Cyfrowy Polsat facing $34m fine

Poland’s Cyfrowy Polsat is facing an official fine of Zlotys 110m ($33.7m) from the country’s consumer watchdog.

Poland’s Consumer & Competition Protection Office (UOKiK) is considering levying a Zloty 110m fine against DTH broadcaster Cyfrowy Polsat. "During the proceedings we have collected evidence which proves that Cyfrowy Polsat took advantage of its dominant position on the market forcing contractors to sign package deals," said the head of UOKiK Ma?gorzata Krasnod?bska-Tomkiel, according to Warsaw’s Business Journal.

The investigation centres on Cyfrowy Polsat allowing public broadcasting of Euro2008 football matches under the condition that consumers purchase the digital platform's decoder. Tomkiel added that if the court upholds the charges then the company can be punished by a fine reaching 10% of its last year's revenues. In 2008 the company generated revenues of z?.1.1bn. The investigation is likely to last for 5 months.