Blank Screens For TrueVisions Subscribers But Suspicion Lingers Over UEFA Call

[webfact]

Blank screens for True-V subscribers but suspicion lingers over UEFA call

Watchiranont Thongtep,

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TrueVisions subscribers will suffer blank screens throughout the Euro 2012 tournament following the Union of European Football Associations (Uefa)'s refusal to re-broadcast, but the matter is far from over for consumers and the broadcasting regulator.

Uefa's reply raised more questions than answers, as it may serve to excuse both TrueVisions and GMM Grammy, the holder of broadcasting rights in Thailand.

GMM has refused to tell the press the exact questions it asked Uefa, leading to suspicion it may have used a tactic to end the feud. It is not known if GMM asked Uefa for sub-licensing or a pass-through of signals from free TV channels to TrueVisions platform. Sub-licensing would be impossible.

But with Uefa's answer, the feud between the two firms is over. GMM will no longer be subject to public criticism and TrueVisions can ask the regulator to waive the penalties it wanted to impose.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission on Tuesday slapped daily fines of Bt20,000 on TrueVisions, until its pay TV platform receives the broadcast signal. It also threatened to impose penalties on all involved, for depriving consumers of their rights. The NBTC has promised to look deeply into the matter. NBTC broadcasting committee chairman Natee Sukonrat said yesterday that TrueVisions could appeal against the fine.

Under the Uefa broadcasting rights, GMM Grammy said the programmes would be aired mainly via a terrestrial analog system and GMM set-top box. According to a Nielsen survey of 22 million Thai households with a TV set, nearly half (10.9 million) watch TV via antennas.

Uefa's reaction to GMM Grammy's request was announced at a press conference yesterday. Its refusal ended the feud, which heated up ahead of Euro 2012's start on June 8 and led to talks by the chiefs of both companies.

Uefa reasoned that TrueVisions' request came too late, with the tournament already under way. TrueVisions is not owned or affiliated with GMM Grammy, so it cannot transmit any Euro 2012 programmes, Uefa ruled.

Uefa also considers TrueVisions a pay-TV provider, despite the fact it carries free-to-air channels, and the rights cannot be extended to TrueVisions to use any Euro 2012 programmes.

"We've done the best we can to allow TrueVisions subscribers to access the Euro 2012," said Thana Thienachariya, chief executive officer of GMM Grammy's GMM Z satellite channel.

At a separate press conference, TrueVisions executive vice chairman Sompan Charumilinda said: "We are disappointed that we cannot pass through live matches of Euro 2012 from free TV channels, like Euro 2008, 2004 and 2000."

Sompan called on the NBTC to implement a "must carry" rule to prevent such disputes in the future and protect customers' rights to access all free-TV programming. Under such a rule, everyone can access free-TV broadcasts via any signal-receiving platform.

The NBTC's Natee said such a conflict should not happen again once the watchdog finishes its new rules to govern the broadcasting industry, which are expected to be in place by August.

He warned that broadcasters planning to apply for NBTC licences may face a problem if they are found to have done anything in the past that harmed consumers.

As part of the NBTC consumer protection subcommittee's opinion, TrueVisions should waive one month of fees for all its subscribers for its inability to show the Euro 2012 matches. But Natee said such a measure must also be fair to TrueVisions.

Today, the House panel on consumer protection and communications will call in all related parties, including the NBTC, TrueVisions and GMM Grammy, to clarify the issues.

-- The Nation 2012-06-14

[daninthai]

They surveyed 22 million Thai households? Really? Sure about that?

[apetley]

They surveyed 22 million Thai households? Really? Sure about that?

We must have been one of the few they missed.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App

[JurgenG]

One more time the Thais look like bozos on the international scene.

True lost the bid, fair and square. Now because of some moral high ground (thai for "the law doesn't apply to us"), they want to be able to air the competition anyway. Their boss even called on the NBTC to implement a "must carry" rule to prevent such disputes in the future and protect customers' rights to access all free-TV programming. Under such a rule, everyone can access free-TV broadcasts via any signal-receiving platform.

