MUMBAI: Industry body the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has applauded a call by regional political leaders at the recent Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) meeting for governments to “effectively address” the issue of satellite and cable TV signal theft.

“The new priority given by the APEC ministers to this problem is great news. With estimated pay-TV piracy in Asia topping US$1.1 billion — and still rising — governments must sit up and take notice,” said CASBAA chairman Marcel Fenez.

The APEC statement noted that TV signal piracy does great harm to copyright owners, legitimate pay-TV operators and broadcasters.

“The big change is that Asian governments now see the damage that piracy of all kinds to does to their domestic economies. With more and more Asian content entering the global media market, it is not only the legitimate distributors, but increasingly Asian content owners who bear the brunt of signal theft,” said Fenez.

The Ministerial statement followed a recommendation by the APEC Business Advisory Council last autumn which called on governments to revoke operating licenses from pay-TV operators who distribute content without authorization from copyright holders.