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Though the March 31 deadline for cable TV digitization is approaching, Ranchiites are yet to take a note of it. Service providers believe that the deadline will get have to be extended owing to the poor response of the customers.
The government's new rule to digitize cable TV system across 38 cities in the second phase by March 31 seems to generate little impact on the city people with only 20 per cent of customer base installing set top boxes at home, so far.
According to a survey conducted by Manthan group, a leading cable service provider in the city, only 20 per cent of the households have subscribed to digitization so far. "Since board exams are on, people might not show interest in switching over to digital viewing anytime soon as that might hamper studies," said a service provider, Ibrar Ahmed.
Ahmed said, "Our records reveal, around two lakh people in Ranchi have access to cable TV. Of this, only 30-40 thousand houses have been covered till date. We are not certain about meeting our target before the deadline ends."
Another reason for the low seeding of set top boxes is the ongoing tussle between customers and cable operator. Many customers claim that the cable operators are demanding extra money from subscribers in the name of digitization.
Punam Sharma, a resident of Saket Vihar said, "Cable operators are taking advantage of our ignorance and helplessness and are charging Rs.1200 for a set-top box against the regular price of Rs.999."
Even though the government has been urging people to switch to digitization before March 31 for the past three months, majority of the subscribers are yet to install set top boxes at home. With just few days left to cover the target, the cable operators are on their toes to meet the deadline.
Since the cable operators haven't received training on how to adopt the new system, they are incurring extra costs to maintain it. This involves upgrading cable lines, installing new digital meters, training staff to monitor new meters and developing new infrastructure. The operators claim that they have to bear extra costs to install hi-tech audio visual wire for the new system and hence they are charging more money to meet the expenses.
Santosh, a cable operator said, "We are charging Rs 1200 for a set top box and the monthly rental would be Rs 250. The extra amount is charged to for installing and maintaining the new infrastructure."
Poor customer response poser for television digitization in Ranchi - The Times of India
The government's new rule to digitize cable TV system across 38 cities in the second phase by March 31 seems to generate little impact on the city people with only 20 per cent of customer base installing set top boxes at home, so far.
According to a survey conducted by Manthan group, a leading cable service provider in the city, only 20 per cent of the households have subscribed to digitization so far. "Since board exams are on, people might not show interest in switching over to digital viewing anytime soon as that might hamper studies," said a service provider, Ibrar Ahmed.
Ahmed said, "Our records reveal, around two lakh people in Ranchi have access to cable TV. Of this, only 30-40 thousand houses have been covered till date. We are not certain about meeting our target before the deadline ends."
Another reason for the low seeding of set top boxes is the ongoing tussle between customers and cable operator. Many customers claim that the cable operators are demanding extra money from subscribers in the name of digitization.
Punam Sharma, a resident of Saket Vihar said, "Cable operators are taking advantage of our ignorance and helplessness and are charging Rs.1200 for a set-top box against the regular price of Rs.999."
Even though the government has been urging people to switch to digitization before March 31 for the past three months, majority of the subscribers are yet to install set top boxes at home. With just few days left to cover the target, the cable operators are on their toes to meet the deadline.
Since the cable operators haven't received training on how to adopt the new system, they are incurring extra costs to maintain it. This involves upgrading cable lines, installing new digital meters, training staff to monitor new meters and developing new infrastructure. The operators claim that they have to bear extra costs to install hi-tech audio visual wire for the new system and hence they are charging more money to meet the expenses.
Santosh, a cable operator said, "We are charging Rs 1200 for a set top box and the monthly rental would be Rs 250. The extra amount is charged to for installing and maintaining the new infrastructure."
Poor customer response poser for television digitization in Ranchi - The Times of India
