TrueVisions agrees remedies
TRUEVISIONS customers can get refunds and downgrade their packages after HBO Asia’s six movie channels are no longer available next month, the country’s biggest pay-TV operator said in a statement yesterday.
However, the six cancelled channels will be replaced immediately with new ones from content providers other than HBO, it said.
The company said it had prepared remedial measures for its customers after meeting with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s subcommittee on consumer rights protection on Tuesday.
TrueVisions will replace the discontinued channels with seven new ones: Warner TV, Paramount Channel HD, Celestial Classic Movies, Food Network, Fox Action Movies HD, Sony Channel and True Film HD 2. They will be available immediately after HBO’s feeds end on January 1 if the NBTC’s broadcasting committee grants new broadcasting licences for the seven new channels.
A source at the NBTC said the broadcasting committee would hold an urgent meeting today to approve the remedial measures and prepare the new licences.
As part of the measures, TrueVisions will upgrade affected subscribers on the Gold, Super Family, Sport Family and Happy Family packages to a higher level for one month, while customers on the Platinum package will be awarded 1,000 True Reward Points via the True Black Card.
Customers who have subscribed to TrueVisions for less than six months can either end their contract or downgrade their package. If subscribers with six-month packages want to end their contracts, they will get refunds, but the value will be based on the outstanding period of the contract.
However, customers who want to adjust their packages or cancel their contracts must notify TrueVisions in writing by February 28.
After TrueVisions’ announcement that it would stop airing HBO’s channels, Singapore-based HBO Asia yesterday released a statement confirming that it remained committed to its subscribers in Thailand and was working with partners to ensure it premium Hollywood movie channels and services are available.
According to the statement, the latest HBO Asia Original series, Halfworlds Season 2, was filmed in Thailand, directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham, and mostly stars Thai talents, including Peem Jaiyen, Nicole Theriault, Jeeja Yanin, Myra Malloy and David Asavanond.
