The new prices, requested by bTV Media Group, are about 50% of the entire amount the cable operator Bulsatcom pays for rights to air all other programs, the company says in an official statement.

On January 2, Bulgaria's largest private TV network, bTV, took off once again its channels from major cable provider Bulsatcom.

The grounds are breach of contract on the part of Bulsatcom by failing to pay dues and quoting a lower than real number of users to reduce fees.

The two sides could not seal a contract for 2013 over the said reasons.

On its part, bTV insist the media is being discriminated against by Bulsatcom over the latter's refusal to transmit its programs despite the much better conditions offered by the TV, compared to other Bulgarian channels. The network accuses the cable provider of using its 35% market share to blackmail the media and customers.

In the most recent statement, Bulsatcom counters that the lack of transparent fees and attempts to brand together the free of charge non-cable bTV program with its lower-rated cable channels represent pressure on the cable operator and all its customers, Novinite.com reports.