Netwizor, the operator of the Polish streaming service WP Pilot, is facing the prospect of being fined up to 10% of its turnover.
According to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), WP Pilot promised to show all the matches featuring the Polish footballer Robert Lewandowski after he had signed for LaLiga side Barcelona. Consumers interested in the games bought access to the Eleven Sports channels offered by WP Pilot only to find that some were unavailable.
Tomasz Chrostny, the president of UOKiK, said: “Access to specific sports events – broadcasts of matches of a given football league or performances of a specific player, are crucial for many viewers when choosing an entrepreneur’s offer and deciding to purchase its services. Advertising using the context of specific competitions and the participation of specific sportsmen must not omit important information. Consumers have the right to expect advertising slogans to be accurate and not misleading. In the case of the WP Pilot offer, they could expect that if they buy access to Eleven Sports channels, they will not miss any match”.
Besides the prospect of a fine, the proceedings currently being undertaken by UOKiK may also result in WP Pilot being required to compensate consumers for losses they have incurred.
The President of UOKiK also does not rule out further steps against Eleven Sports in connection with the possibility of misleading fans. The collected evidence, including consumer complaints in this case, is being analysed in the course of the investigation.
