Mitri oversees inking of deal to regulate Cable Vision distribution of OSN

22 September 2010

BEIRUT: The subscription television company Orbit Showtime Network (OSN) and cable operating company Cable Vision signed an agreement on Tuesday that Information Minister Tarek Mitri described as key to regulating cable distribution.

The accord was concluded during a news conference held at the Information Ministry, in the presence of Mitri. The minister said the agreement was significant because it would help regulate the distribution of cable television channels and prevent piracy.

“We need to regulate this sector and to issue laws … This is a new step toward regulation and legislation,” he added.

The minister then gave the example of this year’s World Cup, when the Lebanese risked missing the event because several local cable distributors were operating without permits.

The new agreement will allow Cable Television to broadcast OSN channels while preserving the television company’s copyrights.

Mitri refused to accuse cable distributors of working illegally. “What they do is not necessarily illegal because there is no law to hold them accountable,” he said, asking distributors to present suggestions on how to regulate the sector.

He added that the Information Ministry was preparing a new and global information law, “different from the scattered laws we have today,” that would include the issue discussed during the conference. “I want everyone concerned to be involved in the process so we can write a just law,” Mitri said.

Cable Vision Director General Mohammad Fakhoury said the newly signed agreement would allow subscribers to benefit from a broader range of channels for reasonable prices and with HD technology.

He added that no additional costs would be imposed on subscribers and that Cable Vision would communicate with local cable distributers.

“Signing this agreement is a fundamental condition for distributing OSN channels in Lebanon,” Fakhoury said. – The Daily Star