If your cable operator has not filled up your details and requirement of channels you wish to watch, then you might be left only with the option to watch free to air channels and not the paid channels from Friday.
The new guidelines of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regarding free channels and pay channels have put the cable operators in a fix. A majority of them have still not compiled the data of their consumers as well as that of the channels the consumers wish to subscribe.
In such a scenario, it is most likely that people would be left with no choice but only to watch the free channels, until their data is compiled and uploaded in the system. There are four Multi Service Operators (MOS) providing cable television services in the city namely UCN, GTPL, In Cable and Siti Cable.
On Thursday, cable operators were seen camping in the offices of Multi Service Operators (MOS) in the city throughout the day seeking clarity.
One of the cable operators speaking to TLN said “TRAI’s decision would put an extra burden on the consumers instead of saving their money. “Today we are providing 450 channels at just Rs 250 per month. However, under the new pay regime, the cost would run in the range of Rs 850-900,†said Prabhat Agrawal, a cable operator from Santra Market, who runs the service under the name K K Cables.
The cable operators had a major complaint against the MOS accusing them of not providing them with the requisite forms to get them filled from the customers. “Today is the last day and we have not submitted data of a single customer to our MOS. Even if we get the forms and start the work, the process would take time. In this backdrop, they would be able to watch the pay channels only after all the details are filled and submitted to the MOS along with the payment.
Asked as to why did the cable operators did not pursue for the same with the MOS, Prabhat said that all the cable operators have been demanding guidelines from their respective MOS but till date none of them has provided any form or any methodology.
Interestingly, most of the MOS have come up with different packages with each package offering select channels for a stipulated subscription. However, not all the customers are comfortable with those packages.
A cable operator, operating in Dharampeth under a MOS, told TLN that he along with several of his counterparts are grappling in dark in absence of clear policy and guidelines from the MOS. “Our MOS has come up with different packages. This is totally impractical. How can I compel my customers to accept a particular package, he questioned.