Thakur
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CHENNAI: Football World Cup fever has
gripped the city and digital TV service
providers are playing doctor. From fixing
faulty set-top boxes to writing out
subscriptions and handing over bills, they are
unusually busy.
Demand for set-top boxes has peaked and call
centres of service providers are abuzz with
queries on how to avail Sony Six - which has
the official India rights to broadcast the
World Cup.
Shiva Shanamoorthy, a service provider in
Thiruverkadu, said at least 30 people called
him on Thursday - hours before the opening
ceremony - to either add the channel or to
get new STBs. "Many say no one watches TV
these days as everyone is hooked to their
computers or their phones to watch matches
live but this shows watching matches on TV is
still preferred."
Several people have taken one-month
packages. "
I have to shell out an additional Rs 40 for
this channel, but the price is cheap compared
to the thrill of the action we are about to
catch from Brazil," said Guindy resident
Francis K.
Many are renewing direct-to-home
subscriptions. "Although I am a sports buff, I
was forced to cut the connection last year as
my kid was watching too much TV. I caught
the recent IPL online but the quality wasn't
great...," said Jerry K of Perambur. "I can't
afford to miss watching the World Cup, and
watching it on TV with all my friends is a
completely different experience."
Tata Sky chief commercial officer Vikram
Mehra said sales of STBs picked up over the
last two weeks and spiked over the past few
days. "It is observed that football has a larger
fan following in the south and east than in
other parts of the country. Also, owing to the
late night schedule of matches, we have
witnessed a gradual increase in our HD PVR
(personal video record) boxes not only in
metros, also in tier 2 markets in the south."
He said manpower at call centre was
strengthened to keep up with the increasing
demand. Airtel, another service provider, said
its call centres received a lot of calls from
customers wanting to top up and add Sony
Six. After exam blackout, homes call up DTH providers for World Cup fix - TOI Mobile | The Times of India Mobile Site
gripped the city and digital TV service
providers are playing doctor. From fixing
faulty set-top boxes to writing out
subscriptions and handing over bills, they are
unusually busy.
Demand for set-top boxes has peaked and call
centres of service providers are abuzz with
queries on how to avail Sony Six - which has
the official India rights to broadcast the
World Cup.
Shiva Shanamoorthy, a service provider in
Thiruverkadu, said at least 30 people called
him on Thursday - hours before the opening
ceremony - to either add the channel or to
get new STBs. "Many say no one watches TV
these days as everyone is hooked to their
computers or their phones to watch matches
live but this shows watching matches on TV is
still preferred."
Several people have taken one-month
packages. "
I have to shell out an additional Rs 40 for
this channel, but the price is cheap compared
to the thrill of the action we are about to
catch from Brazil," said Guindy resident
Francis K.
Many are renewing direct-to-home
subscriptions. "Although I am a sports buff, I
was forced to cut the connection last year as
my kid was watching too much TV. I caught
the recent IPL online but the quality wasn't
great...," said Jerry K of Perambur. "I can't
afford to miss watching the World Cup, and
watching it on TV with all my friends is a
completely different experience."
Tata Sky chief commercial officer Vikram
Mehra said sales of STBs picked up over the
last two weeks and spiked over the past few
days. "It is observed that football has a larger
fan following in the south and east than in
other parts of the country. Also, owing to the
late night schedule of matches, we have
witnessed a gradual increase in our HD PVR
(personal video record) boxes not only in
metros, also in tier 2 markets in the south."
He said manpower at call centre was
strengthened to keep up with the increasing
demand. Airtel, another service provider, said
its call centres received a lot of calls from
customers wanting to top up and add Sony
Six. After exam blackout, homes call up DTH providers for World Cup fix - TOI Mobile | The Times of India Mobile Site
