Hot Summer for Singapore regulators

Over the next two months, Singapore’s media policy makers expect to announce their preliminary decision on implementing controversial regulations that force the cross-carriage of exclusive channels/content on the country’s pay-TV platforms. 

This follows months of consultations with a wide range of stakeholders. We’re dying to hear how it’s all going to work (and, among a million other things, how the difference between an “ex- clusive channel” and a “non- exclusive one that simply hasn’t been acquired by the other side” is going to be explained to consumers)....

Meanwhile, our guess is that policy makers will, on the whole (and with lots of conciliatory and diplomatic language), stick with the regulations as announced, with a commitment to ongoing review in case some of the forecasts of doom actually pan out.

Why? For one, the regulations are four-and-three- quarters minutes old and they haven’t been given a chance to work (or not to). Right now, it’s all just prediction, expecta- tion, forecasts, opposing agen- das. Plus pressure from the left, the right, above, below..

Other than admitting that they might have been too hasty, what, exactly, would the regulator achieve by scrapping or significantly changing regula- tions so soon after their birth. Is this likely to happen? What do you think?

Plus, there’s enough local pressure and support (including from local academics and others who think that the only people getting rich are the international chan- nels) for authorities to stick with their declared path – for now.

We think there will be some effort made to placate deeply unhappy pay-TV channels, upon which Singapore’s media-hub status was built 10+ years ago. But we would never count out the immense power of SingTel, which has exclusive access to the Barclays Premier League and wants to build a more robust linear TV offering around that.

So, is there going to be a gigantic change of heart? No. 

Will the regulator decide that it’s worth setting aside the framework in favour of a wait-and-see approach? Probably not. 

Has the claim by multichannel body Casbaa about breaching global copyright commitments sent the regulator scurrying for its eraser for fear of global ire and broad trade sanctions? No. 

Will there be a commitment to a review down the line? Yes.

Stay tuned.