Industry losses dropped with the police activity, but considerably more needs to be done. As in past years, the principal audiovisual piracy problems in Romania are video, broadcast television, and cable television piracy. The drop in the video piracy rate, for example, is a result of the limited legitimate market entry and the initial spurt of police activity under the new Copyright Law. Street vendors and video shops in Bucharest removed their displays of pirate product, and overt video piracy virtually disappeared. Cable and broadcast television piracy outside of Bucharest continue to be a major problem.
Cable television is widely available in Romania and inexpensive.
Approximately 350 small cable companies are scattered across the country. Most cable systems retransmit satellite television programs intended for Germany, Italy, and other Western European countries, dubbed in Romanian, while others broadcast pirate videos. The Copyright Law does define unauthorized satellite and cable retransmissions as copyright infringements. Although the major national and private television stations now appear to be operating legally, there are hundreds of small broadcast TV stations spread throughout the country that regularly engage in piracy. It is hoped that, once established, this new organization will ensure cooperation of the film industry and Romanian authorities.