Public pressure forces operators to switch on some analog channels

M.J.Sadiq

M Jahabar Sadiq
Contributor
Joined
16 May 2011
Messages
21,065
Reaction score
30,271
LUCKNOW: The television blackout in the process of switch over from analog to digital cable reportedly created law and order problems in some parts of the city, forcing cable operators to resume transmission of the analog signals late on Monday night. "Viewers gheraoed the cable operators' offices in Old City demanding restoration of transmission. Some even threatened operators to damage the property if the blackout was not reversed and fast. Alarmed, a delegation of cable operators met district and entertainment tax department officials seeking a way out but nothing concrete came out," said Anil Upadhaya of UP cable operators welfare association.

A cable operator in the DEN network said the problem arose in places where set-top boxes had still not reached or where the installation started late. Delay in issue of digital licenses to some cable operators was also seen as a factor to restart the analog signal. Preferring anonymity, he stated the demand for set-top boxes increased drastically during the day. "Availability of the boxes was the first issue and their installation was another. This created pressure on us, therefore, some operators started analog transmission," he stated. Sunil Jolly, member of the national task force on digital addressable system, said the transmission of analog signals was unauthorised. "The operators may have bowed to public pressure. But all this is not going to be for long," said Jolly, adding, "The information and broadcasting ministry has turned down UP government's request to extend the deadline for digitalisation by six months."

However, sources said, officials gave verbal orders in view of the crisis. While refusing to comment on the issue, they admitted off-the-record that though the resumption of analog system was against the Centre's order, they had to do something to solve the problem.

Consumers were angry because most of them had either paid installation charges to the operators or had at least initiated the process of ordering STBs. Many were hoping till last minute for some relief from the Centre after chief minister Akhilesh Yadav asked for extension of the deadline for six months. Apart from Lucknow, transmission of analog signals was stopped in six other cities -- Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Agra, Ghaziabad and Meerut. Seven cities in UP are among 38 cities across the 14 states where analog system was replaced by digitalise cable TV from March 31 midnight.

Consumers, welfare committees and cable associations have together condemned the move saying that stopping cable service without ensuring sufficient supply of STBs is an insensitive and unilateral decision on the part of the ministry. TOI had earlier reported about supply crunch of STBs in India due to burgeoning demand from across 38 cities under deadline pressure. The condition on Monday worsened with more than two and a half lakh households still deprived of STBs in Lucknow out of the total subscription base of around five lakh. Ambika Prasad Ojha, president of cable service consumer protection committee said, "This is quite an undemocratic move where the entire power to raise prices at their own wish is vested with one or two suppliers of the country. They have arbitraily raised charges in the past while TRAI's recommendations to GOI clearly states that these boxes come for only around Rs 600." The government says that the increased activation charge from Rs 999 to now Rs 1199 is because of the increased import duty. "The duties increased up to 10% on Monday. Technically only new consignments should have the revised price. Then why are the operators charging more money for old boxes that were imported long back," he asks.

Consumers are miffed that the ministry has stopped the signal without considering the shortage of boxes n the city. A few subscribers have even complained that cable operators were charging more than the official quoted price. "After my TV screen went black, a cable operator said he would install it for Rs 1,600 within half an hour. As we could not afford it, we contacted other cable operators," said Nidhi Singh, an LLB (Hons) student.

Public pressure forces operators to switch on some analog channels - The Times of India
 
Back
Top Bottom
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock