NBTC Steps Into Euro 2012 Broadcast Dispute

[webfact]

NBTC steps into Euro 2012 broadcast dispute

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

Amid TrueVisions fears that its subscribers may not be able to watch Euro 2012

BANGKOK: -- It is still uncertain whether subscribers of TrueVisions will have a chance to view the Euro 2012 soccer tournament on free-TV channels via their True set-top boxes, though the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission will step in to look into the matter.

The NBTC will convene a meeting today with TrueVisions and free-TV operators - Channels 3, 5, and 9 - to seek ways to prevent problems for consumers.

This follows a complaint by TrueVisions to the watchdog on May 31 that its customers were confused and worried that they might not be able to watch the prestigious tournament - which will be aired from June 8 to July 2 - on Channels 3, 5, 9 via their set-top boxes.

The NBTC's broadcasting committee chairman, Natee Sukonrat, said yesterday that according to the commission's principles, free-TV operators had to treat pay-TV operators on a non-discriminatory basis.

However, the NBTC has to examine TrueVisions' contracts with its customers to see whether TrueVisions has allowed its viewers to watch free-TV channels. If it has done so, then it will have to honour the commitments.

Currently TrueVisions subscribers can view all free-TV programmes via their set-top boxes. But it has been made known that only those with either GMM Z set-top boxes of GMM Grammy or a conventional TV antenna can view the Euro 2012 tournament. If they don't have these boxes, their free-TV screens will be blank during the matches.

Natee said the commission would not summon GMM Z, the GMM Grammy satellite-content and set-top-box distributor, to the meeting as it does not operate under the NBTC regime. The watchdog will oversee only the incumbent operators such as TrueVisions and free-TV channel operators.

GMM Grammy won the right to broadcast the Euro 2012 tournament. It has leased airtime of Channel 3, 5, and 9 to broadcast the matches on a revenue-sharing basis.

TrueVisions' chief programming officer Attaphon na Bangxang said the company's 2 million subscribers would understand well the situation that they might not be able to view the tournament, which will last only two weeks. But TrueVisions' complaint to the NBTC is aimed at prodding the watchdog to set measures that would prevent this kind of problem in the future regarding the broadcast of some licensed content via free-TV channels.

GMM Z chief executive officer Thana Thienachariya said he believed that most of the 2 million TrueVisions subscribers also have conventional TV antennas, which would enable them to view the tournament.

He added that as the company had won the broadcasting rights to air the tournament only in Thailand, GMM Z had to encrypt the Euro 2012 programme to prevent satellite-dish owners in neighbouring countries from being able to view it.

-- The Nation 2012-06-07

[punisher]

Amazing Thailand,True is such a sh.. company.GMM bought the rights to broadcast the Euro2012 nothing wrong with that.GMM asked True before, if they would like to come into the boat,but True refused to do so,now they start crying and blame GMM.I think good enough of GMM let people with antenna watch the Euro free.Anyway not GMM is to blame,but Fifa and Uefa for selling the rights to broadcast the Euro to a private company without thinking about the consequences for non GMM subscribers,money talks.I bought a GMM z-box only to view the Euro,because they said"exclusivly in GMM"now if they open up,then what?People should ask GMM to return their money.I think a bit to late now for True to come out and cry,but I guess they came under pressure from True subscribers

[JayBangkok]

The only Vision True Visions ever had was of a big pot of gold!

Soccer fans should vote with their feet and cancel any True services they can use an alternative company for.

[GentlemanJim]

i am glad they were able to schedule a meeting within their busy timetable to try and resolve this issue 1 day before the competition starts . It's not as if the competition hasn't been planned for a while is it. True don't deserve customers or advertisers.

Anyway, how can I be upset, I mean its not as if I am 'outraged' as per the title of the first thread on this, I fall in to the 100% satisfied category. I expected zero in terms of performance from True and they have lived up to expectations completely......another satisfied customer

[Thai at Heart]

I would imagine that True's contracts state that it HAS to carry the free to air channels irrespective of what is on them. It is not of their making that Grammy bid for it on the basis that they were having to lease time from the national TV channels, and those channels happen to be carried on True for free.

I wonder what True will put on in its place, if it even can put on anything legally in its place.

[mic6ard]

So GMM decided to put the Euro2012 on free TV, and now they are complaining that True can't show it??? Dude, it's called FREE TV for a reason.

