Synergy back on air

SYNERGY TV is back up and running after the channel was blocked yesterday by cable providers because of non-payment of fees.

Flow sent an email to its customers stating that the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT) instructed local cable providers to remove Synergy TV from their channel line-up. It added that the channel would be removed by midnight.

Sherry Mc Millan, TATT’s executive officer communications and administration told Newsday, “It has to do with fees. Don’t pay your fees and you will not have the spectrum in which to operate. What we are doing now is being even-handed to ensure that the operator comes into compliance.”

She said as regulators, TATT was required to ensure that people met all their obligations. She said TATT was fair and transparent, and ensured their operators knew the circumstances under which TATT would take action available to them under the Telecommunications Act.

Mc Millan said TATT “attempted to bring them (Synergy) into compliance” but had to direct cable operators to stop the broadcast on Tuesday, and most removed the channel by midnight. “Synergy operates through the cable operators therefore the cable operators had to be made aware that they are not to carry Synergy TV until such times as the position changes and we advise otherwise.”

Synergy TV general manager O’Brian Haynes told Newsday he met with TATT yesterday afternoon and “everything is rectified.” He said the channel was operating with an expired concession and, on renewing it yesterday, all arrears had to be paid.