UEFA Insists Broadcasting Deal With GMM Private

[webfact]

UEFA insists broadcasting deal with GMM private

WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) has declined to disclose the details of its broadcasting contract with GMM Grammy, which holds the rights to broadcast live matches of the Euro 2012 football tournament, the company said.

Dew Waratangtagoon, managing director for platform strategy at GMM Z, a business unit of GMM Grammy, confirmed that the deal struck by the two sides was confidential.

Uefa's refusal was announced through the firm's negotiating team, led by Kobkiat Sangwanich, GMM's managing director for sports and content. The team is in talks with Uefa in Ukraine, co-host of the Euro 2012 tournament, to allow free-TV channels ThaiTV3, TV5 and Modernine TV, to transmit satellite TV signals carrying live matches to households with satellite TV reception.

In a previous interview, Dew said it was impossible that Uefa would allow GMM Grammy to reveal any details of the broadcasting contract. However, given the official statement from PM's Office Minister Woravat Aua-pinyakul requesting Uefa to do so, the company appreciated the need to respond to this matter and solve the problem of non-availability of live Euro 2012 soccer matches on some cable and satellite TV networks, Dew said.

INSPECTOR-GENERAL

Meanwhile, the Federation of Consumer Organisations yesterday sought the inspector-general's involvement in the Euro 2012 broadcasting feud, asking it to investigate whether the National Broadcasting and Telecommunica-tions Commission (NBTC) has fully complied with the law.

The federation, led by Saree Ongsomwang - secretary-general of the Foundation for Consumers - yesterday submitted a request to the Inspector-General's Office.

It questioned whether the broadcasting regulator has fully complied with the law, given its failure to get pass-through broadcasting of the tournament to all consumers.

Earlier, the federation of 302 consumer groups asked the NBTC to order Channels 3, 5 and 9 to rebroadcast the matches.

In its request, the federation said the regulator had violated the Constitution, related laws and the broadcasting master plan. At least 10 million households could not receive the broadcast signal.

All members of the commission are named except Supinya Klangnarong.

The federation highlighted seven points it said might demonstrate the NBTC's lack of compliance.

1. It may have violated the Constitution's Article 47, which mandates a fair and level playing field in competition to provide public services.

2. It may have violated broadcasting laws by not taking action against Channels 3, 5 and 9, as the laws demand protection of consumers' rights.

3. It may have violated broadcasting laws by not taking action against GMM Grammy (the Uefa-appointed broadcasting rights-holder). The laws demand action against any company that places financial gain above consumers' benefits.

4. The NBTC could have ordered Channels 3, 5 and 9 to stop any action that takes advantage of consumers and ordered the broadcasting of the matches through all platforms.

5. By blocking public services on some platforms, Channels 3, 5 and 9 acted against the broadcasting master plan. Moreover, it is apparent that the public broadcasters did not inform the NBTC of the programming changes, though required to do so.

6. It needs to be investigated whether the NBTC complied with laws to prevent monopolies in the broadcasting field, as broadcasting via certain platforms and not others could harm free competition.

7. The NBTC may have failed to monitor CAT Telecom, which is in charge of the transmission of such signals. CAT's handling of the transmission has benefited some private operators and limited consumers' access to public services.

-- The Nation 2012-06-22

[animatic]

" At least 10 million households could not receive the broadcast signal."

OK who pulls this number out of a hat?

There are only 2 million Truevision Subscribers,

and they are the ONLY group not getting the feed.

So how does this translate to 10 million households.

Oh, right, it CAN NOT.

More B.S.> from talking heads

[cacruden]

Just ban all further broadcasts/contracts for UEFA broadcasts in Thailand and watch how quickly it gets sorted out.

[airconsult]

" At least 10 million households could not receive the broadcast signal."

OK who pulls this number out of a hat?

There are only 2 million Truevision Subscribers,

and they are the ONLY group not getting the feed.

So how does this translate to 10 million households.

Oh, right, it CAN NOT.

More B.S.> from talking heads

Did this consumer federation receive a generous donation from Truevisions lately?

[RedNIvar]

" At least 10 million households could not receive the broadcast signal."

OK who pulls this number out of a hat?

There are only 2 million Truevision Subscribers,

and they are the ONLY group not getting the feed.

So how does this translate to 10 million households.

Oh, right, it CAN NOT.

More B.S.> from talking heads

I believe they are including the other 8 million households that are illegally tapping from Trusvision. They are victims as well.

[JohnAllan]

True Visions programming is inept all through the year, yet it takes a misbroadcast football match to involve the NBTC, and to create the sort of frivolous discussion we are now all witnessing.

[Lannatyne]

Isn't it amusing to onlook when Thais get caught within the confidentiality ethics and deadlines, when dealing with European businesses. They just can't handle the business-like methods.

