dipak
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KOLKATA: Based on Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) guidelines, multiple-system operators (MSOs) have now begun raising bills on cable operators (COs) and cable TV subscribers can "demand these bills from their respective operators in case they are not handed the same" . "According to Trai regulations, every subscriber should approach their cable operator for their monthly bills which are now being prepared at the MSO end and sent to their network of COs. This is in a situation where the subscribers fail to receive the bills from their operators . "The bills will clearly outline the packages chosen by the subscriber and the monthly charge linked to the package selected by a particular consumer," Suresh Sethia, director , Siticable, the largest MSO in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA), told ET.
"This," said Sethia, "would eliminate all grey areas at every level — the MSO, CO and subscribers. Trai's reasoning was also that the government was losing out on cable TV tax revenues in the earlier system of COs raising bills on consumers." Besides, this restructured system should instil far more clarity in the minds of the subscribers.
In that, they will be perfectly aware about what they are paying for and whether the bills are in order. While the "free to air' channels cost a flat rate of . 100, the paid bouquet of packages, said Sethia, range across . 180, . 230 and . 280. The highest priced package of . 280 offers between 330 and 340 channels. While the second package brings to the subscribers around 170 channels and the third opens up in the region of 250 channels.
"This process of MSOs raising bills on COs was set in motion from November-December 2013 guided by Trai directives. But, the entire chain of this billing system took a little while to fall into place," said Sethia. According to Sethia, digitilisation of the cable TV network in the KMA, again as per Trai regulations, is now "virtually complete" .
Viewers can now demand bills from Cable Operators: TRAI - The Economic Times
"This," said Sethia, "would eliminate all grey areas at every level — the MSO, CO and subscribers. Trai's reasoning was also that the government was losing out on cable TV tax revenues in the earlier system of COs raising bills on consumers." Besides, this restructured system should instil far more clarity in the minds of the subscribers.
In that, they will be perfectly aware about what they are paying for and whether the bills are in order. While the "free to air' channels cost a flat rate of . 100, the paid bouquet of packages, said Sethia, range across . 180, . 230 and . 280. The highest priced package of . 280 offers between 330 and 340 channels. While the second package brings to the subscribers around 170 channels and the third opens up in the region of 250 channels.
"This process of MSOs raising bills on COs was set in motion from November-December 2013 guided by Trai directives. But, the entire chain of this billing system took a little while to fall into place," said Sethia. According to Sethia, digitilisation of the cable TV network in the KMA, again as per Trai regulations, is now "virtually complete" .
Viewers can now demand bills from Cable Operators: TRAI - The Economic Times
