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NAGPUR: The city's cable operators had hoped that the central government would extend the deadline to install set top boxes (STBs) mandatorily for watching cable TV. But their hopes were dashed and there was chaos. Around 1.20 lakh out of the total 5.25 lakh households having a TV connection could not watch cable TV on Monday. The TV addicts satisfied themselves with Doordarshan and local cable channels.
Unless the government extends the deadline people will have to go without cable TV until their operator installs a STB. Many people gave vent to their anger on their local cable operators (LCOs) and as a result some LCOs switched off their mobiles and made themselves scarce.
Mahendra Jichkar, a resident of Civil Lines, slammed his cable operator, "I had anticipated that there would be mad rush to buy STBs towards the end and hence had told my operator in February end to provide me one. He ignored my repeated demands and kept telling me that I would not go without cable TV for a day. Today my family members taunted me for no fault of mine. The LCO's mobile was unreachable since morning."
Insurance official Gagan Tiwari was very angry with his cable operator. "He has been telling since last six days that he would install a STB within a few hours. The government too is responsible. It should have checked the stock available with the cable operators from time to time," an angry Tiwari said.
MS Parchure, a resident of Ramdaspeth, on the other hand was all praise for his LCO. "Our operator had impressed upon us in January to buy a STB. He pointed out that even if government extended the deadline we would need a STB sooner or later. Thankfully, we followed his advice," he said.
Of the 5.25 lakh TV connections in the city, 94,000 use direct to home (DTH) services and between 80,000 and 85,000 watch only Doordarshan. Total 3.45 lakh households have cable connections of which around 2.23 lakh have been provided STBs.
Ajay Khamankar, owner of UCN, said that according to his estimate his cable network serviced over two lakh households. "We have installed STBs in houses of around 60% customers. The delay is not on our part but that of LCOs. They are installing the boxes and shortage if any is at their level. The multi-system operators (MSOs) like UCN are not facing any shortage."
Khamankar said that a wide variety of STBs were available in the market who prices varied from Rs650 to Rs3,000. "The highest ranges are for high definition (HD) channels," he said.
id*ot box goes blank in 1.20L Nagpur homes - The Times of India
Unless the government extends the deadline people will have to go without cable TV until their operator installs a STB. Many people gave vent to their anger on their local cable operators (LCOs) and as a result some LCOs switched off their mobiles and made themselves scarce.
Mahendra Jichkar, a resident of Civil Lines, slammed his cable operator, "I had anticipated that there would be mad rush to buy STBs towards the end and hence had told my operator in February end to provide me one. He ignored my repeated demands and kept telling me that I would not go without cable TV for a day. Today my family members taunted me for no fault of mine. The LCO's mobile was unreachable since morning."
Insurance official Gagan Tiwari was very angry with his cable operator. "He has been telling since last six days that he would install a STB within a few hours. The government too is responsible. It should have checked the stock available with the cable operators from time to time," an angry Tiwari said.
MS Parchure, a resident of Ramdaspeth, on the other hand was all praise for his LCO. "Our operator had impressed upon us in January to buy a STB. He pointed out that even if government extended the deadline we would need a STB sooner or later. Thankfully, we followed his advice," he said.
Of the 5.25 lakh TV connections in the city, 94,000 use direct to home (DTH) services and between 80,000 and 85,000 watch only Doordarshan. Total 3.45 lakh households have cable connections of which around 2.23 lakh have been provided STBs.
Ajay Khamankar, owner of UCN, said that according to his estimate his cable network serviced over two lakh households. "We have installed STBs in houses of around 60% customers. The delay is not on our part but that of LCOs. They are installing the boxes and shortage if any is at their level. The multi-system operators (MSOs) like UCN are not facing any shortage."
Khamankar said that a wide variety of STBs were available in the market who prices varied from Rs650 to Rs3,000. "The highest ranges are for high definition (HD) channels," he said.
id*ot box goes blank in 1.20L Nagpur homes - The Times of India
