Last night we told you that CBC Cable had returned Channel 7 and KREM’s signal to the lineup of channels provided to the villages of Mahogany Heights, La Democracia, Cotton Tree, Armenia, St. Margaret’s and Dangriga Town. CBC technicians restored the signals quietly on Monday evening at 5:00 pm, after the Broadcasting Authority reminded them of the must-carry rule which is contained in the terms of their license.
And while CBC was fulfilling the terms of its license as required by the law, that’s not how Telemedia sees it. This morning, Telemedia’s Manager of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Dean Molina wrote a latter to CBC telling the cable company that it would pull the plug on its fiber link at 3:00 pm today, if Channel 7 and KREM were not removed immediately. A stiff deadline, but something may have been worked out to soften it, because our word from those communities this evening is that they are still getting the signal.
But that doesn’t change Telemedia’s position, which is that Love TV, Plus TV and Channel 5 have worked out commercial arrangements with BTL to carry their signals while Channel 7 and KREM have not. And now because CBC is carrying Channel 7 and KREM, again, in concordance with the terms of their license, Telemedia has accused the cable company of being in breach of contract.
According to News Director Jules Vasquez, Channel 7’s position is that if it is CBC’s legal obligation to carry that signal, why must we pay? Second, how is it logical that Channel 7 should pay BTL to have CBC carry its signal? And third, Channel 7 pays BTL close to $40,000 annually to distribute our signal on its fiber optic network. But, as they say, ”matters be”, Telemedia has advised CBC that, “its access to the Telemedia network will regretfully be terminated forthwith.”
And while it’s sure to be an unpopular decision, BTL – in case you hadn’t guessed by now – is not in a popularity contest and it does have the right to pull the plug on CBC. But CBC Cable, does not have the right to block out Channel 7 and KREM. And while all this “wrong” and “right” talk persists, the fact is hundreds of households risk losing cable television service, at the whim of BTL’s corporate caprice.
