GMA Network files complaint against SkyCable for channel disruption

GMA Network has asked the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to take “necessary action” against SkyCable for causing disruptions in the airing of the network's programs this month. In a letter to NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba through Broadcast Service Department chief Alvin N. Blanco dated Feb. 4, the network noted continuing signal disruptions of GMA on SkyCable's Channel 12 that began on Friday, Feb. 1, at around 5 a.m. According to the GMA letter, the network received a number of complaints last Friday from viewers, who reported that there was only a blank screen where GMA's shows used to be aired. The SkyCable customer service representative reached by GMA Network confirmed that they were also receiving complaints from subscribers for the signal interruption, and that "technical system maintenance" at SkyCable was the cause. GMA Network further noted that it was only in the late afternoon of Feb. 2 that SkyCable resorted to the temporary remedy of moving GMA from Channel 12 to Channel 99, but the advisory for the move was only broadcast on a few channels – Studio 23, GNlV, HBO and Cinema One. “Because of this incident and consequent limited advisory, affected cable subscribers were unable to view GMA in SkyCable's Digibox and were irate because they missed their favorite GMA programs. After four days, the cable company still cannot give us a definite date as to when the problem will permanently cease,” according to the letter from the network. In a press release dated Feb. 3 posted on its website, SkyCable noted that GMA7 is "temporarily on Channel 99” while it conducts “a system upgrade to enhance signal clarity” for several channels, including channel 12. According to the cable company, the upgrade process “ involves transferring these channels to better streams.” In response, GMA Network released the following statement on Feb. 5 signed by Butch S. Raquel, consultant to the Chairman and CEO for Corporate Communications:

"GMA Network expresses its concern as to why it gets to be affected by whatever SkyCable is doing or modifying in its system. The Network believes that it should be the responsibility of SkyCable to make certain that any changes it implements in the system does not in any way affect the channels for the sake of the viewing public and paying subscribers."

According to its website, SkyCable has over 500,000 subscribers and ranks as the top cable television provider in the country. It is one of the companies owned by ABS-CBN Corporation, the direct competitor of GMA Network. In its letter to the NTC, GMA Network noted that this is not the first time it has received complaints about signal disruption of channel 12 on SkyCable's Digibox. Throughout the weekend of Sept. 22 to 24 last year, GMA received complaints from viewers in Cainta, Antipolo, Makati, Caloocan and other areas—"not precluding our very own Chairman and CEO," said the network's letter to Blanco dated Sept. 24, 2012—that the poor quality or loss of video, audio or both were interfering with their viewing of the network's shows on Channel 12. Saying that the previous and current disruptions were caused by SkyCable's internal activities, the network asked the NTC “to implement the necessary action against SkyCable for conducting a series of activities that have resulted in disruptions that are detrimental to the interest of the viewing public, paying subscribers and GMA.” - Barbara Marchadesch/YA/OMG, GMA News