In view of the measures and recommendations issued by the Brazilian government regarding the rapid spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide, the local Pay TV industry is offering users access to channels at no additional cost. The aim is to provide clients with a wider range of entertainment during a period in which it is suggested that people remain at home and avoid crowded places. In Brazil, mass events have been cancelled, schools have been closed in some states and many companies have implemented work-from-home policies.

Among the main Brazilian Pay TV operators the only one that has not adopted this strategy so far is Vivo (*). Those who benefit most from this campaign are subscribers to initial plans, given that they can access Free To Air channels, channels that must mandatorily be included in the Pay TV line-ups and a limited number of Pay TV channels. The channels selected by each company have been available without additional cost since last weekend.

América Móvil has informed that it is offering several channels without any additional cost to all its clients for an indeterminate period of time, though it has not disclosed the list of channels yet. The benefit is available to Net and Claro subs not only for Cable TV but also for Satellite TV and IPTV. Besides, América Móvil has made some of its OTT platform channels available to fixed broadband users.

Sky, owned by AT&T, has provided access to more than 70 channels. The list disclosed by the company includes basic Pay TV channels, as well as Premium Pay TV channels (Telecine).

Last, Oi is offering twelve basic channels and all Telecine premium channels to its DTH and IPTV clients. This company has set a period, which began on March 14 and will end on March 28.

(*) Update 03/17/2020: Vivo also joined this initiative, offering channels at no additional cost for its entire Pay TV base.