Licences for electronic media are to be issued by the Broadcasting Council of Macedonia from May 2007, replacing a system of concessions provided by the government. The change is in line with the current broadcasting law, which came into effect in November 2005, and effectively grants the Council independence. A new law currently being drafted […]
GfK secures Romanian contract
According to Media Express (www.mediaexpres.ro), GfK Romania has been chosen to measure Romanian TV audiences for four years starting from January 2008. The deal, which is worth €7.9 million, follows an auction in which the German-backed company beat off competition from TNS AGB International and Czech-owned Media Research. Separately, the Romanian cable company RCS/RDS has […]
New Moldovan satellite channel
The Moldovan public broadcaster Teleradio-Moldova has launched the country’s first satellite channel. Initially offering news bulletins, Moldova International TV Channel (MITV) is distributed by Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees East and targets viewers in Europe, Western Russia, the Middle East, North Africa and Madagascar. Its start up costs, which are provided by the government, have […]
Czech TV revenues grow
The Czech public broadcaster CT has announced that its revenues are likely to reach CZK6.46 billion (€233.3 million) in 2007. With advertising on the station being gradually phased out, the income from commercials will be down to some CZK724 million from last year’s CZK1.050 billion. Revenues from receiver licence fees will meanwhile grow, boosted by […]
Hungary’s HTCC buys Invitel
Consolidation in the Hungarian telecom marketplace is gathering momentum, with the latest deal seeing Hungarian Telephone and Cable Corp. (HTCC) acquire Invitel from American International Group and GMT Communication Partners for €470 million. It is now expected that HTCC, which is 63% owned by Denmark’s TDC, will be able to compete more effectively with the […]
Record valuation for MTS
Russia’s leading mobile operator MTS has been valued at over $20 billion (€15.4 billion), making it the most lucrative telecom company in the country. However, the figure, which was valid as of the beginning of last month, is still considerably below the target set by Sistema, its majority (53%) owner. Data produced by Advanced Communications […]
Chris Dziadul Reports: Changes ahead for Central Europe
The New Year has begun with important developments in Poland and the Czech Republic, two of the region’s most dynamic markets. In the former, the incumbent telco TPSA is in bullish mood about the future prospects of its recently launched triple play service multipakiet tp. It includes VOD and Cyfra+ and can already be received […]
Nortel/Telefonica cooperate
Nortel and Telefónica O2 Czech Republic have demonstrated Europe’s first CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev A call in the telco’s network in the 450MHz radio spectrum. It should pave the way for Telefónica O2 Czech Republic to deliver more IP wireless services and support real-time access to such services as mobile TV. (CD)
Magyar Telekom consolidates
Magyar Telekom has acquired 2% of T-Systems Hungary, thereby raising its stake in the business services company to 51%. It is the intention of the Deutsche Telekom backed telco to become the sole owner of T-Systems Hungary, which is currently also backed by T-Systems Enterprise Services, by the end of the year. Separately, local reports […]
Teo LT to buy Mikrovisatos
The Lithuanian incumbent telco Teo LT has signed a letter of intent to acquire a 100% stake in the MMDS company Mikrovisatos TV for an unspecified fee. Teo LT, along with AB and the Lithuanian Radio and TV Centre, was awarded a DTT licence by the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) in 2005. At the same […]