Some people really need to learn when to shut up. I don't know what they asked the UEFA but if everybody can freely broadcast the competition, how the UEFA is going to make a cent from broadcasting rights ? But then they will always have the explanation that foreigners don't understand Thailand ....

[beano2274]

Another problem was that if TRUE had got the bid then people in other countries could have picked up the signal, and of course UEFA would be upset as it could not sell the rights to the other country.

It is great to see this happening, maybe now is the time for someone to start playing the game with TOT and give them a ride for their money.

[Maejo Man]

Maybe a class action by subscribers nation wide on True for breach of contract

[coma]

Lack of professionalism on the part of TrueVisions. A company this big should know how to play the game [excuse the punt] better than this.

One good thing to come out of it for me is I have been given a free upgrade from Gold to Platinium for one month. And I have now seen that upgrading on a permanent basis is not worth the money so I will be sticking with Gold.

[virtualtraveller]

What with all the negotiating of sports broadcasting rights over the years in multiple countries that all have free and pay per view setups you would have thought that UEFA would have got this all nailed down, at least so they don't look silly. Disputes locally about broadcasting loopholes and monopolies etc don't surprise me, nothing here is ever fully and thoroughly considered in contracts. I can see both points of view, Grammy outbid the others and needs to control the revenue, True is a competitor of sorts who derives a subscription eve eu so why not pay something, was one party being greed in stingy in the negotiating? To me the answer lies in the advertising revenue, no one pays for the free channels but they earn their money off advertising, which cable TV is mostly forbidden from running. if True have a deal to air the free channels it only serves to increase viewership and hence the charges to the advertiser, which ultimately is remitted in part to Grammy. So everyone wins, but not here where a tit for tat attempt at monopolies goes on in the board room, UEFA where just frying to stay out of the fray by closing the door, but they are party to blame. Personally I hate football and won't be watching anyhow.

[kartman]

Looks like NBTC will be buying the rights to any future tournaments football or anything can't see anybody else paying any money under thier new proposed rules.

[ratcatcher]

The apparent irony in all this debacle is that "poorer" people with traditional antennae can view the games, while those with sophisticated equipment (True connection, LCD TV etc) can't.

In order to view, apparently it was necessary to purchase the Grammy Box or do what I did and manage to get a passably poor signal using a 100 baht "rabbit ears", or "shrimp whiskers" as they are called here.

I'm sure many people have found ways to watch these matches using a bit of innovation.

[sungod]

I am a true subscriber, but hats off to GMM I say. True have had a monopoly for too long and competition can only be healthy.

[canopus1969]

I gave up using True a long time ago - TV, Internet and phone - a pathetic company all round

[mic6ard]

Sure TV's standard has been dropping lately, but I think that this goes beyond the company.

This goes to the definition of "FREE TV" and who owns the right to the broadcast on those channels.

Really should have the "MUST CARRY" law in place for Free channels

[crobe]

One more time the Thais look like bozos on the international scene.

True lost the bid, fair and square. Now because of some moral high ground (thai for "the law doesn't apply to us"), they want to be able to air the competition anyway. Their boss even called on the NBTC to implement a "must carry" rule to prevent such disputes in the future and protect customers' rights to access all free-TV programming. Under such a rule, everyone can access free-TV broadcasts via any signal-receiving platform.

Some people really need to learn when to shut up. I don't know what they asked the UEFA but if everybody can freely broadcast the competition, how the UEFA is going to make a cent from broadcasting rights ? But then they will always have the explanation that foreigners don't understand Thailand ....

You really don't understand the must-carry rules.

Most countries that have multiple platforms (Satellite, cable, terrestrial) and a mix of free to air and pay-tv services have such must carry rules in place - Thailand has been neglecting to do this for too long.

In Europe the BBC free-to-air signal is picked up by cable suppliers in Belgium and Netherlands and rebroadcast, so it will be interesting to find out if these have been blocked under the "UEFA Rules" or whether they still broadcast the BBC when it is showing the Euro 2012 matches.

