Fuss over pulling the plug on Russian TV channels was bigger than actual impact - Tet

  • 2021-02-08
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - The fuss over Tet telecommunications services provider's decision to end the broadcasting of nine Russian television channels was bigger than its actual impact on the company, Tet acting CEO Uldis Tatarcuks told journalists Monday. 

The Tet CEO made no secrets that the company lost some of its clients after the announcement that Tet is pulling the plug on PBK, NTV Mir, Ren TV Baltics, Kinokomediya and Kinomiks channels. 

"Obviously, clients' reactions were mixed, and of course, there were some who chose to terminate their agreements," said Tatarcuks. 

He indicated that Tet consulted with the Consumer Rights Protection Center (PTAC) to make sure clients' rights are not violated and stressed that Tet is working to win back the departed clients as soon as possible.

Tatarcuks repeatedly underlined that the decision to suspend the broadcasting of these Russian TV channels was based on legal considerations and concerns about a possible breach of the sanctions regime, not the content of these TV channels. Tet has difficulties establishing the authorized distributors of these channels, Tatarcuks explained. 

Previously, the TV channel's distributor in Latvia was Tem LV, a company owned by Baltijas Mediju Aloanse, whose co-owned Oleg Solodov is accused of violating international sanctions against Russia. 

Later, FoxVision, a company owned by Vadims Baranniks, expressed readiness to represent these Russian TV channels in Latvia.

Tet has currently suspended the broadcasting of PBK, NTV Mir, Ren TV Baltics, Kinokomediya and Kinomiks channels, replacing them with other TV channels.