Near neighbours Romania and Slovakia are in many respects at opposite ends of the region’s TV industry spectrum. While the former is generally acknowledged to be a dynamic market attractive to foreign investors, the latter is resolutely low-key and at times feels cut off from the mainstream. These perceptions have to some degree been borne […]
Chris Dziadul Reports: Deal or no deal?
Chris Dziadul looks at proposed, completed and doubtful deals across the region The news that Russia’s Sistema may be about to buy into one of Western Europe’s most powerful multimedia companies should come as no surprise. Securing even a minority stake in Telecom Italia, which is valued at around $60 billion (€46.3 billion) and has […]
Chris Dziadul Reports: Acting by instinct
Central and Eastern Europe was until recently quite low down in News Corp.’s list of priorities. Russia, certainly, wetted the appetite, and a foothold of sorts had been established in the Balkans through the Bulgarian national commercial station bTV. But for the region as a whole, investing in the TV industry was largely out of […]
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 […]