Competition Protection Commission Fines Cable Services Provider BGN 900 000

Bulgaria's Competition Protection Commission (CPC) imposed a fine of BGN 887 260 to the communications and television provider Blizoo.

The sum, which equals 1% of the company's net income for 2013, is a penalty for an unscrupulous trade practice and potential infringement of the interests of the competition and the consumers.

The sanction came after a consumer complained that in 2012 Blizoo offered him a promotional package with extra sports channels with a 12 or 18-month contract, but six months into the contract terminated the broadcast of said channels, without notifying him.

At the same time the operator launched a new promotional package with the same sports channels, but for an extra sum.

"Thus the subscribers who were already bound by a contract for a package of TV channels, including the additional sports ones, had to pay extra, if they wanted to keep them," the CPC noted in its statement.