AJMAN // OSN’s antipiracy efforts are gaining momentum after Ajman’s Department of Economic Development conducted raids against illegal content providers.
Ajman DED had issued stark warnings to those who provide and access television content through Dish TV and other illegal sources following the crackdown on TV piracy in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah that was led by pay-TV network OSN.
The department conducted raids in five shops in the emirate, imposed fines of up to Dh10,000 and destroyed a number of confiscated material including Dish TV India set-top boxes.
It also warned other illegal TV service providers that South Asian services such as Dish TV India, TataSky, Sun Direct, Airtel and Reliance decoders are unauthorised and unlicensed in the Mena region. The authorities have also warned against the use of illegal cables, hybrid decoders and digital piracy.
“We view TV piracy as a serious offence that violates intellectual property rights and causes huge losses to our economy. Ajman DED will vigorously pursue individuals who promote and sell unauthorised and unlicensed TV services,” said Saud Al Shimmari, director of the Department of Control and Consumer Protection at Ajman DED.
“We encourage people to voluntarily refrain from accessing unauthorised TV services and we urge all to come forward and inform us of any such illegal activity so we can take strong measures to curb this menace.”
David Butorac, chief executive of OSN, said: “We are thankful to Ajman DED for their support and action in addressing TV piracy. Through direct action and a joint approach, we can drive the steady awareness and eradication of TV piracy and ensure the UAE economy doesn’t suffer from this black market trade.
“Addressing TV piracy is important as it also affects the UAE’s creative industry and adversely affects the economy. It is important to be constantly vigilant to the new techniques illegal operators adopt.”
According to industry reports, TV piracy costs the industry more than US$500 million (Dh1.84bn) every year.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
