UPC spokesman László Szűcs said UPC had made the decision to keep the channel because of the response of subscribers as well as the assessment of the decision in the press.
Under a new agreement with Lagardere Networks International, Mezzo will be available in 400,000 Hungarian homes.
"We are very happy that our subscribers will continue to have access to Europe's leading classical music, opera, dance jazz and world music television channel," said UPC CEO Joe Zuravle. He added that UPC continues to strive to meet the interests of its diverse group of subscribers by expanding its offering of channels. Mezzo is an integral part of this offering.
Szűcs said the response by subscribers shows the channel has much more importance to subscribers than earlier thought. In just one week, a petition intended to reverse the decision to remove the channel from UPC's basic package was signed by 186 subscribers. The petition was posted at www.peticio.hu and www.index.hu.
Szűcs earlier told internet portal Quart.hu that UPC can show only a limited number of channels using the current technology and an analogue network. If it wants to add one channel to the offering, it must remove another, he explained.
He noted that the decision to keep Mezzo was not based on viewer numbers, rather on a test of affinity.
"UPC is committed to extend their channel listings and provide viewers with a programme selection based on demands that reflect the interests of the general public. The forthcoming migration to digital technology, which will supercede analogue transmission, will also help achieve this goal," UPC says on its website.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