[theblether]

That's a fact lannatyne......

UEFA are in the premier league when it comes to International law in regards to broadcasting rights, mess with them and you mess with FIFA, who along with Formula 1 and the Olympics are the biggest players in the World.

The Thai authorities will need to understand that they are playing with the big boys.

[theblether]

Just ban all further broadcasts/contracts for UEFA broadcasts in Thailand and watch how quickly it gets sorted out.

UEFA would rather ban broadcast in Thailand than have their rights undone. It would cause carnage worldwide if singular countries by passed the contracts.

[ThailandIP]

They are including all the people who have subscribed to cable TV as well I guess

[animatic]

" At least 10 million households could not receive the broadcast signal."

OK who pulls this number out of a hat?

There are only 2 million Truevision Subscribers,

and they are the ONLY group not getting the feed.

So how does this translate to 10 million households.

Oh, right, it CAN NOT.

More B.S.> from talking heads

I believe they are including the other 8 million households that are illegally tapping from Trusvision. They are victims as well.

Or the ones with no televisions, and/or too far to get any signal other than satellite.

No gripes from people with D-TV, PSI, or the other small satellite receiver operators,

just Truevision raising hell, and of course trying to ALSO cut out these other systems,

to their own advantage, while they have the NMTC's ear and the ministries in a nationalistic mood.

Cable clients ARE getting the games via GMM.

Edited June 22, 2012 by animatic

[Lite Beer]

RT@veen_NT Letter from #Uefa to GMM Grammy - no rebroadcast allowed bit.ly/MJC8tW #EURO2012 via @jin_nation

[volk666]

"10 million affected" is everyone with a satellite dish. You don't have to be True subscriber to buy a dish, a box, and watch whatever you want. Part of the appeal of satellite TV is that national channels are broadcast in digital format and so the quality is far better than what you get with an aerial, except Channel 3, if you have the right antenna the quality of the signal is better than what I get from True.

[beano2274]

The 7 points mentioned got me thinking, especially number 1, which is copied below

1. It may have violated the Constitution's Article 47, which mandates a fair and level playing field in competition to provide public services.

Shame there is noone to go up against TOT, but then it would not be fair to those politicians with connections to TOT, and who run it.

UEFA gave a valid reason for why the rejected Grammys attempt to include TRUE, so live with it !!!!!!

Edited June 22, 2012 by beano2274

[Pormax]

By the time they sort this out (if ever) the European Championships will be over and then we will just have to wait until the next Global thing to be aired to see what happens. Any one have any idea what is happening with the Olympics broadcast. Willthis be available to everyone?

[SantiSuk]

^ In what way is True Visions broadcasting inept?

The technology seems to work fine, The billing is ok. The programmes are reliable and they even do their electronic programme guide in English and send you a free magazine with their schedule. OK its hardly a treasure but it gives some information.

I think you need to try out the young pretender, GMM, before criticising the old guard. An unpopulated on screen programme guide, no information about whats on their programmes. A major sports tournament that they suddenly changed the broadcasting schedule of half way through the tournament. Bunch of amateurs vs True.

Edited June 23, 2012 by SantiSuk

[bigbamboo]

^ In what way is True Visions broadcasting inept?

The technology seems to work fine, The billing is ok. The programmes are reliable and they even do their electronic programme guide in English and send you a free magazine with their schedule. OK its hardly a treasure but it gives some information.

I think you need to try out the young pretender, GMM, before criticising the old guard. An unpopulated on screen programme guide, no information about whats on their programmes. A major sports tournament that they suddenly changed the broadcasting schedule of half way through the tournament. Bunch of amateurs vs True.

As would True.... they aren't used to it.

[DavidOxon]

By the time they sort this out (if ever) the European Championships will be over and then we will just have to wait until the next Global thing to be aired to see what happens. Any one have any idea what is happening with the Olympics broadcast. Willthis be available to everyone?

Olympics? Who cares!!!!

[Jimjim]

By the time they sort this out (if ever) the European Championships will be over and then we will just have to wait until the next Global thing to be aired to see what happens. Any one have any idea what is happening with the Olympics broadcast. Willthis be available to everyone?

Olympics? Who cares!!!!

Obviously the poster before you does. So there's one bud....

[Curt1591]

Isn't it amusing to onlook when Thais get caught within the confidentiality ethics and deadlines, when dealing with European businesses. They just can't handle the business-like methods.

That's a fact lannatyne......

UEFA are in the premier league when it comes to International law in regards to broadcasting rights, mess with them and you mess with FIFA, who along with Formula 1 and the Olympics are the biggest players in the World.

The Thai authorities will need to understand that they are playing with the big boys.

About the only part of any contract that the Thais pay attention is the part about who gets how much money!