Austrian public broadcaster ORF’s technical service provider subsidiary ORS is buying the terrestrial TV and radio transmitter network of Bulgarian telco Bulgarian Telecommunications Company, enabling the company to compete at an international level. With more than 80 transmitters, the network, for which ORS is reported to have paid €80 million, provides almost complete coverage of Bulgaria. The network, which is suitable for TV, radio, voice and data transmissions, also includes a satellite teleport.
ORS wants to upgrade the network, which until now has been mainly used for analogue radio and television distribution, for digital transmissions, utilising its experiences gained through the introduction of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in Austria.
Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank, which currently owns 40% of ORS, plans to increase its stake next year to between 75 – 80%. This will provide a welcome cash injection to financially struggling ORF, which currently holds 60% in ORS.
(Source: Rapid TV News via Creative Commons Licence)
on Dec 7th, 2008 at 05:20
Surprising that there has been no details of this in Austria.
on Dec 7th, 2008 at 13:20
ORS has issued a press release about this purchase:
http://www.ors.at/view08/ors.php?mid=131
on Dec 13th, 2008 at 14:11
Der Standard, Dec 8:
The Bulgarian Minister of Transport is surprised about this planned sale, says he has not been informed yet. Will demand official informations, then decide about the further proceedings. It depends on the conditions of the deal and the plans of ORS for the Bulgarian transmission network if he will intervene.
http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1227288104971
See also the earlier Standard reports:
http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1227287719725
http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1226396626519