Viewers using the services of the A1 telecommunications company are, starting on Monday, no longer able to watch United Media channels – N1 and Sport Klub – on their platform, as the two companies had failed to reach an agreement on continued cooperation.

“We were very surprised by A1’s decision to not extend the contract on channel distribution, especially keeping in mind that they were offered the exact same conditions as before,” United Media said in a press release earlier in March. “We have cooperated with them for many years and we are saddened to hear that this cooperation will not continue, in spite of good will on our side, the company added.”

N1 TV, an exclusive partner of CNN, reports on the most important news of the day in real time. Their professional team has for years prepared renowned talk show and political programmes, spoken to relevant players, analysed situations, and offered to their viewers timely, accurate, and objective information.

Sport Klub has over the years become synonymous with the best sports TV channel. On top of Formula 1 races, a novelty in Croatia, their programme also includes German Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. Standard offer also includes Premier League and FA Cup, and Sport Klub viewers can also watch MOTO GP races, EuroLeague and EuroCup, ATP tournaments and Wimbledon, as well as the NFL.

A1 users will also no longer be able to watch channels for children, Pikaboo and Vavoom.

All United Media channels remain available via Croatian Telekom and Total TV.

UM: A1 never had the intention to negotiate

“A1 never had the intention to negotiate. They issued an ultimatum trying to impose a price of 0.75 kuna to air a news channel which produces 13 hours of live programming for its viewers in Croatia,” United Media said last week.

“We invite A1 users to look at the monthly bills they pay more closely. They should compare that bill with the price of 0.75 kuna, which A1 demanded in an ultimatum as the “market” price for continuing to carry N1.

“Because of users, because of its viewers, N1 accepted that price. We said this publicly and we still stand by this – we are ready to give our programming either for free, of for the price of 0.75 kuna, for a predetermined period of 6 months, until the Croatian law on electronic media changes, or until a new tender for broadcasting licenses opens,” the company said.

(Operating in Croatia as part of United Group are the telecom operator Telemach Hrvatska, as well as television channels and websites Sport Klub and N1, Nova TV, Doma TV, and Dnevnik.hr.)