SKAT

SKAT is a Bulgarian cable television and telecommunications company founded in 1992 in Burgas. Its business developed primarily in Burgas Province and in communities along the Black Sea coast, where it built and operated local cable networks. The company’s activities have included television distribution, proprietary television programming, internet access and telephone services. Its network infrastructure has used several generations of access technology, including analogue and digital television, modem-based internet, optical networks, PON, LAN and RLAN systems. The company has been described as owning one of the largest optical-coaxial cable networks in the Burgas and Targovishte regions. The SKAT name is used both for the cable operator and for a television channel distributed through its network. The principal SKAT channel was initially broadcast from Burgas and was later relocated to Sofia in the early 2000s. SKAT also operates the regional channel SKAT+, which broadcasts from Burgas to audiences in a number of locations in the province. This combination of distribution infrastructure and owned programming gave the company a role extending beyond that of a conventional local cable reseller. SKAT became particularly visible in Bulgaria’s political and media environment during the 2000s. In 2005, programs broadcast on the channel generated complaints from the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and the political party Euroroma, which alleged that some programming promoted racial intolerance and racist views. Bulgaria’s Council for Electronic Media announced monitoring and investigations of SKAT broadcasts during July and August of that year. The channel was also closely associated for a period with Attack, a Bulgarian nationalist political party, by hosting or supporting programming connected with the party. In November 2009, SKAT withdrew its support for Attack. The company remained connected with nationalist political activity after that break. On 17 May 2011, SKAT created or helped establish the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria, a nationalist political party. This development made the television company and its media platform part of a broader political network rather than solely a communications business. In a separate dispute, Jehovah’s Witnesses complained in 2012 to Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection against Discrimination, alleging that SKAT television had systematically denigrated the organization and encouraged hostility toward it. The commission ruled unanimously in favor of the complainants in January 2016. Publicly available reference material identifies SKAT as a Bulgarian national cable television company headquartered in Burgas, but does not provide reliable details about its corporate ownership, named executives, financial performance, subscriber totals or current corporate structure. Its documented identity is therefore best understood as a regional cable and communications operator with national television visibility and a historically significant connection to Bulgarian political broadcasting.

SKAT was established in 1992 in Burgas, Bulgaria, as a cable television company serving the city, surrounding communities and other areas near the Black Sea coast. Its early development followed the expansion of local cable distribution in Bulgaria. Rather than limiting itself to the resale of television signals, the company built its own network infrastructure and developed branded programming, allowing the SKAT name to function as both a communications service and a television outlet. The company’s principal operating area became Burgas Province. It created cable networks in numerous populated places and later expanded its technical offering beyond analogue television. The documented services include digital and analogue television, internet access delivered through modem, optical, PON, LAN and RLAN technologies, and telephone services. Reference material identifies SKAT as owning one of the largest optical-coaxial cable networks in the Burgas and Targovishte regions. These infrastructure activities placed the company within the broader Bulgarian fixed-line communications market, while its television channels gave it a separate regional media presence. SKAT’s main television channel was originally broadcast from Burgas. During the early 2000s, the channel’s production or broadcast base was moved to Sofia, the Bulgarian capital. The company continued to maintain a regional presence in Burgas through SKAT+, a channel broadcast from the city to audiences in several locations throughout the province. The resulting structure combined a Sofia-linked main channel with a Burgas-based regional service. The company became politically prominent in 2005. Its programs and shows were associated with support for Attack, a Bulgarian nationalist political party. Complaints submitted by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and Euroroma alleged that certain SKAT programs concentrated on racial intolerance and racist themes. In response, Bulgaria’s Council for Electronic Media announced investigations and monitoring of broadcasts during July and August 2005. These events made SKAT a subject of regulatory and public debate about the limits of political broadcasting, discrimination and media responsibility. SKAT’s relationship with Attack ended in November 2009, when the company withdrew its support. The company nevertheless remained involved in nationalist political organization. On 17 May 2011, it created or helped establish the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria. This political connection distinguished SKAT from a purely commercial cable operator and made its media platform relevant to the development of Bulgaria’s nationalist party landscape. A later controversy concerned the treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses in SKAT programming. In 2012, the religious organization filed a complaint with Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection against Discrimination, alleging that SKAT television had systematically slandered it and encouraged violence or hatred. The commission issued a unanimous decision in favor of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in January 2016. Available reference material does not establish the company’s current ownership, executive roster, financial results, subscriber base or precise present-day service footprint. The documented historical record supports describing SKAT as a Burgas-founded Bulgarian cable and telecommunications operator that also owns or operates branded television channels and has had an unusually prominent relationship with nationalist political broadcasting.

