ORS aren’t changing their plans for Bulgaria
The Austrian company Oesterreichische Rundfunksender (ORS) announced that they aren’t changing their plans for Bulgaria.
“We’re committed to our investment intentions and won’t withdraw from our strategic goal to be a significant presence in the radio and TV services market in Bulgaria,” said Michael Wagenhofer – chief executive of ORS.
The company is currently broadening their activities in Central and Eastern Europe and by the end of 2008, they started their transition from analog to digital television broadcast in Bulgaria.
ORS also expressed their interest in purchasing the National department “Radio and TV stations” (NURTS), and currently trying to get the rights to broadcast digital television according to the First stage of the plan for digitalization of Bulgaria.
BTK Group and ORS signed a preliminary contract for the purchase of NURTS, which expired on June 2nd 2009. The negotiations with NURTS are still underway and to this date, ORS haven’t decided to either purchase or withdraw from the deal.
The board of ORF, the Austrian public TV provider, demanded additional data before coming out with an announcement on the investment plans of ORS for Bulgaria. The delay is mostly due to internal issues in Austria itself. The board of ORF should make their final decisions by November 2009. ORF are majority owners of ORS with 60% of the shares. The other shareholder is Medicur Sendeanlagen – part of the Reiffeisen Group.