Orange, a Slovakian telecom operator, has stopped broadcasting several Czech TV channels, including Prima Cool, Prima Zoom, Prima Max, Prima Krimi, Prima Love, Prima Star, CT Sport, and CT Art/:D, to its subscribers in Slovakia. The move comes in response to a call by Markiza and Joj, the country’s leading commercial broadcasters, to prevent the distribution of Czech channels when they are showing films and series for which they own the rights in Slovakia. The decision is attributed to licensing conditions. Although CNN Prima News can be officially broadcast in Slovakia, Orange has removed the channel from its line-up. Orange is the first operator to respond to the broadcasters’ call, but rather than blocking the Czech channels during certain times, it has opted to stop them entirely.

The bilateral relation between the Czech Republic and Slovakia is generally strong, with the two nations sharing similarities in culture and language, and enjoying significant cross-border cooperation in various domains. However, the TV channel dispute highlights the complexities of media regulation and intellectual property rights.

TV broadcasting rights are typically specific to particular regions and countries, and the sale and distribution of these rights can be complicated. In Slovakia, for example, rights to some Czech TV shows and films are licensed separately from their rights in the Czech Republic. Therefore, when a Slovakian TV operator broadcasts a Czech show without the proper license, it could be infringing on the rights of the rightful license holder. As a result, broadcasters such as Markiza and Joj are seeking to ensure that Czech channels are not shown during times when they have rights to certain shows or films in Slovakia.

Orange’s decision to block the Czech channels entirely is likely to have significant consequences for subscribers, as the channels were popular and offered a range of entertainment, sports, and news content. Some subscribers may choose to switch to other providers that offer the blocked channels. However, Orange’s move may encourage other telecom operators to comply with the broadcasters’ call to avoid legal disputes.

In conclusion, the dispute over the distribution of Czech TV channels in Slovakia underscores the complexities of media regulation and intellectual property rights. It also highlights the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and licensing agreements in cross-border operations.

Article by Prague Forum