"Natee said the commission would not summon GMM Z, the GMM Grammy satellite-content and set-top-box distributor, to the meeting as it does not operate under the NBTC regime. The watchdog will oversee only the incumbent operators such as TrueVisions and free-TV channel operators."

So basically saying that the commission only has control over broadcaster made before the commission came into being? and any that came after can't be regulated??????

[Ferangled]

This seems totally ridiculous, True show the free to air Thai terrestrial channels - you can watch these with no subscription to True but using a True satellite dish and True receiver, meaning True are making no money by broadcasting these channels.

GMM Z chief executive officer Thana Thienachariya said he believed that most of the 2 million TrueVisions subscribers also have conventional TV antennas, which would enable them to view the tournament.

I for one don't, I have Truevisions HD PVR for the main TV room and have a non-subscription True PVR for free content, run out to all other TVs. Why would you have a terrestrial antenna when you have a dish and receiver that provide all of these channels, for free, but better quality?

What happens if there is a national incident in Thailand during one of these games and the Government wish to broadcast a national warning? All True subscribers miss out?

When the BBC or ITV win the rights to show any sporting events these are still viewable via Sky, who show the free to air English terrestrial channels. What is the difference here?

Considering the huge revenues made from advertising, subscription fees should be abolished anyway - the advertisers want to hit the largest audience possible and pay according to viewing figures, more viewers = more money, irrespective of subscription fees.

The content costs pale into insignificance against the advertising revenue. All content should be free and available to all based purely on the fact that the advertisers will pay to reach a wider audience. We shouldn't have to pay for the privilege of providing an additional source of income through advertising to the content providers.

[smedly]

why on earth did GMM by the rights to a broadcast that was free anyway - what a <deleted> mess, it is rediculous that True subscibers would have to buy an ariel to view "free" channels they already get from true - the whole thing is nonesense

[easybullet3]

the NBTC has to examine TrueVisions' contracts with its customers to see whether TrueVisions has allowed its viewers to watch free-TV channels. If it has done so, then it will have to honour the commitments.

??? it takes about 5 minutes to look at a True Visions Contract!!! Why this slow process?

[DGS1244]

why on earth did GMM by the rights to a broadcast that was free anyway - what a <deleted> mess, it is rediculous that True subscibers would have to buy an ariel to view "free" channels they already get from true - the whole thing is nonesense

A bit like your spelling?

[JayBangkok]

why on earth did GMM by the rights to a broadcast that was free anyway - what a <deleted> mess, it is rediculous that True subscibers would have to buy an ariel to view "free" channels they already get from true - the whole thing is nonesense

A bit like your spelling?

It think it was sent using his BonerPhoner

[moe666]

why on earth did GMM by the rights to a broadcast that was free anyway - what a <deleted> mess, it is rediculous that True subscibers would have to buy an ariel to view "free" channels they already get from true - the whole thing is nonesense

GMM bought the rights, if they had not bought the rights it would not have been shown on free tv. GMM has the rights to broad cast and they are doing that thru free tv as well as there on network.

[drdoom6996]

True never has and never will allow us to view anything for free. End Of Story.

[drdoom6996]

This seems totally ridiculous, True show the free to air Thai terrestrial channels - you can watch these with no subscription to True but using a True satellite dish and True receiver, meaning True are making no money by broadcasting these channels.

GMM Z chief executive officer Thana Thienachariya said he believed that most of the 2 million TrueVisions subscribers also have conventional TV antennas, which would enable them to view the tournament.

I for one don't, I have Truevisions HD PVR for the main TV room and have a non-subscription True PVR for free content, run out to all other TVs. Why would you have a terrestrial antenna when you have a dish and receiver that provide all of these channels, for free, but better quality?

What happens if there is a national incident in Thailand during one of these games and the Government wish to broadcast a national warning? All True subscribers miss out?

When the BBC or ITV win the rights to show any sporting events these are still viewable via Sky, who show the free to air English terrestrial channels. What is the difference here?

Considering the huge revenues made from advertising, subscription fees should be abolished anyway - the advertisers want to hit the largest audience possible and pay according to viewing figures, more viewers = more money, irrespective of subscription fees.

The content costs pale into insignificance against the advertising revenue. All content should be free and available to all based purely on the fact that the advertisers will pay to reach a wider audience. We shouldn't have to pay for the privilege of providing an additional source of income through advertising to the content providers.

TIT

[Ferangled]

True never has and never will allow us to view anything for free. End Of Story.

