‘Common Front’ Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova-Wind for 10% fee on pay-TV

By Fotis Fotinos

In some they “disagree”, in some they “unite”. “Common Front” recommend COSMOTE, VODAFONE and NOVA – WIND for the 10% fee on pay-TV.

The 3 companies are estimated to submit a request to the co-responsible ministries, either for a new suspension of the 10% fee on pay-TV, or its application to all digital platforms.

The imposition of a fee on pay-TV in favor of the Greek state was instituted in 2016, under the name “end to pay-TV”.

This charges subscribers to 10% of the total monthly bill of each subscription, including the flat fee charged to the business before value added tax.

This fee was suspended by law 4728/2020 for the period from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021 and thereafter until 30 June 2022.

The purpose of the suspension of the levy was to reduce the total burden on the accounts of final consumers, in the context of the provision of subscription services during the pandemic period.

Now, the Greek government is called upon to make an important decision: Either the lifting of the suspension, opera and means a 10% increase in pay-TV bills, or a new extension of its suspension.

The lifting of the suspension of the levy may be an “unpleasant” development for the consumer, but a “pleasant” one for the public coffers.

This is because COSMOTE, VODAFONE and WIND – NOVA are estimated to have more than 1.1 million subscribers.

On the other hand, if the suspension of the fee is lifted, then the telecommunications companies COSMOTE, VODAFONE and NOVA – WIND are expected to “strongly pressure” the government to impose it on all digital platforms (NETFLIX, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Disney +, etc.).

It is indicative that, only NETFLIX, is estimated to have 500,000 subscribers in Greece.