The earlier announced adjustment of the business concept of the company Pro Plus, after which operators will start to gradually charge users an extra fee for watching POP TV, Kanal A, Brio and others - as well as all the other changes - have met quite a tumultuous response and even indignation from the general public, Marjan Novak writes for Marketing Magazin. The full opinion follows:

“In the Neo-Socialist society is popular the belief that public television 'belongs' to the people, that it is 'theirs' as they watch it every day and therefore they feel 'offended' because 'they don't like' the fact that they might be obliged to pay for it.
It's understandable that people are fed up and even scared of the new changes that are now taking place much faster than in years or decades ago but at the same time this is a bold decision on behalf of Pro Plus. They didn't decide on such a move to mess with the people but due to changes in the viewers' habits, among which in the first place is the delayed viewing of programs. If now viewers have no problem with paying for 'watching ads' they would probably don't mind paying a 'subscription fee' in the future. Thru the paid offer for delayed viewing operators have somehow 'robbed' (people aren't usually watching ads) the creators of program content. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the latter are already paying several international TV channels for the broadcasting of their content and programs.

In any case, operators as well as Pro Plus have a common interest in putting an extra charge for the viewing of their programs. Around 100.000 households will be watching POP TV and other channels by subscribing to one of the operators.

The media, which in the past weeks have caused quite a scare in front of the 'greedy' POP TV have went a little out of line to adjust the truth and create the impression that this is a new, obligatory subscription, similar the RTV license fee. Well, it's not the same thing. People have a completely free hand in this regard. They can say yes or no. POP TV must prove to its customers that the content and apps are worthy of purchase. If they don't, there might be issues. Therefore, it seems the question of voluntary payment for the 'Pro Plus appendix' is not the problem. The problem is the new mandatory subscription for RTV Slovenia. The system is not a 'gift from God' and is completely spent. It would be surprising if the issue of extra charge for POP TV in the short term will not involve politics and set 'little' people to the side. If they really care about them, they should give them the opportunity to choose which TV channels will be watched, exclude or include them in their packages and immediately proceed with the elimination of the so-called 'TV subscription.”