, we urge providers and OTT platforms not to spread manipulation and populism, but to direct their resources to find and attract to the Ukrainian market quality and clean TV channels to replace those mentioned above”.
The detailed explanation, in Ukrainian, can be found on this link.
