Louis: Remove red links per anti-slop rule

2026-05-16T21:39:12Z

Remove red links per anti-slop rule

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:39, 16 May 2026
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	== Background ==		== Background ==

	Slovakia's commercial television market is dominated by two broadcasters: [[TV Markíza]] & [[TV Joj]].<ref name="omediach" /> IPTV archive & catch-up services allow subscribers to view programs after their original broadcast, typically with the ability to pause, rewind, & fast-forward through content.<ref name="4ka-faq" /> Before May 2025, fast-forwarding through commercial breaks was a standard function of these services.<ref name="4ka-faq" />		Slovakia's commercial television market is dominated by two broadcasters: TV Markíza & TV Joj.<ref name="omediach" /> IPTV archive & catch-up services allow subscribers to view programs after their original broadcast, typically with the ability to pause, rewind, & fast-forward through content.<ref name="4ka-faq" /> Before May 2025, fast-forwarding through commercial breaks was a standard function of these services.<ref name="4ka-faq" />

	== Ad-skipping restrictions ==		== Ad-skipping restrictions ==
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	In June 2022, FTV Prima, a Czech commercial broadcaster, imposed similar ad-skipping restrictions on its IPTV archive service.<ref name="broadband-prima">{{Cite web \|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2022/05/27/czech-prima-to-stop-ad-skipping/ \|title=Czech Prima to stop ad-skipping \|publisher=Broadband TV News \|date=May 27, 2022 \|access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref>		In June 2022, FTV Prima, a Czech commercial broadcaster, imposed similar ad-skipping restrictions on its IPTV archive service.<ref name="broadband-prima">{{Cite web \|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2022/05/27/czech-prima-to-stop-ad-skipping/ \|title=Czech Prima to stop ad-skipping \|publisher=Broadband TV News \|date=May 27, 2022 \|access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
	~~== See also ==~~

	* [[TV Markíza]]
	* [[TV Joj]]
	* [[Protimonopolný úrad Slovenskej republiky\|PMÚ]]
	* [[FTV Prima]]

	== References ==		== References ==

Louis: Initial publication via architect pipeline

2026-05-16T21:36:25Z

Initial publication via architect pipeline

New page

{{#seo:
|description=Slovak broadcasters Markíza and Joj disabled ad-skipping on IPTV archive services in mid-2025, triggering an antitrust investigation by the PMÚ.
}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=TV Markíza,TV Joj
|StartDate=2025-05-21
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=
|Product=
|ArticleType=Service
|Type=Anti-competitive practice
|Description=Slovak broadcasters Markíza and Joj disabled ad-skipping in IPTV archive and catch-up services, removing a feature subscribers paid for
}}

'''TV Markíza''' & '''TV Joj''', Slovakia's two largest commercial broadcasters, disabled ad-skipping & fast-forwarding during commercial breaks in IPTV archive & catch-up services in mid-2025, removing a feature that had been included in paid subscriptions.<ref name="broadband-pmu">{{Cite web |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2025/10/02/pmu-launches-probe-into-markiza-joj-over-ad-skipping-restrictions/ |title=PMÚ launches probe into Markíza & JOJ over ad-skipping restrictions |publisher=Broadband TV News |date=October 2, 2025 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref> The restrictions began with Markíza on May 21, 2025, followed by Joj in July 2025.<ref name="omediach">{{Cite web |url=https://www.omediach.com/tv/29076-protimonopolny-urad-zacal-konat-proti-joj-a-markize-pre-obmedzenie-moznosti-pretacania-reklam |title=Protimonopolný úrad začal konať proti JOJ a Markíze pre obmedzenie možnosti pretáčania reklám |publisher=Omediach.com |date=September 30, 2025 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref> 4ka rolled out the blocks on June 23 & July 15, 2025,<ref name="4ka-faq">{{Cite web |url=https://www.4ka.sk/pretacanie-reklam/ |title=Pretáčanie reklám |publisher=4ka |date=2025 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref> & Orange Slovensko implemented the Markíza block on June 18, 2025 & announced the Joj block would take effect on July 16, 2025.<ref name="mediaklik">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mediaklik.sk/televizia/clanok/756261-dalsi-velky-operator-blokuje-pretacanie-reklam-na-markize-reklamy-v-archive-uz-nepreskocite-ani-po-3-minutach/ |title=Ďalší veľký operátor blokuje pretáčanie reklám na Markíze: Reklamy v archíve už nepreskočíte ani po 3 minútach |author=Vanessa Teluchová |publisher=Mediaklik |date=June 18, 2025 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref><ref name="zive-orange">{{Cite web |url=https://zive.aktuality.sk/clanok/dwnx1rF/zakaz-pretacania-reklam-pri-joj-kedy-s-nim-zacne-velky-operator-bude-iny-nez-pri-markize/ |title=Zákaz pretáčania reklám pri JOJ: Kedy s ním začne veľký operátor. Bude iný než pri Markíze |author=Filip Maxa |publisher=Živé.sk |date=July 15, 2025 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref> Slovakia's Antimonopoly Office (PMÚ) expanded an ongoing administrative proceeding against TV Markíza in late July 2025 & opened a separate proceeding against TV Joj in August 2025, then publicly announced both investigations on September 30, 2025, alleging abuse of dominant market position & imposing potential fines of up to 10 percent of their global turnover.<ref name="antitrust">{{Cite web |url=https://antitrust-intelligence.com/slovak-pmu-investigates-tv-markiza-and-tv-joj-for-potential-market-abuse/ |title=Slovak PMÚ Investigates TV Markíza and TV JOJ for Potential Market Abuse |publisher=Antitrust Intelligence |date=October 2025 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref>

