Swiss operator Sunrise UPC plans to cut its number of TV platforms to one following its merger and the introduction of a new rule on TV ads in Switzerland, CEO Andre Krause said in an interview with the AWP news agency. Sunrise UPC has decided to operate only one TV platform in the future because of, among other things, changes to the Common Tariff 12 (GT12), which regulates the compensation paid to TV broadcasters for time-shifted TV from next year.
Last year TV broadcasters, telecom companies and collecting societies agreed a compromise on time-shift television. The stumbling block was the possibility for viewers to avoid ads on replay TV. The advertising industry and TV broadcasters complained about the measure and a loss of income, as compensation for the time-shifted TV from the telecommunications providers was considered low. Therefore from next year viewers will either be forced to watch ad clips of just under two minutes to avoid blocks of ads, in order to then reply content, or face extra charges.
It is unclear how Swisscom and Sunrise will implement the new rule and the prices to pay for customers. Companies will table different offerings, according to Krause. Technically, the implementation of the new GT12 is highly complex, he said.
