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HYDERABAD: Apprehensions of TV blackout from Monday resulted in a mad rush for set-top boxes (STB) in the city over the weekend. However, many denizens failed to buy one, thanks to shortage with both cable operators and the grey market.
The Centre had announced March 31, 2013 as deadline for digitization of cable TV in all cities with more than 10 lakh population. Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam fall under this category in the state.
Hyderabad is said to have more than 20 lakh cable TV connections, largely serviced by four Multi-Service Operators (MSOs). Of the total connections, an estimated 35-40% have so far gone digital by installing STBs. Local cable operators (LCO) who provide connectivity from MSOs to homes, estimate that in the last 20 days the GHMC area alone has accounted for more than six lakh installations of STBs. The demand for direct to home services (DTH) also witnessed an increase despite the recent hike in entry price announced by many service providers.
On Saturday, people were seen thronging Gujarati Galli in Koti, the biggest market for STBs. By evening many stores had exhausted their stock. While local cable operators have been installing boxes for customers in their areas ever since digitization was announced in 2010, in the last one week denizens preferred to buy directly from the market in the hope of getting it at a discount. "Proper awareness was not created about the deadline. So, many people were caught unaware and had to rush in the last minute to get a box. The cable operator in my area did not have a box for installation," said K Sai Gopal from Habsiguda. It also came to light that in many areas cable operators were charging as much as Rs 1,500 for STBs which was available for Rs 1,200 in the market. The boxes were available for as low as Rs 700 just seven months ago. Sellers in the market portend an increased demand, shortage and an even further hike this week attributable to the IPL season that is set to kick off on Wednesday. With dwindling stock and the market remaining closed on Sunday denizens were left hoping for more time to get a box.
The Cable Operators Welfare Association moved the HC three weeks ago to seek a six-month extension from the Centre for the implementation. The case is expected to come up for hearing on Monday. "In metro cities where digitization should have completed by last year, the process is still on. Though digitization was announced three years ago, we need more time to complete it. We have also aired our concerns with the central government about availability of set-top boxes in the grey market when it is not available with local cable operators who are authorized to provide connections to people from the MSOs," he said. Each STB is programmed to provide service only from one designated MSO.
City joint collector E Sreedhar, nodal officer, said "Some complaints about boxes being sold at high prices have been received but the state government does not regulate the price."
Denizens in a tizzy over cable digitization - Times Of India
The Centre had announced March 31, 2013 as deadline for digitization of cable TV in all cities with more than 10 lakh population. Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam fall under this category in the state.
Hyderabad is said to have more than 20 lakh cable TV connections, largely serviced by four Multi-Service Operators (MSOs). Of the total connections, an estimated 35-40% have so far gone digital by installing STBs. Local cable operators (LCO) who provide connectivity from MSOs to homes, estimate that in the last 20 days the GHMC area alone has accounted for more than six lakh installations of STBs. The demand for direct to home services (DTH) also witnessed an increase despite the recent hike in entry price announced by many service providers.
On Saturday, people were seen thronging Gujarati Galli in Koti, the biggest market for STBs. By evening many stores had exhausted their stock. While local cable operators have been installing boxes for customers in their areas ever since digitization was announced in 2010, in the last one week denizens preferred to buy directly from the market in the hope of getting it at a discount. "Proper awareness was not created about the deadline. So, many people were caught unaware and had to rush in the last minute to get a box. The cable operator in my area did not have a box for installation," said K Sai Gopal from Habsiguda. It also came to light that in many areas cable operators were charging as much as Rs 1,500 for STBs which was available for Rs 1,200 in the market. The boxes were available for as low as Rs 700 just seven months ago. Sellers in the market portend an increased demand, shortage and an even further hike this week attributable to the IPL season that is set to kick off on Wednesday. With dwindling stock and the market remaining closed on Sunday denizens were left hoping for more time to get a box.
The Cable Operators Welfare Association moved the HC three weeks ago to seek a six-month extension from the Centre for the implementation. The case is expected to come up for hearing on Monday. "In metro cities where digitization should have completed by last year, the process is still on. Though digitization was announced three years ago, we need more time to complete it. We have also aired our concerns with the central government about availability of set-top boxes in the grey market when it is not available with local cable operators who are authorized to provide connections to people from the MSOs," he said. Each STB is programmed to provide service only from one designated MSO.
City joint collector E Sreedhar, nodal officer, said "Some complaints about boxes being sold at high prices have been received but the state government does not regulate the price."
Denizens in a tizzy over cable digitization - Times Of India
