Government Statement: CableVision/BBC Dispute

August 7, 2011

The Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy released a statement this afternoon [Aug.7] saying they wish to “clarify the Government’s role with regard to the current dispute between the Bermuda Broadcasting Company and Bermuda CableVision.”

On August 2nd, Bermuda CableVision released a statement saying the Bermuda Broadcasting Company [BBC] has requested that CableVision pay to include local channels 7 and 9, which include the popular nightly news programme.

The Company said if they have to pay they no longer want to include the channels in its lineup, and will be advising customers of this decision via a personal mailing.

Later that day BBC CEO Rick Richardson released a statement on the evening’s news, saying the statement from CableVision is “an exercise we say in deception.”

He said it came “the heels of an attempt by CableVision to bypass the Bermuda Broadcasting Company completely and somehow get the ABC and CBS network programming by a distant signal.”

In an interview with the Bermuda Sun, Mr Richardson said the BBC does not need CableVision to carry its content, as it plans to make the long-awaited switch from analogue to digital before the end of the year.

He told the Sun that CableVision had signed a deal to pay for the BBC’s channels from 2008, and the company has been charging viewers for the channels, but has not passed on any of its takings to the broadcaster.

For CableVision to change its programme packages and fees charged, they must submit a tariff filing with the Telecommunications Commission, which they have done. The statement from Government today said, “The Telecommunications Commission will consider the filing as soon as is possible.”

The full statement from Government is below:

The Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy, in the public interest, seeks to clarify the Government’s role with regard to the current dispute between the Bermuda Broadcasting Company and Bermuda Cable Vision with the following response:

The dispute is essentially a commercial dispute between the two parties.

In 2008 amendments to the Cable Television Service Regulations 1987 and Subscription Radio Service Regulations 2003 provided a choice to broadcasters to either maintain the existing “Must Carry” regime, whereby Cable Television providers must carry the content of over the air broadcasters without a fee being charged by either party, or to elect to receive compensation for their programming, described as “Retransmission Consent”.

In 2008 the Bermuda Broadcasting Company (BBC) elected Retransmission Consent and Bermuda Cable Vision (BCV) initially decided that it did not wish to pay the requested fee and instead sought to discontinue carrying BBC’s programming.

Despite efforts to negotiate a settlement, the discussions became mired in legal wrangles. Each party has recently put the rationale for their respective positions forward, and the Ministry does not see the need to reiterate or comment upon those positions.

The three year period of election has now expired and another period has begun. Once again BBC has indicated its election of Retransmission Consent and BCV has once again opted to not carry BBC’s programmes.

In order to change its programme packages and fees charged for those packages, BCV must submit a tariff filing with the Telecommunications Commission. BCV has filed such a submission and the Telecommunications Commission will consider the filing as soon as is possible.

The Ministry believes that it would be inappropriate to comment further on the filing as it is now before the Telecommunications Commission. Once the Commission has completed its due diligence it will announce its decision with regard to the BCV filing.

The Government’s intent through the 2008 amendments was to ensure that the public had a choice in the programming that they received. This remains true today.

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Comments (21)

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  1. phibda says:

    poor public made to suffer again from these totally capitalistic creatures.

  2. what a lying government says:

    Im so tired of Cablevision….can we invite some more competition to the arean. This may be premature…but I say let the foreign cable providers start bidding. All cable vision does is make a pretty little profit from us. And when I mean pretty, I mean they are sitting on a monopolist gold mine for decades and its time to give them a run for better quality and service network proiver.

  3. OTS says:

    Good riddance BBC and your crappy broadcasting. You will not be missed.

  4. It is what it is says:

    Cable vision..bunch of pirates…….ripping off the people of Bermuda

    • Spectator says:

      You can add a few cell phone companies and internet service providers. Price gauging like no other; it’s incredible how much more we have to pay for lower quality service.

      • It is what it is says:

        I’m with you on that!!! outrageous!!!!!!!

