Pirating by Korean cable companies prevents AFN from showing NFL games

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

Members of the US military in South Korea who live off base must subscribe to the AFN satellite service if they want to watch NFL action this year. National Football League games will not be broadcast on AFN Prime Pacific-Korea because about 50 South Korean cable companies intercept the signal and offer it as part of their paid service, according to Lt Col Michael T Lawhorn, commander of American Forces Network-Korea.

Lawhorn, in a phone interview today, explained that the problem boils down to broadcast rights and referred to a statement from AFRTS headquarters in Riverside, California:

“Scheduling sports on AFN Prime Pacific continues to be problematic because many events are restricted from over-the-air broadcast in Korea by the distributors. In addition, there are currently more than 50 local Korean cable companies that are illegally pirating our programming from the over-the-air broadcasts of AFN Prime. Adding more sports to that channel jeopardizes our already delicate broadcast rights negotiations.”

Lawhorn explained that AFRTS sends the Prime Pacific signal to South Korea, where his staff inserts local command information — such as Korea-specific commercials and news programming — before rebroadcasting it as Prime Pacific-Korea. That signal is broadcast terrestrially, so service members can monitor the channel for emergency information without having to use a satellite dish. And since the NFL is trying to market its product in South Korea, it doesn’t want the local cable companies to be able to offer the games for free via the pirated AFN signal, Lawhorn explained.

To watch the games, ration-card holders in South Korea must pay for the satellite dish and rent the service monthly through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. The dish costs about $80. The decoder costs $25 a month, which must be paid using a Military Star Card credit card.

Lawhorn said he thinks most people will understand the reasoning behind moving the NFL games off Prime Pacific-Korea. He also said he believes that the Super Bowl — as well as a few Friday night games — might make their way onto the channel. “If a Friday night game does come up, I would not be surprised to see AFRTS broadcast on Saturday morning in place of the usual college game it shows, Lawhorn said.

And as a self-proclaimed football fan, he said he understands the situation. “I apologize to the community,” he said.

(Source: Stars and Stripes Pacific via Media Network weblog)

To watch the games, ration-card holders in South Korea must pay for the satellite dish and rent the service monthly through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. The dish costs about $80. The decoder costs $25 a month, which must be paid using a Military Star Card credit card.

Originally Posted by DVB-slut

I’m not sure how true all of this is. In Europe Military members can get a decoder form there local housing office on loan for the period of there time on station. AFN is free it costs nothing to watch. There is no ration card. I am pretty it is sure it is the same world wide. Sometimes members can rent a decoder form there local BX. PX or NEX maybe that is what they are talking about. I have never heard of anyone paying for AFN services. As for the dish they can me acquired for
€ 25.00 in the local sat shops. It would be stupid to rent one.

James
Broadcast tech
AFN Sigonella

Originally Posted by TJ2

I'm just reading this and joined this site. James, for a person working for AFN, you are quite naive. In Asia, you can't buy them at all from AAFES/NEX. They are a monopoly and decided not to sell decoders but rent them and make a lot of money! Initially, the cost to rent one for one year was the same a buying one. When force protection funds purchased decoders for SOFA personnel to borrow; AAFES cut their rental fees in half; due to extreamly poor rental customers. They even required you to have a STAR card to rent one; good old AAFES! Anyway, (any) DOD member or military retiree can buy/rent/authorize a decoder and some places in Asia are getting out of the loaner business becuase of the logistics/support/repair costs. Here, as people PCS the dishes are sent to DRMO and the decoders are put in a warehouse pending disposition instructions; they will not be loaned out again. So, thanks to AAFES (DOD); it isn't "Stupid" to rent one if that is your only choice.

TJ