Agreement reached over poached channels
(CNS Business) After a lengthy copyright dispute, WestStar’s new owners have landed an agreement with HBO Latin America for the distribution and broadcast of HBO/MAX channels. This agreement comes after the recent take-over of WestStar by telecommunications company Logic. After accusing WestStar of intercepting US Satellite broadcasts and distributing its content to their subscribers, HBO LA filed a complaint with the Cayman Islands Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) last June but was informed it would need to bring legal action for breach of copyright if it felt WestStar was illegally broadcasting its content.
In a statement Tuesday, HBO LA confirmed that the dispute had been resolved following the takeover of WestStar by Logic, which has an existing copyright agreement with HBO Latin America.
“HBO is very pleased to have reached a mutual agreement that will bring our programming to all WestStar subscribers in the Cayman Islands,†said Javier Figueras, of HBO Latin America. Logic insists that much of the same content will be available, with some changes in channels offered to subscribers.
The wrangling over who should be broadcasting what has been featured heavily in local media for the past year or so and had raised questions over how our media distribution was regulated.
The ICTA took no legal action on the matter in regards to forcing WestStar to comply with HBO Latin America’s calls to end its intercepted broadcasting of the channels. Its primary focus was to ensure that local programming was broadcast, and with WestStar owning Cayman27, the criteria it was regulating with the local company was largely met. The ICTA was mentioned by notable local figures in the broadcasting industry such as Randy Merren in being too complacent in the matter. “That’s what they’re there for. You’re an authority, regulate. Don’t just collect checks from us; regulate us.†Merren told the local press last year.
WestStar had claimed that HBO Latin America’s channel package was not suitable for Cayman broadcasting as it included many Spanish language channels. Despite not denying broadcasting HBO and Cinemax without a license, they insisted they were working on an agreement with HBO USA to screen the same content available in the US and Bermuda. The agreement was never announced and the HBO USA package is still not available for broadcasters in the Caribbean.
“HBO Latin America has repeatedly requested WestStar TV to cease its interception and rebroadcast of HBO and Cinemax programming. WestStar TV has not denied these unethical activities, but has continued to engage in these practices…†HBO Latin America said last year in a statement, decrying WestStar’s business practices.
HBO Latin America had claimed it would seek out any regulatory body in the US, Cayman or otherwise to force WestStar to stop pirating the channels, but the take-over of WestStar by Logic and the ensuing agreement has meant that the channels will still be broadcast to local subscribers in a format that is legally suitable for all parties.
With these developments, Caymanian subscribers to WestStar can enjoy the distribution of the HBO/MAX family of channels. It also means that Logic’s media market share has risen significantly, now owning a widely subscribed-to broadcasting organization as well as introducing fiber-optic cable internet packages. How these services compete with other local providers such as C3 and LIME remains to be seen.
Category: ICT, Local Business, Media, Technology
