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Since the beginning of 2013 the bTV Media Group EAD decision-makers have decided to broadcast by means of the digital network one of its programmes, namely bTV Lady+1, and further in October 2013 another of its programmes, namely Ring.bg+1. ‘+1’ means that the TV programme shall be broadcast free-to-air one hour later than the broadcasting in the paid distributors. At its meeting of 25 March 2014, the съвет за електронни медии (Council for Electronic Media - CEM) agreed to hear the Media Group EAD decision-makers with regard to their request to withdraw from terrestrial digital distribution its...

On 28 February 2014, the Bulgarian parliament approved the amendments to the Copyright and Related Rights Act, which were proposed by the Council of Ministers in August 2013. The final text of the law was published on 8 March 2014 in State Gazette issue 21/2014. The main purpose of the bill was the transposition of Directive 2011/77/EU amending Directive 2006/116/EC on the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights. During the discussions in the Parliament, many other amendments to the Act were proposed by the collective management societies and the artists which delayed the work...

Neterra EOOD (hereinafter ‘Neterra’) has brought proceedings before the Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition (hereinafter ‘the Commission’) asserting that a breach of the Bulgarian Law on Protection of Competition (hereinafter ‘the Law’) has been committed by bTV Media Group EAD (hereinafter ‘bTV’). It is contended that this breach is in the form of ungrounded refusal of bTV to provide services aimed to hinder the activities of Neterra as well as in the application of different conditions with regard to the same types of contracts and with regard to particular partners whereupon these...

In January 2014, the Bulgarian Act on the Economic and Financial Relations with Companies Registered in Preferential Tax Regime Jurisdictions, the Persons Related to Them and Their Beneficial Owner (or as it has become well-known by its short title Act on Offshore Companies, the “Act”) was promulgated in the State Gazette, issue No. 1 of 3 January 2014. Article 3 point 20 of the Act provides that companies, which are registered in preferential tax regime jurisdictions, or any person related thereto shall be prohibited from establishing or acquiring direct or indirect shareholding in a legal person...

The State budget subsidy for the national public service media provider, Bulgarian National Television (‘BNT’), has been reduced by nearly BGN 5 million (EUR 2.5 million) for 2014 as compared to 2013 figures. In 2014, BNT shall receive BGN 65.15 million from the State as compared to the sum of BGN 70.13 million in 2013. Under point 3 of Article 70 (3) of the Radio and Television Act (‘RTA’) the budget of the public television is funded by means of a State budget subsidy. The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament have passed in plenary session the reduced amount of the BNT State funding notwithstanding...