Currently a hot case in Slovenia concerns the telecommunications sector and the concentration between Slovenia Broadband (Luxembourg), Proplus (Slovenia) and Nova TV (Croatia). Slovenia Broadband is part of the United Group originating back to 2007, when it was founded through the combination of SBB and Telemach Slovenia, providing all telecommunication services in one household and largest alternative pay TV platform in the region of former Yugoslavia. The content and advertising sales business is represented by United Media providing top pay TV channels in the region (sports, news, entertainment, movies, kids). Proplus is an umbrella company comprising top viewed TV channels in Slovenia, namely Pop TV, Kanal A, Kino and Brio.
As the Slovenian competition authority has concerns that the concentration could have a negative impact on the wholesale and retail markets of supply of TV channels and advertising markets, Slovenia Broadband proposed remedies, which comprise of (i) maintaining separate undertakings for five years, separate management and editorial policy for all Pro Plus channels; (ii) divestiture of certain business (kids TV channels); (iii) remedies relating to advertising policies; and (iv) no changes in the access to Proplus TV channels (no changes to licensing agreements).
The competition authority is currently carrying out a market test of the proposed remedies.
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