If they are then the statement that the signal cannot be given to True as it may be picked up by neighboring countries would be a farce - and additionally, that concern would have gone out of the window if True had paid Grammy for the rights, so pretty much a non-argument

Crobe

Edited June 14, 2012 by crobe

[mackemray]

Another problem was that if TRUE had got the bid then people in other countries could have picked up the signal, and of course UEFA would be upset as it could not sell the rights to the other country.

It is great to see this happening, maybe now is the time for someone to start playing the game with TOT and give them a ride for their money.

But TMN are showing all matches live, with a feed from Malaysia!

[theblether]

UEFA are not at fault here, they have issued the Thai rights to GMM, end of story.

As Beano pointed out True transmissions could/would interfere with other countries arrangements.

True viewers should stop bleating and accept the fact that TV rights are a competitive market.

There's no way Thai TV companies are going to run rings around UEFA

[Baerboxer]

One more time the Thais look like bozos on the international scene.

True lost the bid, fair and square. Now because of some moral high ground (thai for "the law doesn't apply to us"), they want to be able to air the competition anyway. Their boss even called on the NBTC to implement a "must carry" rule to prevent such disputes in the future and protect customers' rights to access all free-TV programming. Under such a rule, everyone can access free-TV broadcasts via any signal-receiving platform.

Some people really need to learn when to shut up. I don't know what they asked the UEFA but if everybody can freely broadcast the competition, how the UEFA is going to make a cent from broadcasting rights ? But then they will always have the explanation that foreigners don't understand Thailand ....

You really don't understand the must-carry rules.

Most countries that have multiple platforms (Satellite, cable, terrestrial) and a mix of free to air and pay-tv services have such must carry rules in place - Thailand has been neglecting to do this for too long.

In Europe the BBC free-to-air signal is picked up by cable suppliers in Belgium and Netherlands and rebroadcast, so it will be interesting to find out if these have been blocked under the "UEFA Rules" or whether they still broadcast the BBC when it is showing the Euro 2012 matches.

If they are then the statement that the signal cannot be given to True as it may be picked up by neighboring countries would be a farce - and additionally, that concern would have gone out of the window if True had paid Grammy for the rights, so pretty much a non-argument

Crobe

UEFA are a farce! Plattini seems to model himself on Blatter. UEFA and FIFA are not exactly well run bastions of virtue deicated to true sporting spirit!

[jambodave]

Are we going to have the same problem with the London Olympics ?

[thaihome]

One more time the Thais look like bozos on the international scene.

True lost the bid, fair and square. Now because of some moral high ground (thai for "the law doesn't apply to us"), they want to be able to air the competition anyway. Their boss even called on the NBTC to implement a "must carry" rule to prevent such disputes in the future and protect customers' rights to access all free-TV programming. Under such a rule, everyone can access free-TV broadcasts via any signal-receiving platform.

Some people really need to learn when to shut up. I don't know what they asked the UEFA but if everybody can freely broadcast the competition, how the UEFA is going to make a cent from broadcasting rights ? But then they will always have the explanation that foreigners don't understand Thailand ....

It’s amazing that despite numerous threads on the subject people still fail to understand that the issue is not about True having or not having the rights to broadcast the matches. It’s about Grammy making a deal with free over the air channels to share the advertising revenue for broadcasting them on the free over the air channels and then stopping True from showing the free over the air channels.

You and many others seem to think the True should have to pay a fee to show free over the air channels which they never have to do for anything else they contain. As others have pointed out, it is actually in Grammy’s (and the free over the air channels) to allow True to show them as it increases the viewership which increases the rate advertisers pay.

TH

[Hellhound66]

One more time the Thais look like bozos on the international scene.

True lost the bid, fair and square. Now because of some moral high ground (thai for "the law doesn't apply to us"), they want to be able to air the competition anyway. Their boss even called on the NBTC to implement a "must carry" rule to prevent such disputes in the future and protect customers' rights to access all free-TV programming. Under such a rule, everyone can access free-TV broadcasts via any signal-receiving platform.

