Dear Editor,

I join with other numerous Flow cable subscribers who have been complaining about a noticeable trend of blocking our cable shows when the rights have been bought by local television stations. If we allow this trend to continue, cable subscribers will be paying for a service that is being reduced at intervals to which we have no control.

Yes, some of us have the power of disconnecting our cable subscription from Flow, but since they are the current giant in the industry, we really have no choice but to subscribe.

This matter was noted publicly with the blocking of The Voice on NBC last year when the rights to that programme were bought by TVJ. No notice was given to cable subscribers other than the blocking note posted on NBC’s channel at the time of the programme. Viewers were appeased because The Voice was being aired locally, albeit with a little delay, but we were not deprived of seeing our very own songbird Tessanne Chin perform on a global stage.

Currently the thrilling cable show Suits has been blocked when only three episodes had remained in the series; due to the rights being bought by CVM Television. Again, no prior notice given by the cable provider, except for the blocking note posted on the station at the time of the programme. To compound the matter the programme has been scheduled for viewing locally and they will start from the beginning of the series.

Checks with the Broadcasting Commission have proven futile. So who will protect the paying cable customer?

Disgruntled Cable Subscriber

Kingston