Hong Kong, June 8, 2006 — The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has once again urged the Hong Kong hospitality sector to boost legitimate entertainment and sports industries, and not engage in signal piracy.
As part of its long-term campaign, CASBAA and its members are seeking to further raise the consciousness of bars and clubs in Hong Kong that screening pay-TV services without legal subscriptions means they are operating outside of the law.
With the launch of the FIFA World Cup soccer competition in sight this Friday, CASBAA has reminded some 300 bars and clubs that legal action can be taken against those who air unlicensed pay-television broadcasts that infringe copyrights and the Hong Kong Broadcasting Ordinance.
The 300 advisory letters to the bars and clubs, including private members clubs, note that pay-TV television signal theft is not to be tolerated by government or industry.
Meanwhile, CASBAA commented that some progress is being made. During the past year, some bar owners have given undertakings to cease screening illegal TV broadcasts.
We commend those who screen only legitimate pay television broadcasts, said Marcel Fenez, Chairman of CASBAA. And we continue to encourage bar-goers to contribute to Hong Kongs economy by giving their patronage to businesses airing legal, Hong Kong-licensed TV services. Certainly we want the community to enjoy the World Cup, but to do so in a way that ensures adequate remuneration to Hong Kongs service providers and the sports leagues who stage the games.
Under Hong Kong law, bars and clubs may only display pay-TV channels, under an appropriate subscription from a Hong Kong licensed pay-TV operator such as i-Cable or now Television. Other pay-TV operators such as UBC of Thailand, MultiChoice of South Africa and Dream of the Philippines are not authorised to offer pay-TV subscriptions in Hong Kong.
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ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia is an industry-based advocacy group dedicated to the promotion of multi-channel TV via cable, satellite, broadband and wireless video networks across the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA represents some 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include ABC Asia Pacific, ABN AMRO, AETN International (History Channel), AsiaSat, Astro, Bloomberg Television, China Entertainment Television, Comverse, Discovery Networks Asia, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Macquarie, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now Broadband TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC, Walt Disney Television International, Zone Vision, AGB Nielsen, Asian Food Channel, BBC Prime, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosport, Hallmark Channel, Hong Kong Cable Television, HSBC Bank, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, TimeWarner, TVBI and TVB Pay Vision.
Contact:
Rebecca Kennedy/ Katie Wong
Communications
CASBAA
Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2854 9913
Fax: (852) 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com