I agree that they're a bunch of scamming ****** but you can actually use their service completely legally and for free.

If you purchase one of their receivers rather than renting as most do, you have access to all the free to air content without any subscription; which is why it's so bloody ridiculous that we're not allowed to watch Euro 2012 on what is effectively a free service!

This after all the cock ups they've made with other major sporting events, will they never learn and never be held accountable for their complete lack of customer service?

"GMM Z had to encrypt the Euro 2012 programme to prevent satellite-dish owners in neighbouring countries from being able to view it."

Total tosh, the terrestrial signal is not encrypted and who in their right mind would view Thai sat from a neighbouring country; you'll find most do the reverse because the neighbouring countries have far better, cheaper sat providers!

Malaysia would be a case in point, do True not realise how much business they lose because their service is so inferior to that of their neighbours? Much cheaper, better content and no stupid fiascos every time a major sporting event takes place...

The next outcry will be the Olympics, as we find out that only feather weight boxing and table tennis get aired because that's all Thailand is competing in and therefore all that anyone in Thailand could possibly be interested in...

[redsox44]

So GMM decided to put the Euro2012 on free TV, and now they are complaining that True can't show it??? Dude, it's called FREE TV for a reason.

"Natee said the commission would not summon GMM Z, the GMM Grammy satellite-content and set-top-box distributor, to the meeting as it does not operate under the NBTC regime. The watchdog will oversee only the incumbent operators such as TrueVisions and free-TV channel operators."

So basically saying that the commission only has control over broadcaster made before the commission came into being? and any that came after can't be regulated??????

Control vendors who charge for service. GMM doesn't charge yet so they are not under the commission' control.

[tingtong]

So GMM decided to put the Euro2012 on free TV, and now they are complaining that True can't show it??? Dude, it's called FREE TV for a reason.

it is free TO WATCH IF YOU CAN!!

it is not the program providers job to buy you aproppriate antenae or a TV to do so.

[ratcatcher]

OMG. I just clicked on the above link to "the newspaper that must not be mentioned" and the last line says:

"If the Euro football matches are aired on the three free-TV channels of 3, 5 and 9, we should get the signals as well. We won't hold talks with GMM Grammy, the official broadcast rights holder, to pay any fee," Mr Sompan said."

SO THERE!!! Looks like it's been sorted........................Thai style?

I expect that knock on the door sometime today.

[JayBangkok]

OMG. I just clicked on the above link to "the newspaper that must not be mentioned" and the last line says:

"If the Euro football matches are aired on the three free-TV channels of 3, 5 and 9, we should get the signals as well. We won't hold talks with GMM Grammy, the official broadcast rights holder, to pay any fee," Mr Sompan said."

SO THERE!!! Looks like it's been sorted........................Thai style?

I expect that knock on the door sometime today.

The article in the Real Newspaper also says True can be fined 50,000 to 5,000,000 Baht a day if they are found guilty of violating the the 2008 Television and Broadcasting Act.

True will probably take what they think is the cheapest option

[webfact]

TrueVisions to broadcast UEFA Euro 2012 despite copyrights issue: report

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....s-issue-report/

[Thai at Heart]

OMG. I just clicked on the above link to "the newspaper that must not be mentioned" and the last line says:

"If the Euro football matches are aired on the three free-TV channels of 3, 5 and 9, we should get the signals as well. We won't hold talks with GMM Grammy, the official broadcast rights holder, to pay any fee," Mr Sompan said."

SO THERE!!! Looks like it's been sorted........................Thai style?

I expect that knock on the door sometime today.

Well, True doesn't have any contract with Grammy, they have a contract with the terrestrial channels. Grammy has rented time from 3,5 and 7 and obviously no one bothered to check the small print that 3,5 and 7 hasn't got the right to remove part of its signal that is passed on to other distributors.

Grammy didn't do its homework, and listening to the statements from True, they don't really seem to bothered either way, but the issue probably is that 3,5 and 7 CAN'T selectively remove the coverage anyway. To be perfectly frank, the stupid idiots at UEFA should probably have checked that the agent they sell to has an existing nationwide TV Channel anyway, instead of having to resort to renting time.

[george]

According to Matichon, TrueVisions are expected to announce at 5pm today that their subscribers will be able to watch Euro2012 /via @RichardBarrow

[zydeco]

Just cancel all the broadcasts. It's the only fair way to solve the problem.