The Telecommunications Authority of T&T says “blackout” screens for certain sports and TV programming are due to broadcast rights.

In a statement, it says this occurs when the broadcast rights of a particular programme are acquired (often exclusively) by a TV broadcaster.

In such a case, other TV broadcasters are required by law NOT to broadcast the said programme, as it would be a violation of the intellectual property rights of the broadcaster who purchased the broadcast rights to the programme.

It says this would also be a breach of a broadcaster’s obligations under its concession with TATT should it broadcast a programme that it does not have the right to broadcast.

As such, in order to be in compliance with the law and concession obligations, the programme will be ‘blocked’ by other TV broadcasters who don’t have the right to broadcast the programme.

Most recently, local viewers complained about “blackout” screens when attempting to watch the ongoing Paris Olympics.

The authorized broadcaster in T&T is TTT.