Singapore - Govt to require pay-TV platforms to share exclusive content from mid-2011

[worldscreen] The Media Development Authority of Singapore has announced its "preliminary position" on the country's cross-carriage mandate for pay-TV platforms, following a round of consultation, and has delayed the implementation date to the first half of 2011.

The regulatory authority says it will continue its soliciting feedback from industry players, with a final set of guidelines to be issued at the end of the year. The MDA announced the cross-carriage measure in March, requiring platforms—StarHub on cable and SingTel on IPTV—that have exclusive content deals to make those channels/programming available to the rival operator. The mandate only applied to deals signed on or after March 12, 2010. The MDA notes that "consumers can now access exclusive content from different retailers via the same platform. Industry players will gain from the wider distribution of content through multiple platforms."

The MDA says it has taken feedback into consideration to clarify some issues as to how the measure will be implemented. The MDA is requiring platforms to "address issues such as consumer education and channel numbering to minimize confusion and facilitate consumer access." In addition, platforms, when inking carriage deals, must acquire all rights to a channel or content—ie. cable and IPTV rights. The platforms must also reach an agreement on the cross-carriage fee they will each have to pay. Active cross-carriage of content/channels takes place in the first half of 2011.

Announcing the MDA position today, Michael Yap, deputy CEO and director of development policy, said, “Today’s preliminary position on the cross carriage measure takes a definitive step forward in enabling our growing media industry to remain vibrant. The cross carriage measure is an effective way to help address a uniquely Singapore issue, and will benefit all stakeholders. It will help content providers gain a wider distribution of their content and consumers to enjoy a wider choice of content without the inconveniences of having to switch pay-TV retailers each time exclusive content changes hands.”

MDA Comments on Cross-Carriage Mandate