NZ ISPs to stop 'global mode' from September
NZ ISPs to stop 'global mode' from September after cutting deal with broadcasters
By Paul McBeth
June 24 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand internet
service providers offering their customers the ability to
circumvent regional restrictions on content they can access
over the web will stop offering those services from
September in a deal cut with broadcasters who were taking
them to court.
Pay-TV operator Sky Network Television
today said it has dropped legal proceedings against the ISPs
after reaching a settlement, which will see the 'global
mode' unavailable in New Zealand from Sept. 1.
Sky
teamed up with Television New Zealand, Media Works TV and
Lightbox, Spark New Zealand's online streaming service, to
take the action against Bypass Network Services, CallPlus
Services, Orcon and Flip Services over the service, claiming
it breached copyright obligations and the Fair Trading
Act.
Online streaming video has become increasingly competitive as traditional broadcasters and telecommunications companies alike have seen it as an avenue to replace some of their shrinking revenue streams.
While the broadcasters were adamantly opposed
to the 'global mode' service, they've been less stringent in
their opposition to virtual private networks (VPNs), another
way consumers can get around regional
blocks.
(BusinessDesk)