TrueVisions pays fine for not airing Euro 2012
TrueVisions, the leading subscription-based TV operator, has paid its Bt400,000 fine for failing to broadcast the European Football Championship this year.
Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and its consumer protection committee, said yesterday that TrueVisions on October 24 paid the daily fine of Bt20,000 for the 20 days of the Euro 2012 tournament from June 8 to July 1.
TrueVisions dropped its plan to file a petition to the Administrative Court after the NBTC insisted that the company be held responsible for not delivering on its promises to subscribers, she said.
TrueVisions had claimed that it was not at fault because GMM Grammy, the holder of the broadcast rights, would not allow free-TV operators to transmit the programmes over satellite.
The broadcasting watchdog has also determined that the company must complete negotiations with 174 subscribers and come up with solutions and remedial measures soon.
The 174 subscribers had complained to the NBTC about not being able to access live broadcasts of the soccer tournament.
The NBTC and the broadcasting industry have learned a key lesson, particularly concerning copyright infringement, consumer protection and regulatory limits. To prevent such problems in the future, the NBTC will issue two regulations.
The “must carry” rule will protect people’s |basic right to watch free TV programmes via any distribution platform, such as terrestrial, cable and satellite.
The “must have” rule will determine that viewers must get access to key seven sports events via free TV – the Southeast Asian Games, Asean Para Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, and Fifa World Cup Final.
