Thakur
Banned
- Joined
- 30 Aug 2013
- Messages
- 14,856
- Reaction score
- 8,575
Several small shops dealing in satellite
and television services have already been
raided by police authorities for
promoting such set-top boxes.
If you happen to use Dish TV or TataSky
services in the UAE, authorities could be on
the lookout for you. Rampant television
piracy has pushed the UAE television
broadcasters to resort to legal measures and
authorities here have started clamping
down on illegally imported set-top boxes.
Speaking with Khaleej Times, David Butorac,
CEO of Orbit Showtime Network (OSN) said:
“In many cases the consumer is not aware
that the television services they are using
could be illegal, even though they may be
paying for it. By paying for an illegal
service they are still committing an
offence.”
Dish TV set-top boxes are hugely popular
with Indian expats and a monthly
subscription for the service costs less than
Dh50. In comparison, a similar package in
the UAE costs between Dh264 to Dh477 per
month. Several small shops dealing in
satellite and television services have
already been raided by police authorities
for promoting such set-top boxes.
“By supporting piracy, people are hurting
the ability of major broadcasters to create
jobs and skills. The anti-piracy coalition is a
group of broadcasters and companies which
target the illegal use of content. We have
had great success in clamping down on
channels that illegally broadcast movies
without having the rights. We are also
working towards combating the illegal free
to air distribution of content which imposes
broadcaster rights,” added Butorac.
Importing set-top boxes into the UAE is not
allowed and anyone found with it could
face action, in accordance with the UAE
laws. However, the legal warning hasn’t
stopped people from using television
services provided by companies outside the
UAE.
“If you take legitimate platforms in other
markets like Dish TV and Tata Sky — they
are encouraged to grow their business in the
region. The distribution of these set-top
boxes is being done in the UAE through
organised crime. Dedicated crime groups
make great profits by illegally distributing
receivers and viewing cards,” added David.
Once an illegal viewing card is seized,
authorities make an effort to block the
viewing card by reaching out to the service
provider.
“The number of Dish TV set-top boxes is
significantly bigger than other television
service providers. As part of the anti-piracy
coalition, we have dedicated individuals in
our organisation which track buildings and
identify illegal television connections. When
we identify the unique number on viewing
cards that are used illegally, we seek the
help of broadcasters to switch those cards
off,” said David.
OSN has partnered with authorities to
promote the fight against television piracy
and it has also pushed forward with a
media and advertising campaign to create
awareness about the issue.
“We have identified a significantly large
number of cards to platforms in South Asia
and we are expecting these companies to
cooperate with us. The clampdown on
privacy requires the cooperation of a
number of parties and we need the
assistance of governments to ensure our
rights are protected. There has to be
vigilance at ports to ensure these boxes are
not imported and we need assistance from
economic and custom authorities.
and television services have already been
raided by police authorities for
promoting such set-top boxes.
If you happen to use Dish TV or TataSky
services in the UAE, authorities could be on
the lookout for you. Rampant television
piracy has pushed the UAE television
broadcasters to resort to legal measures and
authorities here have started clamping
down on illegally imported set-top boxes.
Speaking with Khaleej Times, David Butorac,
CEO of Orbit Showtime Network (OSN) said:
“In many cases the consumer is not aware
that the television services they are using
could be illegal, even though they may be
paying for it. By paying for an illegal
service they are still committing an
offence.”
Dish TV set-top boxes are hugely popular
with Indian expats and a monthly
subscription for the service costs less than
Dh50. In comparison, a similar package in
the UAE costs between Dh264 to Dh477 per
month. Several small shops dealing in
satellite and television services have
already been raided by police authorities
for promoting such set-top boxes.
“By supporting piracy, people are hurting
the ability of major broadcasters to create
jobs and skills. The anti-piracy coalition is a
group of broadcasters and companies which
target the illegal use of content. We have
had great success in clamping down on
channels that illegally broadcast movies
without having the rights. We are also
working towards combating the illegal free
to air distribution of content which imposes
broadcaster rights,” added Butorac.
Importing set-top boxes into the UAE is not
allowed and anyone found with it could
face action, in accordance with the UAE
laws. However, the legal warning hasn’t
stopped people from using television
services provided by companies outside the
UAE.
“If you take legitimate platforms in other
markets like Dish TV and Tata Sky — they
are encouraged to grow their business in the
region. The distribution of these set-top
boxes is being done in the UAE through
organised crime. Dedicated crime groups
make great profits by illegally distributing
receivers and viewing cards,” added David.
Once an illegal viewing card is seized,
authorities make an effort to block the
viewing card by reaching out to the service
provider.
“The number of Dish TV set-top boxes is
significantly bigger than other television
service providers. As part of the anti-piracy
coalition, we have dedicated individuals in
our organisation which track buildings and
identify illegal television connections. When
we identify the unique number on viewing
cards that are used illegally, we seek the
help of broadcasters to switch those cards
off,” said David.
OSN has partnered with authorities to
promote the fight against television piracy
and it has also pushed forward with a
media and advertising campaign to create
awareness about the issue.
“We have identified a significantly large
number of cards to platforms in South Asia
and we are expecting these companies to
cooperate with us. The clampdown on
privacy requires the cooperation of a
number of parties and we need the
assistance of governments to ensure our
rights are protected. There has to be
vigilance at ports to ensure these boxes are
not imported and we need assistance from
economic and custom authorities.
