Bratislava, August 5, 2025 — The Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (AMO) has initiated administrative proceedings against a television retransmission operator for failing to provide requested documents and information within the legally mandated timeframe.
The proceedings, launched on July 26, 2025, stem from the operator’s non-compliance during an ongoing investigation into a possible abuse of dominant position by a commercial broadcaster. The broadcaster is being scrutinized over its licensing terms for non-linear television services, including access to a TV archive—a critical feature in today’s on-demand viewing landscape.
Despite repeated requests, the operator failed to deliver the necessary documentation, prompting the AMO to act under its statutory powers.
Under Slovak competition law, the AMO is authorized to require information and documentation not only from the subject of an investigation but also from third parties whose cooperation is necessary to fully determine the facts. Refusal or failure to comply can hamper the investigation’s progress, undermine the AMO’s enforcement capacity, and delay the detection of anti-competitive behavior.
The AMO has emphasized that the obligation to cooperate applies to all relevant market participants—not just those directly under investigation.
If the operator is found to have breached its duty to cooperate, the AMO may impose a fine of up to 1% of the company’s turnover for the previous accounting year, with the possibility of repeated penalties in case of continued non-compliance.
