C.B.C. turns to B.B.A. to settle cable dispute
If you thought it was over, it is not, and today there has been a flurry of activity in the ongoing dispute over television signals. The dispute erupted on August 1, after Robert Reich’s C.B.C. concluded testing along various villages along the Western and the Southern Highways and subsequently discontinued signals in the area. C.B.C. yesterday restored transmission after a meeting of the Belize Broadcasting Authority last Friday which in effect threatened C.B.C. with non renewal or cancellation of licenses. But Telemedia, which provides fibre optics, raised the ante today pointing out to C.B.C. that the cable company was in breach of a commercial contract. Telemedia says it has invested heavily in the new fibre optic and that commercial stations wishing to use fibre, are not entitled to a free ride at the expense of others. A number of stations have fibre optic commercial contracts with Telemedia to transmit its signals, including Channel Five, that transmits by fibre to C.B.C.
But following a meeting this morning with Krem, Channel Seven and C.B.C, the Belize Broadcasting Authority’s says the must carry rule remains in effect. Chairman, Louis Leslie spoke to Channel Five.
Louis Leslie, Chairman, Belize Broadcasting Authority
“It was not an official Board meeting but it was a meeting called to get the three parties together; it was Krem Radio, CBC and Channel Seven.”
Marion Ali
“And what came out of that meeting?”
Louis Leslie
“That the decision of the Board remains the same, the must carry rule is in effect and that will not change.”
Marion Ali
“Is there now sir, a new concept being thrown around, a new theory, that of a “must provide” rule?”
Louis Leslie
“Like I stated before I can’t say much more apart from the fact that the decision the board made at an emergency meeting last Wednesday remains and that is how it stands right now.”
Marion Ali
“I think Telemedia’s concern in its press releases it has issued is that while it continues to provide extended services to the various cable operators and Krem and Channel Seven, it now finds itself in a bind because the cost of the services have gone up. Am I to understand that these parties are not willing or prepared to meet those added costs?”
Louis Leslie
“Marion, like I stated before and I will have to insist on this ok, the only thing I will state at this time is that the must carry rule is still in effect for all cable operators countrywide. That is all I can say at this point in time. The decision made by the Board at its emergency meeting last week is still in effect and as of right now that is the way it stands.”
Marion Ali
“Will there be another meeting anytime soon?”
Louis Leslie
“The board should be meeting again pretty soon but a date has not been set for it.”
Late this afternoon C.B.C. wrote the B.B.A. asking for intervention to resolve this matter and to encourage both Channel Seven and Krem TV to enter into commercial agreements with Telemedia. It is also known that after discussions, Telemedia agreed to delay disconnection by one day.
The B.B.A. has been pushing the must carry rule but there are reports now that the B.B.A. is considering to move to a must-provide rule, which contemplates that all television stations must provide signals to all cable operators.
