The executives of a Hong Kong-based television channel and its Thai partners have asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to tackle online piracy with illegal streaming and downloading of the channel's original TV content having led to a loss of about US$15 million (478 million baht).
Desmond Chan Shu Hung, general manager of TVB International Co, Chaiyut Taweepworadej, CEO of MV Television (Thailand), and Adisak Limparungpatanakij, president of MVHub, which holds copyrights for TVB content in the country, met DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang yesterday to discuss measures to tackle the problem.
They said that TVB and MV TV had jointly run a streaming subscription service of TVB's drama series from Hong Kong and China. However, they found that TVB's shows could be easily found on streaming websites free of charge while some other sites charged a small fee from viewers.
"Piracy has led to damages worth about $15 million to TVB. As soon as the shows are broadcast in Hong Kong, they are illegally streamed via websites and apps. This is 100% piracy,'' said the TVB executive.
Pol Col Paisit said the DSI would investigate the case.