Cabovisão not paying content suppliers?
May 16, 2012
From Branislav Pekic in Rome
Portuguese cable TV operator Cabovisão is allegedly not paying its content providers, especially suppliers of news and thematic channels, according to local media reports.
Although the operator has not commented on this subject, the financial situation of Cabovisão has been in the news in recent weeks. The same sources admit that this interruption in payments could be a strategy to lower prices.
With 256,000 subs at the end of 2011, according to Portuguese telecommunications regulator Anacom, Cabovisão is the third biggest pay-TV platform in Portugal, only surpassed by Zon TV Cabo and Portugal Telecom’s Meo.
Last March, Canadian cable operator Cogeco sold Cabovisão to European group Altice for $ 59 million, after accepting a write down on the value of its $ 660 million investment in Portugal.