By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
A UTILITIES Regulations and Competition Authority (URCA) official agrees that Cable Bahamas Ltd“did what it had to do” when it last week blacked out two basic cable channels that aired live coverage of the FIFA World Cup.
Kathleen Riviere-Smith, URCA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) last night told The Tribune that had the channels not been blocked, Cable Bahamas would have found itself paying hefty fines for violating World Cup rights.
“All I can say,” she said, “Is that they were facing a violation of FIFA world Cup rights. Had they not done what they did, the company would have faced a pretty penny in fines, and I can tell you it would cost far more than basic cable. They did what they had to do.”
The CEO commented during URCA’s oral reading of their annual 2013 report and 2014 annual plan.
Last Thursday, just after Croatia scored the opening goal against Brazil CBC (channel 8), which is a fixture on basic cable, went black. A message indicating that there was no authorisation for the World Cup to be provided on the channel, showed almost immediately. The message asked for subscribers to call Cable Bahamas’ offices to have the channel activated at a cost of $9.95. It would be included in the REVTV Prime Sports Package.
The Tribune attempted to call the number as directed on the screen, however the phone rang twice and then went to a busy signal. During that time the company’s customer service line also said they were currently experiencing “technical difficulties”.
On their Facebook page, Cable Bahamas said customers interested in watch the World Cup would need to purchase a REVTV Prime Sports Package at a monthly cost of $9.95.
Cable Bahamas’ Marketing Manager David Burrows, said the company had to take the measures so quickly because they received a change in carriage from one of their major suppliers less than 24 hours before the start of the first match.
He said: “This required some changes in how we were able to provide this coverage and until those changes were confirmed we held our marketing announcements to ensure that they were accurate and clear.”
Eventually, on the same day, World Cup airing on channel 8 yesterday was restored. Coverage from ESPN was also disrupted. However, Mr Burrows said that due to regional signal rights restrictions, Cable Bahamas is not permitted to carry World Cup coverage on CBC and ABC (channel 10).
Comments
Reality_Check 10 years, 5 months ago
Kathleen, it's really time for you to move on. Your failure to speak out about the conflict of interest surrounding Randol Dorsett's appointment as Chairman of URCA has left you without a voice!
Cobalt 10 years, 5 months ago
Cable Bahamas is full of crap and attempting to deceive the Bahamian consumer. The seeds of this particular problem was sown years ago when cable Bahamas decided to charge Bahamians for ESPN. In the United States ESPN (who is currently airing the World Cup) is considered a basic network. As a result, consumers living in the US are not charged extra for this particular channel. However, in the Bahamas, cable Bahamas decided not to include ESPN in their basic cable package in order to charge Bahamian consumers more money. Ironically, they gave Bahamians "ESPN International"as the basic sports network. But it just so happens that ESPN International also airs a lot of international soccer year round. But now since soccer is popular around this time of year because of the World Cup, cable Bahamas found some way remove international soccer from its basic format just so they can charge Bahamians extra money to watch. This post by no means covers the complexities of the Cable industry, but the bottom line still remains; Cable Bahamas like many business in the Bahamas, continues to devise ways in which they can over-charge Bahamian people. Highway robbery!
Cobalt 10 years, 5 months ago
Idiot. Soccer is the premier sport in most poor countries (ie Haiti, Jamaica, South America, and Europe just to name a few). How is it a rich boys game? Most rich countries don't even play soccer. Instead they opt out for more prestigious sports like golf, tennis, polo, and horse racing. Think before you open your stink mouth.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 5 months ago
We give Cable Bahamas a flat out monopoly and they have to charge us for the World Cup? That's pure nonsense. Suck it up. You have a lifetime monopoly....
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 5 months ago
REMEMBER: generalcrazy aka Freddie Boy ;-)
Cobalt 10 years, 5 months ago
No..... I don't think that generaljackass is Fred Mitchell. Generaljackass sounds more like a petulant, immature child who grew up without structure.
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