      • get it right ! says:

        It’s ‘gouging’ .. got it ? NOT gauging … I’m sick of being gouged for every damn thing on this island .

        Tired of being gouged and tired of people thinking it’s ‘gauging’ !

        • Spectator says:

          Haha ok my apologies. I learned something new today!

      • sandgrownan says:

        Just going to throw something out there…why do people think they should get more for less from Cable, internet and cell phone providers. Is Telecomms the only industry wehre the real cost of service is actually reducing?

  5. Shut Yo Mouth... says:

    Still got my microwave dish , my vcr and my beta , my rabbit ears still work with a little foil on the tips . Looking forward to the Terry vs. Rick duel , So tune in for the next round . And remember it’s nothing wrong with the t.v. ,the problems ” UP DE STATION.”

  6. cableinbermudasucks says:

    Get rid of CableVision.. it isn’t even Bermudian owned!! I’m turning my boxes in tomorrow!! BBC is crap too.. Come on CiTV!!!

  7. Still totally pi$$ed off .. says:

    So how much less will my C/V bill be once channel 7 and 9 are gone ?
    They were part of my ‘package’ when I signed up 20 years ago and I still want them.

    How come WOW ‘s prices are the SAME as C/V’s and there’s no fuss about all of this nonsense ?

    Sorry , but I still think C/V is the demon in this dispute and are being totally greedy .. Don’t agree ?
    Well sign on for their internet service and get 65% less speed that you pay for then ! (Want to talk about all their mysterious blank channels too ? No , didn’t think so ..)
    Consumer’s Affairs board .. Where are you ? ?

  8. Marketing Professional says:

    The BBC is living in the stone age, they offer terrible, amateurish 70s style “home made” productions.
    Digital by the end of the year! not a chance!

    If anyone has seen the new CableVision commercials you can see that at least this company is investing in professional productions and if CableVision can produce professional style commercials why cant the BBC with all their years of experience! There is no excuse for poor quality productions in this day and age.

  9. Common Sense says:

    It’s so easy to complain, whether it’s about Cablevision or Bermuda Broadcasting – or both. But the truth is that both try to do their best in a tiny market that has great difficulty supporting so many local radio and TV stations.

    It’s a great shame that Cablevision and BBC can’t get together and work out an agreement that benefits both parties. For example, what are the chances of Cablevision continuing to re-broadcast channels 7 and 9 for free while agreeing to run BBC commercials on some of their other channels so that local businesses are encouraged to spend their advertising dollars on television. This way they could both be winners.

    • Rockfish#1 says:

      @ Common Sense,

      For the most part I agree with you, especially when you mention the limited market.

      Maybe if the BBC would concentrate on updating their equipment, and service, they would be in a better position to negotiate a deal with Cablevision, thus maintaining their wide coverage. It is highly unlikely that the BBC will survive with just two channels.

  10. Rockfish says:

    Hopefully with the back dated revenu BBC is set to collect it can put it straight into modernizing it’s company and bring it out of the ‘cave man era’. But on the flip side – are the rates for Cablevision going to increase to accomidate for the backpay entitiled to BBC? If they pass this onto the consumer by the way of rate hike – I’m going to drop them like a hot potatoe and go with WOW for a little while.

  11. pebblebeach says:

    BBC….what a joke of an analogue company…everyone and their uncle is digital and beyond, been that way for years…except for BBC…cannot remember the last time I watched their programming…

  12. Classic says:

    I just want to know if they will be getting another feed for CBS…Can’t live without my fall shows! CSI, Amazing Race, Survivor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF BBC and CV

    • U Different says:

      I agree…although those aren’t my shows….CV needs to either pick up another feed for the fall shows, or deal with MANY disgruntle customers with the possibilities of them leaving instantly!!!

  13. whatever says:

    BBC is a joke, who cares if they are removed! The only channel when you are watching the news you have to turn your volume completely up and then rush to turn it down when commercials come on. Rick Richardson makes a statement that they will be going digital by the end of the year. Broadcasting companies world wide have switch from analogue to digital at least ten years ago…