Caption: The message on the NBC channel on the Flow network
By Prior Beharry
THE Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) states that a “blackout” on subscription TV occurs when the rights of a particular programme are acquired by a TV broadcaster.
It issued a release on Wednesday to address the complaints by the public that events from the Olympics in Paris were being blacked out on local cable television.
The rights for the games have been attained by the NBC broadcast network and its streaming service Peacock. During Olympic games coverage, on the NBC channel on Flow, for example, a message reads: “Please be advised Olympic content is not available on this channel due to rights.”
In its release, TATT stated: “When trying to view popular sporting events, for example the 2024 Olympic Games and other TV programming, some consumers with subscription TV plans are being greeted by a “BLACKOUT” screen.
“A “BLACKOUT” occurs when the broadcast rights of a particular programme, for example, the Olympic Games, are acquired (often exclusively) by a TV broadcaster. In such a case, other TV broadcasters are required by law NOT to broadcast the said programme as it would be a violation of the intellectual property rights of the broadcaster, who purchased the broadcast rights to the programme.
“This would also be a breach of a broadcaster’s obligations under its concession with TATT should it broadcast a programme that it does not have the right to broadcast. In compliance with the law and the concession obligations, the programme will therefore be ‘blocked’ by other TV broadcasters in the country who don’t have the right to broadcast the programme.
“The Authority advises that persons who see a blackout when attempting to view the Olympic Games, can view the games on TTT Ltd., which is the authorised broadcaster, having purchased the broadcast rights to show the event in this country.”