Some people really need to learn when to shut up. I don't know what they asked the UEFA but if everybody can freely broadcast the competition, how the UEFA is going to make a cent from broadcasting rights ? But then they will always have the explanation that foreigners don't understand Thailand ....

You really don't understand the must-carry rules.

Most countries that have multiple platforms (Satellite, cable, terrestrial) and a mix of free to air and pay-tv services have such must carry rules in place - Thailand has been neglecting to do this for too long.

In Europe the BBC free-to-air signal is picked up by cable suppliers in Belgium and Netherlands and rebroadcast, so it will be interesting to find out if these have been blocked under the "UEFA Rules" or whether they still broadcast the BBC when it is showing the Euro 2012 matches.

If they are then the statement that the signal cannot be given to True as it may be picked up by neighboring countries would be a farce - and additionally, that concern would have gone out of the window if True had paid Grammy for the rights, so pretty much a non-argument

Crobe

Let's also not forget that Laos and Cambodia pick up Thailand Free TV stations anyway. So they are all happily watching the matches

[Jayman]

One more time the Thais look like bozos on the international scene.

True lost the bid, fair and square. Now because of some moral high ground (thai for "the law doesn't apply to us"), they want to be able to air the competition anyway. Their boss even called on the NBTC to implement a "must carry" rule to prevent such disputes in the future and protect customers' rights to access all free-TV programming. Under such a rule, everyone can access free-TV broadcasts via any signal-receiving platform.

Some people really need to learn when to shut up. I don't know what they asked the UEFA but if everybody can freely broadcast the competition, how the UEFA is going to make a cent from broadcasting rights ? But then they will always have the explanation that foreigners don't understand Thailand ....

It’s amazing that despite numerous threads on the subject people still fail to understand that the issue is not about True having or not having the rights to broadcast the matches. It’s about Grammy making a deal with free over the air channels to share the advertising revenue for broadcasting them on the free over the air channels and then stopping True from showing the free over the air channels.

You and many others seem to think the True should have to pay a fee to show free over the air channels which they never have to do for anything else they contain. As others have pointed out, it is actually in Grammy’s (and the free over the air channels) to allow True to show them as it increases the viewership which increases the rate advertisers pay.

TH

Again.. you seem to have this very wrong. If what you say is "true" and TRUE has free rights to rebroadcast the games on the FTA channels, they are not obliged to show the adverts. They could substitute their own. All of you claiming that the advertisers on the FTA are losing viewers just don't understand how this stuff works. In reality, TRUE would gain without paying extra costs by having free rights to the games and the paying advertisers on the FTA channels would LOSE even more viewers that would be watching on TRUE and seeing different adverts.

I mean, you guys don't actually think that everyone around the world that is watching the games is seeing the same adverts during the commercial breaks do you?

Edited June 14, 2012 by Jayman

[mic6ard]

UEFA are not at fault here, they have issued the Thai rights to GMM, end of story.

As Beano pointed out True transmissions could/would interfere with other countries arrangements.

True viewers should stop bleating and accept the fact that TV rights are a competitive market.

There's no way Thai TV companies are going to run rings around UEFA

You've lost the plot big time buddy. It would have been no problem if GMM decide to show the matches only on their net work, but they decide to put it on FREE (unrestricted)TV!!!

Once a program is on FREE tv, it should be open to every one.

Edited June 14, 2012 by mic6ard

[Hellhound66]

UEFA are not at fault here, they have issued the Thai rights to GMM, end of story.

As Beano pointed out True transmissions could/would interfere with other countries arrangements.

True viewers should stop bleating and accept the fact that TV rights are a competitive market.

There's no way Thai TV companies are going to run rings around UEFA

Thai Free TV stations are broadcast in Laos and Cambodia so that argument is and always was just fluff.

Let's ask an interesting question:- True did bid for the rights but knew that the value was negligible to them. Why on earth did GMM pay near 400 million Baht (actually I believe it was 9 million US plus expenses) when True was a so far behind in the bid??

