Economy
RTL Group moves Hungarian cable channels to Luxembourg
The following cable channels will be operating under RTL Group’s Luxembourg-based subsidiary CLT-UFA:
RTL Group acquired seven Hungarian-language cable channels in 2011, which have been operating under the jurisdiction of the Romanian media authority, with the exception of Muzsika TV.
“Having reassessed the unfavourable economic situation in Hungary we have decided to make the operation of our cable portfolio more cost efficient and move the televisions to Luxembourg where we have an appropriate infrastructure and crew," the group told index.hu in an emailed statement.
It added that RTL Group and Luxembourg have enjoyed a good relationship for long years and several channels of the group, e.g. the Dutch and Belgian broadcasters, have been operating with Luxembourg licences for a long time.
“Therefore this measure is not new and not even unusual from the pan-European RTL Group, and it is compliant with every EU law and regulation."
The group also said that “payment of the advertising tax in Hungary will not be affected in any sense by the restructuring."
Critics and RTL also claims Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's cabinet is specifically targeting RTL Klub with a new advertising tax payable on revenues (not on profits!), especially its highest rate, which has recently been raised to 50% from 40%. The group has turned to the European Court of Justice over the levy.
German newspaper Handelsbatt has just reported that Orbán appears to be in a more conciliatory spirit than before and, citing Orbán’s words, it said that sooner or later an individual solution for the problems of the media sector can be possible, just like in the case of energy and telecom companies.
- Cool TV
- Film+
- Film+2
- RTL+
- Sorozat+
- Muzsika TV
RTL Group acquired seven Hungarian-language cable channels in 2011, which have been operating under the jurisdiction of the Romanian media authority, with the exception of Muzsika TV.
“Having reassessed the unfavourable economic situation in Hungary we have decided to make the operation of our cable portfolio more cost efficient and move the televisions to Luxembourg where we have an appropriate infrastructure and crew," the group told index.hu in an emailed statement.
It added that RTL Group and Luxembourg have enjoyed a good relationship for long years and several channels of the group, e.g. the Dutch and Belgian broadcasters, have been operating with Luxembourg licences for a long time.
“Therefore this measure is not new and not even unusual from the pan-European RTL Group, and it is compliant with every EU law and regulation."
The group also said that “payment of the advertising tax in Hungary will not be affected in any sense by the restructuring."
Critics and RTL also claims Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's cabinet is specifically targeting RTL Klub with a new advertising tax payable on revenues (not on profits!), especially its highest rate, which has recently been raised to 50% from 40%. The group has turned to the European Court of Justice over the levy.
German newspaper Handelsbatt has just reported that Orbán appears to be in a more conciliatory spirit than before and, citing Orbán’s words, it said that sooner or later an individual solution for the problems of the media sector can be possible, just like in the case of energy and telecom companies.