== Background ==

Slovakia's commercial television market is dominated by two broadcasters: [[TV Markíza]] & [[TV Joj]].<ref name="omediach" /> IPTV archive & catch-up services allow subscribers to view programs after their original broadcast, typically with the ability to pause, rewind, & fast-forward through content.<ref name="4ka-faq" /> Before May 2025, fast-forwarding through commercial breaks was a standard function of these services.<ref name="4ka-faq" />

== Ad-skipping restrictions ==

TV Markíza implemented a technical solution to disable ad-skipping on May 21, 2025, compelling telecommunications operators to deploy the restriction across their networks.<ref name="omediach" /> Orange Slovensko rolled out the block for Markíza channels on June 18, 2025,<ref name="mediaklik" /> & 4ka followed on June 23, 2025.<ref name="4ka-faq" /> 4ka stated it had resisted the broadcaster mandate for more than a year before implementing the restrictions.<ref name="4ka-faq" /> The affected Markíza channels included Markíza, Doma, Dajto, Krimi, & Klasik.<ref name="4ka-faq" />

TV Joj mandated the restriction in July 2025.<ref name="omediach" /> 4ka deployed the block for Joj channels on July 15, 2025,<ref name="4ka-faq" /> & Orange Slovensko announced it would implement the restriction on July 16, 2025.<ref name="zive-orange" /> The affected Joj channels included JOJ, JOJ Plus, & WAU.<ref name="4ka-faq" />

The restrictions prevent subscribers from skipping advertising blocks in archive programming. When a subscriber opens an affected program, the system allows 60 seconds of free navigation before locking forward skip for the remainder of the program. During the marked segment, the fast-forward & skip functions are disabled.<ref name="imafex">{{Cite web |url=https://www.imafex.sk/reklamy-na-markize-uz-nepretocite |title=Reklamy na TV staniciach Markíza a JOJ už nepretočíte |publisher=IMAFEX |date=2025 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref>

4ka introduced a paid add-on called "Bez reklám" (No Ads) priced at €4 per month, which enables subscribers to skip advertising blocks on JOJ channels (JOJ, JOJ Plus, and WAU).<ref name="4ka-faq" />

=== Markíza's response ===

Markíza CEO Peter Gažík stated in May 2025, as reported by omediach.com:
<blockquote>''Z našej strany ide o dlho pripravovanú reakciu na súčasné trendy. Sme komerčná televízia, ktorá hlavne vďaka príjmom z reklamy dokáže produkovať kvalitné vlastné programy, filmy či seriály, obľúbené u našich divákov a diváčok. Zavedením tejto funkcionality dosiahneme odstránenie rozdielu medzi sledovaním televízie a reklám v reálnom čase a pri sledovaní s časovým posunom, ako aj porovnateľné nastavenie, ktoré je aplikované pri iných online platformách.''</blockquote><ref name="omediach" />

== PMÚ investigation ==

In late July 2025, the PMÚ expanded an ongoing administrative proceeding against TV Markíza to include the ad-skipping restrictions.<ref name="omediach" /> In August 2025, the PMÚ opened a separate administrative proceeding against TV Joj.<ref name="omediach" /> On September 30, 2025, the PMÚ publicly announced investigations into both broadcasters.<ref name="broadband-pmu" /><ref name="zive">{{Cite web |url=https://zive.aktuality.sk/clanok/3fJlcym/markiza-a-joj-maju-problem-stat-ich-preveruje-pre-obmedzene-pretacanie-reklam/ |title=Markíza a JOJ majú problém: Štát ich preveruje pre obmedzené pretáčanie reklám |author=Filip Maxa |publisher=Živé.sk |date=September 30, 2025 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref>

The proceedings allege abuse of a dominant market position under Slovak Act No. 187/2021 Coll. on the Protection of Competition.<ref name="slovak-act">{{Cite web |url=https://www.antimon.gov.sk/zakon-o-ochrane-hospodarskej-sutaze/ |title=Zákon o ochrane hospodárskej súťaže |publisher=Protimonopolný úrad Slovenskej republiky |date=2021 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref> If the PMÚ finds a violation, the broadcasters face fines of up to 10 percent of their global turnover.<ref name="antitrust" />

The Telecommunications Union of the Slovak Republic (TUSR), an industry association representing operators, formally welcomed the PMÚ investigation in October 2025.<ref name="techbyte">{{Cite web |url=https://www.techbyte.sk/2025/10/markiza-jojka-klepli-prstoch-zakaz-pretacania-reklam/ |title=Markíze aj JOJ-ke klepli po prstoch: Majú ZRUŠIŤ obmedzenie |publisher=TechByte.sk |date=October 7, 2025 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref>

== Consumer response ==

Subscribers reacted to the restrictions with complaints about what TechByte.sk described as a feeling of "double paying"; paying for IPTV service while being forced to watch advertisements they previously could skip.<ref name="techbyte" />

== Related incidents ==

In June 2022, FTV Prima, a Czech commercial broadcaster, imposed similar ad-skipping restrictions on its IPTV archive service.<ref name="broadband-prima">{{Cite web |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2022/05/27/czech-prima-to-stop-ad-skipping/ |title=Czech Prima to stop ad-skipping |publisher=Broadband TV News |date=May 27, 2022 |access-date=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
== See also ==

* [[TV Markíza]]
* [[TV Joj]]
* [[Protimonopolný úrad Slovenskej republiky|PMÚ]]
* [[FTV Prima]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:TV Markíza]]
[[Category:TV Joj]]
[[Category:Anti-competitive practice]]
[[Category:Slovakia]]

Markiza and Joy ad-skipping disabling - Revision history

Louis: Remove red links per anti-slop rule

Louis: Initial publication via architect pipeline