Unfortunately, though, because of disrespect for the sanctity of a signed contract, a significant number of Ukrainian television viewers and sports fans may be deprived of the opportunity to watch Eurosport channels in Ukraine, which broadcast a rich line-up of top summer events, most of them Live and in native HD.
Last year Eurosport Group renewed its existing contract with the cable operator Volia and its affiliates to include Eurosport channels in its basic programming line-up for the next three years.
Eurosport viewed this as a reassurance of the Eurosport channels’ value, which goes beyond pure television broadcasting.
Eurosport, Europe’s leading sports television channel is a recognized promoter of physical education and positive values related to sports such as equality and fair play for all sporting disciplines.
Moreover, Eurosport channels broadcast an unrivalled diversity of top sporting events in over 6,000 hours each year, many of them “Live” in Ukraine, and also contribute to increase the popularity of Ukrainian sportsmen and sportswomen not only in Ukraine but also around the world.
In short, Eurosport programs bring the world’s sports to Ukraine and simultaneously promote Ukrainian sporting achievements around the world.
In January 2012, Volia’s operators unilaterally broke our contracts and removed our programs from their line-up depriving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian households from an exciting year of sporting events.
Eurosport filed numerous lawsuits against Volia and its affiliates in several Ukrainian cities and won in most courts of first instance, which gives us hope that our legal contracts will be upheld.
In other court cases, particularly in the City of Kyiv Commercial Court, the review of our case was stunning in its lack of open consideration of the facts and violation of due process norms.
Eurosport is appealing its case in the Kyiv Commercial Court of Appeals, which is due to be heard on April 18. Eurosport trusts judges will be impartial in making their decisions.
We would like to think the court will reverse the decision of the Kyiv Commercial Court of February 2012, and will rule that Volia Cable must live up to its contractual obligations.
This week, seventeen Ukrainian sports federations signed a petition requesting Volia to return the Eurosport channels to their line up as soon as possible.
Supporting federations include the Federations of Figure Skating, Boxing, Gymnastics, Skiing, Fencing, Handball, and Rowing, to name just a few.
The petition appeals to Volia to “provide Ukrainian sports fans with access to Eurosport’s channels and allow Ukrainian athletes to receive the visibility they deserve.”
It would be unfortunate and regretful that Volia’s subscribers would miss this year’s top events extensive coverage on our channels due to the continuous denial of our contract by Volia’s management.
Danny Menken is Managing Director of Eurosport Benelux and Distribution Director Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
