Sorainen's Latvia office has announced that the Latvian Competition Council decided not to initiate a case of possible abuse of dominant position in the activities of TV3 Latvia. The Latvian Lattelecom internet service provider and telecommunications company applied for the Competition Council's review.
TV3 is the most popular television channel in Latvia. Owned by the Modern Times Group, it was first launched in 1998. Lattelecome is owned by the Latvian government (51%) and the Scandinavian TeliaSonera company (49%).
In its decision the Competition Council concluded that conditions in the television program production and distribution market have significantly changed since the dominant position of TV3 Latvia was alleged. At the same time, the Competition Council stated that currently there are no reasons for suspicion regarding the application of an unfair pricing policy by TV3 Latvia. Likewise it was also not established that Lattelecom faced discrimination compared with attitudes towards the rest of the pay-TV operators in the market.
TV3 Latvia was represented by Sorainen Partner Ieva Azanda and Associate Tatjana Caika.
TV3 Latvia is a television channel targeted at a Latvian language audience owned by Modern Times Group. It was launched in 1998, but did not receive a terrestrial license until 2001. The channel has since increased its viewing share to become the most popular channel in Latvia as of September 2007, surpassing its closest rival LNT.