DirecTv claims:

DIRECTV general manager Bernard Pantin yesterday claimed that cable piracy was running rampant in Trinidad and Tobago and nothing is being done to stop it. In a statement yesterday, Pantin said DirecTV had doubled its local subscriber base and increased the number of channels in its basic package, including the introduction of the HBO Max Digital movie channels in the company’s premium package.

He said while DirecTV was pleased with these developments and the acquisition of new technology such as the L10 interactive receiver, the company continues to be faced with unfair competition as a result of cable piracy.

“Cable piracy is rampant in TT and continues to go unchecked by both the Government and the Telecommunications Authority,” he declared. Pantin claimed that there were now at least 12 channels that were being broadcast on the cable service in Trinidad, wholly or in part, “without the appropriate authorisation from the international programme providers.”

He also claimed that cable piracy extends to the operator in Tobago, licensed independent operators in other parts of Trinidad and illegal operators. Pantin said that by continuing to broadcast the “dirty dozen” these entities are creating a false market in TT and fooling customers into believing that “it is okay to receive as many as 65 channels, including premium movie channels for less than $200 per month.”

Pantin said DirecTV recently wrote to Columbus Communications to express concern that they (Columbus) were broadcasting pirated channels and ask them to remove the channels. He said DirecTV has offered to assist Columbus by using its influence with programmers in the US “to accelerate negotiations with a view to gaining legitimate access to these channels.”

Recently, DirecTV expressed concerns that Columbus was not legally authorised to broadcast HBO and Cinemax. Columbus marketing and communications manager Rhea Yaw Ching said Columbus did not have a license to broadcast those channels and it was working towards finalising contractual arrangements to do so.

Pantin said until this situation changes, DirecTV was reiterating its call to Columbus “to respect local and international law and remove these channels immediately.” He added that while many of these pirated channels were available on DirectTV satellite, the company has decided against showing them “in respect of local and international law.”

Pantin also called on Government to break its silence on this issue and implement the provisions contained in a Cabinet committee report on cable piracy.

Claiming that this report has been in the Government’s possession for six months, Pantin said Government by its inaction seems to be turning a blind eye to the problem.

Contacted yesterday, Telecom Authority executive director Dr John Prince said the Authority had no comment to make on the issue since there were legal matters involved between DirecTV and Columbus.

Prince added that the concessions which the Authority granted to both entities clearly spelt out what they could and could not do.

Efforts to contact Columbus officials for comment were unsuccessful.