Colombia fines 45 cable operators
Details
Juan Fernandez Gonzalez
| 26 January 2017

Colombia’s television authority has fined 45 local pay-TV providers for being unable to prove that they have been obeying copyright laws.

According to the Autoridad Nacional de Televisión (ANTV), the sanctions demonstrate that the country’s new anti-piracy measures and protocols have been successful. The 45 local cable operators have been fined for not following the regulation in terms of copyright fee registration, content information and operation licences.

“In 2016, we set a precedent and decided to increase surveillance in order to check that pay-TV providers were complying with their obligations, especially regarding copyright,” said Angela María Mora Soto, director, ANTV.

After the television authority proved that pay-TV piracy was costing over $100 million per year in taxes in Colombia, the country decided to strengthen its fight against illegal operators by launching a plan of action in April 2016.

According to the executive, the ANTV will keep strictly controlling pay-TV operators in 2017, as well as sanctioning those which do not follow Colombia’s regulations.