Will Transcarpathins be able to watch nationwide TV channels?

In particular, this applies to subscribers of cable networks. On January 1, 2017, the law regulating the work of cable TV providers and nationwide TV channels comes into effect. Until now, these channels have been broadcast free of charge. But in two weeks, the owners of cable networks will have to pay the channels for each subscriber. Providers do not want to do that, so many top channels may just vanish from the TVs of cable network subscribers. Primarily, those are the channels of the StarLightMedia group (STB, Novy, ICTV, M1, M2, QTV) and 1+1 group (1+1, 2+2, TET, UNIAN, UT).

Thus, on the official Facebook page of the STB channel, the following message was posted: "Friends, it may happen that you will not see us after January 1. The reason is the change in the legislation, and TV channels now will have market relations with cable TV operators. While previously cable TV operators had to broadcast all national TV channels and not pay for that, on January 1, 2017, this regulation will be canceled.

It is the international practice when a cable TV operator pays TV channels for using their products. This allows TV channels to create competitive quality movies, series and shows. The price is 0.75 UAH per subscriber per month for 6 channels of the StarLightMedia group (STB, Novy, ICTV, M1, M2, QTV).

But some cable television operators tell their customers that TV groups demand a lot of money and want to significantly raise fees. Or, they have decided not to broadcast those TV channels at all," – the message reads.

According to representative of the StarLightMedia Fedir Hrechaninov, all Ukrainian channels will cost consumers 2-3 hryvnia per month, but the owners of cable TV networks simply do not want to share profits with the producers of TV products.

In addition, the new law defines the so-called "free channels". Those are channels maintained at the expense of taxpayers: public broadcasting network, regional channels (eg "Tisa-1") and the parliamentary channel "Rada".