DIRECTV protests Flow ‘piracy’

In a statement yesterday, DIRECTV said it had repeatedly written to the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) about the issue and had written TATT again in light of the proposed acquisition by Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) of Columbus Communications International which would give it control of Columbus Communications Trinidad Limited (Flow). DIRECTV said it had also requested a meeting with Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Rupert Griffith, the line minister for TATT, to discuss the issue.

DIRECTV General Manager, Bernard Pantin, praised TATT’s “measured approach” to the issue of competition and welcomed its decision to impose conditions on the acquisition including CWC’s divestment of its 49 percent shareholding of TSTT, saying this would encourage a more competitive market.”

However, DIRECTV said it was “very concerned” that TATT had remained silent on the continued piracy by Flow of US cable television services. “We felt TATT had a golden opportunity to insist that Flow comply with the terms of its concession in respect of piracy as a contingent part of the transaction,” said Pantin, adding that “DIRECTV views this as even more significant in light of recent announcements by Flow on its new programming packages.”

The statement said that in November 2014, TATT’s CEO publicly confirmed that several pay-TV providers were illegally re-broadcasting North American content. Flow was identified as transmitting several unauthorised channels. Notwithstanding, Flow has now announced a number of new packages which include the continued unauthorised broadcast of at least 11 channels.

Pantin said the inclusion of these unauthorised channels in Flow’s new “Starter” package of 44 channels means that “as much as 25% of the package is being pirated.” TATT promised a response to the DIRECTV complaint and efforts to contact Flow were unsuccessful yesterday.