Telecommunications firm Flow has been further barred by a Supreme Court order from acquiring the assets or ownership of any other cable television distributor without the approval of the Broadcasting Commission.

Justice Roy Anderson last Friday extended the injunction until March 28, when there will be a hearing into the matter. The hearing was set for Friday in chambers but had to be put off.

Flow has so far purchased the assets of eight cable service providers, four without the approval of the commission.

A 14-day injunction was granted in the Supreme Court on February 20, a few days after customers of cable provider Entertainment Systems Ltd (ESL), complained that they were not informed that Flow had purchased the assets of ESL until the sale had been finalised.

The commission, which is the regulatory body for cable service providers, is contending that Flow neglected to inform the commission of negotiations with the directors of ESL. Flow has also been barred from making any changes to the contractual arrangement previously made between ESL and its customers, including adjustment of fees and payment schedules.