Cable TV inquiry after Spanish dispute blocks soccer broadcasts
The Broadcasting Authority will investigate Cable TV's failure to broadcast Spanish soccer league matches at the weekend.
A contract dispute between the owner of the rights to broadcast most Primera Liga matches and the production company that distributes the matches is believed to have led the former to block pay-TV broadcasts of some matches from the opening weekend of the season. They included the Real Madrid-Atletico Madrid derby match due for broadcast at 2am on Sunday, and Barcelona's game against Racing Santander early yesterday. Other live coverage of Spanish soccer on Cable TV was broadcast as advertised.
Cable TV had publicised its Spanish League coverage heavily, and the authority said it had received nine complaints.
Under the authority's Generic Codes of Practice for Television, where programmes are not shown in accordance with publicly announced schedules, operators should take reasonable steps to inform viewers of such changes. However, this rule does not apply to broadcasts relying on satellite feeds since the authority considers that broadcasters have no control over programme schedules.
A spokeswoman for the authority said it would investigate the complaints about Cable TV.
Consumer Council deputy chief executive Kenneth So Wai-hang said it had received inquiries about Cable TV's failure to broadcast the matches. He said the pay-TV operator owed the public a thorough explanation and an apology.
Cable TV news and sports vice-president Ronald Chiu Ying-chun told Commercial Radio the broadcast rights dispute was acknowledged last week, but insisted Cable TV had not clearly been told it could not broadcast Sunday's game live.
It told viewers it could not show the match because of signal failure.
'We were unsure at the time whether it was a signal problem or the copyright problem,' said Mr Chiu. Another company spokesman said it made on-screen announcements that yesterday's game would not be shown.
He could not say whether Cable TV would be able to broadcast Spanish soccer matches next week, but it was in close communication with the rights holder and distributor.
Soccer fans vented their anger in internet forums, and some who wished to stop their subscriptions claimed Cable TV had avoided answering their phone calls to request a termination form.
The Spanish Primera Liga has become Cable TV's trump card in the fight for soccer fans' subscriptions since it lost the rights to English Premier League matches to Now TV.
How to cancel your Cable TV service
2 Fax it to Cable TV and wait for the company to send a confirmation letter
3 Return the decoder box and remote control to collection centres in Causeway Bay, Sheung Wan, Tsim Sha Tsui or Kwun Tong
