Hong Kong can stop piracy when NowTV treats its customers better

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Improvements to NowTV’s services may prevent customers from turning to illegal devices, especially during major international sporting events. Photo: Handout

Published: 10:33am, 10 Jun 2018Updated: 12:31pm, 15 Oct 2020

It is true that there are problems with illegal set-top boxes and illicit broadcasts in Hong Kong (“Got an illegal set-top box in Hong Kong? Be careful, customs is cracking down ahead of Fifa World Cup in Russia”, May 28). However, when the virtual monopoly supplier consistently acts with total disregard for the rights of customers, it is hardly surprising that people seek alternative sources of content.

I refer to the regular messages from NowTV which follow a similar format. Paraphrased, these messages go like this: Now offers lots of services. From a certain date channels X, Y and Z will no longer be available. However this change will not affect the rest of your package and fees will remain unchanged.

Add to this the absolute impossibility of accessing anyone by telephone who can justify these decisions and you have a market that illegal deliverers will target.

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Similarly, if one wishes to subscribe to coverage of a certain event like the Rugby World Cup, a package that lasts for two years and includes all sorts of channels which one does not want is the only option. Giving customers viable options that do not gouge them at every opportunity would encourage many to only access legal broadcasts.

John Bruce, Happy Valley