MDA postpones cross-carriage, targets packages not channels

When the media content Code – which mandates cross-carriage of TV content on rival platforms StarHub TV and SingTel mio TV – was first made public on 12 March 2010, the major networks were safe in the knowledge that cross-carriage on Singapore's rival pay-TV platforms would not affect them until their current exclusive contracts had expired. Most, if not all, had entered three to five year deals with StarHub or SingTel in efforts to pre-empt the legislation.

But last week's postponement of the code's enforcement, moved to the first half of 2011 from 1 September 2010, also contained crucial changes. The code now states that an entire package of channels, usually grouped by genre, will be subject to mandatory cross-carriage if any one of its constituent channels signed a carriage deal post 12 March 2010.

While at the moment it is understood that no channels have signed agreements since March, renewals or newly-launching channels could impact the entire package under which they fall.

The code sparked ire amongst networks at MDA's decision to call an open consultative phase only after the code had been changed rather than before.

Quizzed by press back in April 2010, acting minister for information, communications and the arts Lui Tuck Yew said that consultations had been conducted behind closed doors due to the sensitivity of the issue. He declined to share exactly with whom those consultations were conducted, and most networks said they had not been contacted.