Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PORTOFSPAIN1156
2007-11-27 19:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Of Spain
Cable title:  

TRINIDAD REQUESTS USG HELP WITH CABLE TV PROVIDERS

Tags:  ETRD KIPR TD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7184
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHSP #1156 3311958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271958Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8835
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3733
UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 001156 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/TPP/IPE AND WHA/CAR
STATE PASS USTR FOR TANUJA GARDE, KENT SHIGETOMI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KIPR TD
SUBJECT: TRINIDAD REQUESTS USG HELP WITH CABLE TV PROVIDERS

REF: POS 1154

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 001156

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/TPP/IPE AND WHA/CAR
STATE PASS USTR FOR TANUJA GARDE, KENT SHIGETOMI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KIPR TD
SUBJECT: TRINIDAD REQUESTS USG HELP WITH CABLE TV PROVIDERS

REF: POS 1154


1. This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5.


2. With the successful conclusion of licensing negotiations between
Trinidad's main cable TV company Flow and U.S. company HBO-LA
(reftel),the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
(TATT) has asked Flow to conclude licensing agreements with rights
holders of all remaining unlicensed cable channels.


3. According to Steven Bereaux, the TATT lawyer responsible for
monitoring HBO-LA's negotiations with Flow, while Flow will no
longer broadcast any unlicensed premium movie channels once the
agreement with HBO-LA goes into effect December 1, Flow will
continue to show eight unlicensed cable channels (A&E, Comedy
Central, Encore Western, History, TBS, TLC, USA Network and the
Sci-Fi channel). Bereaux reported that Flow is pursuing agreements
with these providers and premium movie providers, such as Showtime
and The Movie Channel, but that to date, the providers have shown
little interest in concluding agreements as they do not consider the
Caribbean a significant market and are not sufficiently troubled by
this signal piracy to devote manpower to concluding an agreement.


4. As TATT has a dual mandate to ensure cable companies comply with
local laws, including provisions on intellectual property, and
protect the interests of the viewing audience, which continues to
want as wide a range of channels as possible, Bereaux has asked Post
to assist in facilitating negotiations so these channels can be
legally distributed to the Trinidadian population. Bereaux added
that Flow may be interested in adding other channels to their roster
in the future and would appreciate Post assistance in those cases
too.


5. ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Washington agencies'
guidance/assistance on responding to TATT's appeal for USG help to
encourage U.S. rights holders to negotiate licensing agreements with
Trinidadian cable companies. With the Trinidadian authorities
trying to "do the right thing" on IPR by rejecting compulsory
licensing and encouraging local cable companies to negotiate
licenses for all TV broadcasts, Post sees in TATT's request a good
opportunity to protect the interests of U.S. rights holders and
encourage IP protection.

AUSTIN