• 2016

  Discrimination commission rules in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses

  [1]SKAT (television)en.wikipedia.org

  The Commission for Protection against Discrimination unanimously decides in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses in a complaint concerning SKAT broadcasts.

• 2011

  National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria is established

  [1]SKAT (television)en.wikipedia.org

  SKAT creates or helps establish the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria on 17 May.

• 2009

  SKAT ends support for Attack

  [1]SKAT (television)en.wikipedia.org

  SKAT withdraws its support from the nationalist political party Attack.

• 2005

  Regulatory scrutiny follows programming complaints

  [1]SKAT (television)en.wikipedia.org

  The Council for Electronic Media announces monitoring and investigations after complaints about alleged racial intolerance and racism in SKAT programming.

• 2000

  Main channel moves from Burgas toward Sofia broadcasting

  [1]SKAT (television)en.wikipedia.org

  During the early 2000s, the principal SKAT channel is relocated from Burgas to Sofia, while the company retains a regional Burgas service.

• 1992

  SKAT is founded in Burgas

  [1]SKAT (television)en.wikipedia.org

  SKAT is established in Burgas as a Bulgarian cable television company.

A Bulgarian regional cable and communications operator combining television distribution, proprietary channels and fixed connectivity services, with a particularly visible role in political and nationalist broadcasting.

• Television channel

  SKAT television channel

  The principal branded channel operated by SKAT. It was initially broadcast from Burgas and was relocated to Sofia during the early 2000s. The channel carried the programming that made SKAT a nationally visible media organization and was associated for a period with political and nationalist broadcasts.

• Regional television channel

  SKAT+

  A regional channel broadcast from Burgas to viewers in multiple locations in Burgas Province. SKAT+ represents the company’s continuing local and regional television role alongside its main channel.

• Cable and broadband infrastructure

  SKAT cable network

  SKAT’s fixed communications network distributes analogue and digital television and supports internet and telephone services. The documented technical platforms include modem access, optical fiber, PON, LAN and RLAN, with a substantial optical-coaxial footprint in Burgas and Targovishte regions.

• 2012

  Jehovah’s Witnesses discrimination complaint

  Jehovah’s Witnesses filed a complaint alleging that SKAT television systematically slandered the organization and encouraged violence or hatred. The Commission for Protection against Discrimination later ruled unanimously in the organization’s favor in January 2016.

  Source

• 2005

  Complaints over alleged racist programming

  The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and Euroroma complained that some SKAT programs promoted racial intolerance and racism. The Council for Electronic Media responded by announcing monitoring and investigations of the channel’s broadcasts.

  Source

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• 2011

  Creation of the National Front for the Salvation of BulgariaOther

  Background

  Following its break with Attack, SKAT continued to participate in nationalist political activity through its media platform.

  Action taken

  On 17 May 2011, SKAT created or helped establish the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria.

  Aftermath

  SKAT’s role expanded from media distribution and broadcasting into direct involvement in political organization.

  Source

• 2009

  Withdrawal of support for AttackStrategy

  Background

  SKAT had previously been associated with programming and support connected to the Bulgarian nationalist party Attack.

  Action taken

  In November 2009, SKAT withdrew its support for Attack.

  Aftermath

  The company remained politically significant and later became associated with the establishment of another nationalist party.

  Source

1. 1SKAT (television)en.wikipedia.org