Cordel Green- Executive Director Broadcasting Commission
It has been announced that Jamaica’s cable market is to undergo expansion. The Broadcasting Commission Jamaica, BCJ, is to release a licence to a second cable operator.
The disclosure was made yesterday by Executive Director of the Commission, Cordel Green, at a Rotary Club of Kingston luncheon. Mr. Green said an evaluation is underway which could result in a major third player emerge at the national level.
He disclosed that the Commission has a responsibility to ensure that the cable market remains open, fair and competitive at all times. Digital Television Switch-over will also play a part in refashioning the competitive landscape. That switch-over is targeted to begin in 2018.
The BCJ boss said the Commission will continue to use a mix of regulatory action and diplomacy to resolve the copyright and access to channels problem.
The Broadcasting Commission Jamaica boss has weighed in on the issue of rebates to cable customers for the recent removal of illegal channels. According to Mr. Green, some cable operators will have to provide an explanation to their customers. He says the issue requires deeper consideration by cable companies and in particular, Flow, whose customers are the majority of those most affected.
The Broadcasting Commission says it has not washed its hands of the matter and is in correspondence with the company about the issues. He added that there is a need for serious thinking about customer relations, and to restore public confidence about whether the price being paid for cable represents a fair deal.
The BCJ boss says any cable company which fails to do so is likely to see more of their customer base migrating to internet channels, and total bypass in the future.
