Romtelecom replaces Pro TV channels as talks fail

Romanian pay TV provider Romtelecom has failed to strike a deal with commercial broadcaster Pro TV and will cease broadcasting the latter’s channels on its satellite TV network from today.

Romtelecom blamed Pro TV’s “unreasonable financial demands” for the decision. The operator said that Pro TV had asked for three times the amount previously paid for carriage of its 11 channels – Pro TV, Pro TV International, Pro TV HD, Acasă TV, Acasă Gold, Acasă HD, ProCinema, Sport.ro, Sport.ro HD, MTV Romania and VH1 – and that negotiations between the pair had broken down.

Romtelecom said that it had offered Pro TV the option if creating a separate package for its channels and making them available at a higher price, but that this option had been declined.

Romtelecom is replacing Pro TV’s channels with a range of services including HBO, HBO Comedy, BBC Knowledge, Comedy Central, Shorts, BBC World News, France 24, MTV Hits and Mooz Hits, and HD services Eurosport 1 HD and Shorts HD.

Pro TV’s channels will continue to be available via Romtelecom’s cable and IPTV networks, where they enjoy must-carry status, and via the network of Romtelecom subsidiary NextGen.

Romtelecom said it would continue to try to strike a deal with Pro TV.