chris dziadul chief east european analyst · chris dziadul chief east european analyst ....
TRANSCRIPT
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03/10/2013
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Chris Dziadul Chief East European Analyst
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03/10/2013
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} Dynamic and competitive digital TV market, but beset by problems
} Some of these problems (e.g. DTT mux licence dispute with EC) have international dimension
} Others are local, between leading market players
} Piracy a major issue } High pay-TV penetration } Broadband leadership
} 3m households, of which between 2-2.5m receive pay-TV services
} Top three pay-TV companies together have 1.5m subs: Bulsatcom (DTH) 900,000; Blizoo (cable) 400,000; Vivacom (DTH) 200,000
} M-Tel (IPTV) has 60,000 subs, other players a combined total of 500,000
} DTH market growing, cable TV contracting, IPTV still in infancy (total:
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} bTV and Nova TV: Bulgaria’s two leading commercial broadcasters, backed by CME and MTG respectively. Both have a portfolio of channels
} BNT: national public broadcaster } TV7: commercial station
} Tough for the industry: TV ad market shrunk by 30-40% between 2008-12
} Underlying problems still exist between programmers and distributors following recent Bulsatcom/bTV and TV7 carriage dispute
} Subscription fees very low, holding back market growth
} VOD, OTT (HBO Go, Voyo) services exist, but still early days
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} Analogue switch off completed September 30, but country not 100% ready
} Dispute with EC still ongoing. How serious is it?
} Piracy a big issue: Zamunda and Arana most popular sites. Are the main studios taking it seriously enough?
} Market in a state of flux, especially DTH sector (closure of Satellite BG in June)
} Blizoo is up for sale. Currently owned by Swedish investment group EQT and likely to attract a lot of interest
} Neterra/Telenor Satellite Broadcasting cooperation: huge potential to impact on Bulgarian market
} General uncertainty in the digital TV marketplace
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} Many of the problems currently seen in Bulgaria are also being experienced in other CEE markets, especially in the Balkan region
} There is still strong interest in Bulgaria by outside investors. Leading players such as CME and MTG, along with Telekom Austria, look committed to the country
} Growth will start to pick up when the economic situation improves. However, that could still be some time off.
Chris Dziadul [email protected]