Lucic: The suspension of Arena Sport in Kosovo is an overly strict decision, and we expect a swift return of our sports channels

The Arena Sport program should return to the offer of cable operators in Kosovo by the end of October. We expect the understanding of cable operators following the recent decision to suspend broadcasting because it is in the interest of all users to have quality sports content, Vladimir Lucic, the CEO of Telekom Srbija, said in an interview with Kosovo Online. He emphasized that it was crucial for Telekom to continue providing essential television, internet, and mobile phone services for 30,000 Serbian households in Kosovo.

The recent decision by the Kosovo Commission requested independent media to cease broadcasting Arena Sport channels, citing that certain content on those channels violated regulations and compromised security. How does this explanation appear to you?

Arena is our subsidiary company that has been successfully operating in Kosovo and Metohija for several years, and we have been an integral part of the offerings of all cable operators. We believe that this decision is extremely strict because it did not take into account the years of trouble-free operation there, and in fact, it concerns a commercial spot dedicated to Banjska. Besides thinking that it is overly strict, we believe that all regulations in the entire region should have a special approach to understanding and transparency towards the media. Let me provide an example. In the territory of Serbia excluding Kosovo, we broadcast a range of Albanian channels where the Albanian population resides. We also broadcast Sarajevo and Croatian channels, and we have never blacked them out in our history, nor has our regulator made decisions based on any grounds.                                     

We operate as a cable operator in six countries, and this is the first decision of this type across the entire former Yugoslavia region. We are now working intensively to bring back our sports content, taking into account that we have been operating in Kosovo for years without any problems and that there is significant interest from users in the entire territory to watch our channels. I can exclusively announce that we plan to launch new sports channels, four of them, and we are intensifying their launch. I hope that by the end of October, we will have restored all our sports content in Kosovo through these four channels, and I am completely confident in a peaceful resolution to this issue. As I mentioned, we have been operating there for several years, and there is great interest from both cable operators and users to have us as a provider of sports content.

Is the decision to stop broadcasting Arena Sport channels in Kosovo time-limited?

Until the next decision. We are already preparing an appeal, and we believe that we have enough arguments that we hope the independent commission will accept. Otherwise, our entire sports offering becomes stronger and more attractive, even for the Albanian-speaking area. We are now the main sports channel in North Macedonia, and we have ambitions to expand into Albania. We are acquiring more and more content for Albania, so I believe we will return because it's an extremely good offer, very good. Users are already demanding it, there is a high demand, and ultimately, in such challenging times, every regulator should show understanding for the media.

What are the concrete consequences of the decision by the authorities in Kosovo, and who stands to lose the most?

Primarily, the users are at a loss because it involves attractive content. As far as we are concerned, our subsidiary company MTS DOO is by far the most important. The most crucial aspect is that we have managed to operate there, which involves more than 250 employees and providing internet, television, and mobile phone services to 30,000 households. Simultaneously, along with the issue of the sports channel, which I am confident we will resolve by the end of October, we are intensively working on obtaining the third license. The fact is that telecommunications in that area are not at a good level, and we are the only serious operator that would make significant investments in 5G technology and optics.

What do Telekom and MTS bring to the Kosovo region, and what benefits do they offer to all users?

I think it's in the interest of the population because 5G will be the basis for new industrialization, to expand as a Telekom operator throughout the territory of Kosovo. I am quite confident that users will be able to watch sports again in the next two weeks, and I hope that by the end of the year, we will have some results regarding our fight for the third license. The most important thing for us is to provide television, internet, and mobile phone services to 30,000 Serbian households. These people are living difficult lives, trying to live normally under those harsh conditions, and now the internet, television, and mobile connectivity are integral parts of their normal family life. I believe that we are by far the strongest operator in the Western Balkans, and we will continue to grow. Sooner or later, we will expand and become the best there as well. It's entirely natural for us to be the strongest operator.

Telekom's appeal regarding the operations of its subsidiary company MTS in Kosovo has been accepted. Is it final now?

That is an encouraging decision because only the ministry has annulled the decision, stating it was due to non-compliance with the Brussels Agreement and instructed the Business Registration Agency that if it reviews it again, it should take into account the Brussels Agreement and international law. I believe that the focus on attempting to shut down our company will shift, and it won't be there anymore. Instead, the focus will be on the analysis of our company's acquisition of the operator, for which we have evidence that we did it according to the law. In any case, I think this decision puts an end to it. I believe we have organized ourselves well and defended the truth, and we are satisfied with that decision.

Can it be said that citizens of Kosovo, especially in areas where Serbs are the majority, can expect to continue using Telekom and MTS services in the coming period, as they had concerns about it in the past month?

Of course. There was indeed great fear among people during that month, but as far as that is concerned, the future of MTS DOO in that segment is secured.