UKE to shake up the television industry

The multi-billion złoty television broadcast market is likely to be opened up to greater competition by the Electronic Communication Office (UKE). The market is currently dominated by three players - public television TVP, TVN and Polsat.

Later this month UKE will also announce a tender for mobile television, as "the announcement should be made within 7-10 days," said Anna Streżyńska, president of the office.

The tender is causing much dispute due to doubts over whether mobile television is still television or telecommunication. "Our remarks come down to the fact that we believe that mobile television should be regarded as television broadcasting with all related consequences," said Andrzej Zarębski, chairman of Polish Television Operator (POT) supervisory board, a company of TVN and Polsat.

Streżyńska said, "the terms of the broadcasters are an attempt at market appropriation. The tender can be carried out in an open way, while the entrance of a new operator might result with an expansion of the content on offer."

There are rumors that the broadcasters will use the favorable opinion of the National Radio and Television Council (KRRiTV) to question the legality of the tender. This is just a small battle before the real war for analogue television that will begin with announcing a tender for multimedia television.