DirecTV seeks Govt info

DIRECTV is trying to find out from Government whether Columbus Communications Trinidad Ltd has breached any laws by continuing to broadcast popular American movie channels HBO and Cinemax without a licence.

This was the word yesterday from DirecTV general manager Bernard Pantin who also indicated that the company was keeping all of its options open where this matter is concerned.

Pantin told Newsday that prior to last November’s Cabinet reshuffle, then Legal Affairs Minister Danny Montano established two special committees and one of these dealt specifically with issues concerning cable and video piracy.

He said information reaching him suggests that this committee has completed a report which is now being considered by Cabinet. Efforts yesterday to contact incumbent Legal Affairs Minister Christine Kangaloo for clarification were unsuccessful.

Pantin said he intends to write Kangaloo in order to find out whether Government plans to take any action based on that report and Government’s position on the current matter involving DirecTV and Columbus.

He also indicated his intention to write to the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) to clarify its position on the matter. Pantin added that there would be a disparity if the authorities were clamping down on small time pirates and not on similar actions taking place in a corporate environment

While declining to reveal DirecTV’s next course of action, Pantin said it was useful that the issue is now being debated in the public domain.

TATT executive director Dr John Prince yesterday told Newsday that TATT has not become involved in the current scenario between DirecTV and Columbus.

“When the proper decision is before us, we will treat with it,” Prince stated.

Efforts to contact Columbus officials for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.

Last week, Columbus officials admitted that it did not have a broadcasting licence to air HBO and Cinemax but is currently in the process of finalising contractual agreements with both of these entities.