[Hellhound66]

One more time the Thais look like bozos on the international scene.

True lost the bid, fair and square. Now because of some moral high ground (thai for "the law doesn't apply to us"), they want to be able to air the competition anyway. Their boss even called on the NBTC to implement a "must carry" rule to prevent such disputes in the future and protect customers' rights to access all free-TV programming. Under such a rule, everyone can access free-TV broadcasts via any signal-receiving platform.

Some people really need to learn when to shut up. I don't know what they asked the UEFA but if everybody can freely broadcast the competition, how the UEFA is going to make a cent from broadcasting rights ? But then they will always have the explanation that foreigners don't understand Thailand ....

It’s amazing that despite numerous threads on the subject people still fail to understand that the issue is not about True having or not having the rights to broadcast the matches. It’s about Grammy making a deal with free over the air channels to share the advertising revenue for broadcasting them on the free over the air channels and then stopping True from showing the free over the air channels.

You and many others seem to think the True should have to pay a fee to show free over the air channels which they never have to do for anything else they contain. As others have pointed out, it is actually in Grammy’s (and the free over the air channels) to allow True to show them as it increases the viewership which increases the rate advertisers pay.

TH

Again.. you seem to have this very wrong. If what you say is "true" and TRUE has free rights to rebroadcast the games on the FTA channels, they are not obliged to show the adverts. They could substitute their own. All of you claiming that the advertisers on the FTA are losing viewers just don't understand how this stuff works. In reality, TRUE would gain without paying extra costs by having free rights to the games and the paying advertisers on the FTA channels would LOSE even more viewers that would be watching on TRUE and seeing different adverts.

I mean, you guys don't actually think that everyone around the world that is watching the games is seeing the same adverts during the commercial breaks do you?

Sorry but you are 100% wrong. On a "pass through" agreement True cannot edit the free TV content. The ads on free TV are and must always be untouched.

Edited June 14, 2012 by Hellhound66

[Jayman]

UEFA are not at fault here, they have issued the Thai rights to GMM, end of story.

As Beano pointed out True transmissions could/would interfere with other countries arrangements.

True viewers should stop bleating and accept the fact that TV rights are a competitive market.

There's no way Thai TV companies are going to run rings around UEFA

You've lost the plot big time buddy. It would have been no problem if GMM decide to show the matches only on their net work, but they decide to put it on FREE (unrestricted)TV!!!

Once a program is on FREE tv, it should be open to every one.

It's not FREE as you keep claiming. Those stations pay for them and make it up via sold adverts. And just because you think it should be open to everyone doesn't make it so. Grow up. Nothing in life is "free" and just being alive doesn't give you rights to anything.

[Jayman]

One more time the Thais look like bozos on the international scene.

True lost the bid, fair and square. Now because of some moral high ground (thai for "the law doesn't apply to us"), they want to be able to air the competition anyway. Their boss even called on the NBTC to implement a "must carry" rule to prevent such disputes in the future and protect customers' rights to access all free-TV programming. Under such a rule, everyone can access free-TV broadcasts via any signal-receiving platform.

Some people really need to learn when to shut up. I don't know what they asked the UEFA but if everybody can freely broadcast the competition, how the UEFA is going to make a cent from broadcasting rights ? But then they will always have the explanation that foreigners don't understand Thailand ....

It’s amazing that despite numerous threads on the subject people still fail to understand that the issue is not about True having or not having the rights to broadcast the matches. It’s about Grammy making a deal with free over the air channels to share the advertising revenue for broadcasting them on the free over the air channels and then stopping True from showing the free over the air channels.

You and many others seem to think the True should have to pay a fee to show free over the air channels which they never have to do for anything else they contain. As others have pointed out, it is actually in Grammy’s (and the free over the air channels) to allow True to show them as it increases the viewership which increases the rate advertisers pay.

