True drops HBO, 5 others

Officials yesterday approved a request by pay TV operator TrueVisions to stop airing six channels, including HBO and Cinemax, despite the move being deemed a violation of broadcasting rules.

On Jan 1, TrueVisions plans to stop showing Cinemax, HBO, HBO Hits HD, HBO Signature, HBO Family and Red by HBO.

The broadcasting regulator said the cancellation of the six channels could proceed because TrueVisions reported that it had failed to reach a deal with USbased HBO, citing unspecified business difficulties. HBO has already terminated its contract with the Thai operator.

Col Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s broadcasting committee, said TrueVisions violated NBTC rules but was permitted to do so because TrueVisions could no longer make business arrangements with HBO.

Typically, when a pay TV operator wants to drop a channel on its platform, it must notify the NBTC of the change 30 days in advance. Moreover, the operator has to inform its customers as well.

Col Natee said the broadcasting panel ordered its consumer protection subcommittee to send a formal letter asking TrueVisions to submit a customer-relief plan after the cancellation of the six popular channels.

TrueVisions said in a release that it would replace the cancelled content with Warner TV, Sony, Paramount, Fox Action Movies HD, Celestial Classic Movies and Food Network on Jan 1, plus True Films HD 2 and one other channel in March.

An industry source said the move by TrueVisions was meant as a bargaining tactic to make HBO reduce fees.

“Some people said HBO and Cinemax would go to the AIS Playbox platform instead after the divorce with TrueVisions,” the source said.

Supinya Klangnarong, a broadcasting commissioner, tweeted on Sunday that TrueVisions had said its plan to drop the six channels on Jan 1 would violate the NBTC rules but that the operator was left with no choice because of business difficulties with HBO.

Ms Supinya couldn’t be reached for comment yesterday.

The NBTC said it would strive to obtain the most appropriate customerrelief measures from TrueVisions to help customers.