The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection received reports from customers who lost access to the Champions League package, even though their contracts with Canal+ Polska were still in force.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection checked what information customers received when concluding and extending contracts - both during conversations with consultants and in offer summaries and detailed terms and conditions. The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection questioned the company's practices and charged it with violating the collective interests of consumers.
"The analysis of recordings of sales calls showed that the consultants did not inform consumers that access to the Champions League would end on June 30, 2024. In some conversations, however, they assured that the package would be available for the entire duration of the contract or that the programming offer would remain unchanged. One of the consultants said directly: 'All the channels I mentioned to you will be available to you for the entire duration of our contract, so it is not that the channels will magically disappear' (...)" - said the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.
However, as reported by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, after June 30, 2024, the Champions League package was no longer available, although some of the contracts covering it were valid longer. "The matches of the next season of the Champions League began in July, and Canal+ Polska customers could no longer watch them as part of the Champions League. Canal+ continued to broadcast these games, but in other, additionally paid packages," it was explained.
The documents could also convince customers that they would use Master Ball for a longer period of time. "In the offer summaries, the company indicated the dates of availability of the package after June 30, 2024. Only the detailed terms of the contracts indicated that the Champions Ball would be available only until the end of June. Consumers could therefore receive two contradictory information in the documents about how long they would be able to use the package," it added.
If the allegations are confirmed, the fine may amount to up to 10%. entrepreneur's turnover.
"We will cooperate fully"
The Canal+ Polska press office confirmed to the Polish Press Agency that the company had received the decision of the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection to present allegations regarding certain sales practices from 2024.
"We are analyzing the Office's position and will present our explanations during further proceedings. We emphasize that the proceedings are at an early stage and no final decision has been issued. We will fully cooperate with the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in order to clarify all the circumstances of the case," added Canal+ Polska.
Explanatory proceedings in the LaLiga case
The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection also initiated an investigation into this year's changes in access to matches of the Spanish football league LaLiga.
"The Office receives signals from consumers who, when concluding or extending contracts, were assured that the selected sports package would allow them to watch all matches of these competitions. It later turned out that they did not have access to some of the matches, although the company had exclusive rights to broadcast them," explained the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection is to check what information Canal+ Polska provided to consumers before changing the offer and who it affected.