TH

Again.. you seem to have this very wrong. If what you say is "true" and TRUE has free rights to rebroadcast the games on the FTA channels, they are not obliged to show the adverts. They could substitute their own. All of you claiming that the advertisers on the FTA are losing viewers just don't understand how this stuff works. In reality, TRUE would gain without paying extra costs by having free rights to the games and the paying advertisers on the FTA channels would LOSE even more viewers that would be watching on TRUE and seeing different adverts.

I mean, you guys don't actually think that everyone around the world that is watching the games is seeing the same adverts during the commercial breaks do you?

Sorry but you are 100% wrong. On a "pass through" agreement True cannot edit the free TV content. The ads on free TV are and must always be untouched.

So you have read the agreement? Please post it here for us all to read.

[Nomad97]

I do not care who is right and who is wrong. The bottom line is that we the paying public are not getting what we should reasonably expect to see. No more, I cancelled my subscription with True Visions yesterday and I will not be co-erced / blackmailed by Gmmy into buying one of their boxes either. Alternative options do exist!

[SICHONSTEVE]

They surveyed 22 million Thai households? Really? Sure about that?

They don't actually knock on peoples doors - they gather the information electronically in a similar fashion to that used to obtain the TV channel ratings figures!!!

[Rammstein]

Lets face it True Visions really should be called True (overpriced) Crap

This UEFA cup situation is just another massive fail in their catologue of fails,

Not only are True visions packages the most expensive in asia they one of the worst if not the worst,

firstly their HD chanels are not full HD they are the cheapest weakest HD you can call HD (bit like their 3g lol)

thats all down to them giving you the customer the cheapest package they can buy for HD

Lets not forget the world cup "no English commentry" as they couldnt be bothered paying the bit extra to get it (basically to me that was one big middle finger) to all there english speaking subscribers

basically as broadcasters of other peoples programmes they have to pick from a list of packages and prices ie HBO and theres quite a few to choose from the most expensive from HBO is the latest movies, moving down to the cheapest package like 10 year old movies that are repeated 10 times a day, have a guess what True Visions plumped for

Discovery Turbo what a joke 8 year old episodes of fifth gear

dropping BBC Prime with no notice and giving the reason that they had done a survey and no one wanted it, funny all these surveys they talk about and funny thet ive never ever met anyone English speaking or thai who has ever been surveyed, in fact almost everyone i spoke to when they dropped BBC prime wasnt happy about it as i wasnt,

this is the problem with monopolies they do what they want when they want with no regard for their paying customers, makes u sort of want to get a dreambox and pay 300 baht a month just to get them back lol or Astro box with real HD

anyway as i think you can guess i no longer waste the best part of 3000 baht on their laughably called Platinum package i upgraded to cable() and am enjoying UEFA cup on that

for 4000 baht a year

good luck true visions your going to need it if you carry on the way you are,

regards

Xsubscriber (of which there are many)

[volk666]

This is not the first Euro or World Cup shown here but it's the first time the rights owner, Grammy, restricted broadcast of free TV stations and that is the crux of the problem.

True has never bid for any of those rights and never carried those events on their sports channels, only relayed what was broadcast on free TV. People who complain that True didn't pay for this or for that or for English commentary are plain wrong - all those decisions were made by copyright owners, not by True.

Now we got a ridiculous situation where people demand True to pay for the rights it doesn't want or interested in. Today it's Euro, next month Olympics, then Champions League, then some smart ass decides that True should also pay for soap operas on channel 7 or something.

True promised to show free TV via their satellites on the premise that it would be FREE tv, it is ridiculous to expect True to buy rights for everything that is shown on Channels 3,5,7,9 and 11. It's even more ridiculous to force True to buy those rights by law, as per latest NBTC rulings.

Looking into the future - just as Grammy and others are expanding into satellite business, True can expand into rights buying business, too. Nothing stops them from going into each and every auction and then selling the rights to free TV stations for handsome profit, it's not their primary business and people would scream monopoly but at least they would protect themselves from incidents like the current fiasco.

Or NBTC should enforce the rule that free TV stations must be allowed broadcast on any platform by any intermediary, just like they've been doing for ages.