Colombia: Cable operators may not broadcast Caracol and RCN signals (without permission)

Colombia’s market regulator, the Superintendence for Industry and Commerce (SIC) has decreed that the country’s powerful cable TV operators will now longer be allowed to re-broadcast the signals (whether analogue or HD) for privately-owned channels Caracol TV and RCN TV without prior authorization.

The decision is part of an ongoing trial over unfair competition in which Caracol and RCN have accused cable operators Telmex, Telefónica, DirecTV, ETB and UNE of exploiting their content. Both Caracol and RCN have claimed to be “broadcasting organizations, and therefore have the right to authorize or to prohibit the re-transmission of their broadcast signal through any means and media.”

In their response, the Association of Public Service and Communications Companies, which represents several cable operators, said they”respect the decision taken by the SIC” while noting that they intend to appeal the decision.

Full Content: El Tiempo

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