MSOs to give 7-day buffer to customers
Saibal Gupta | TNN | Updated: Jan 28, 2019, 07:09 IST
Representative imageKOLKATA: With just four days to the switchover to new cable tariff system, the multi system operators (MSO) in the city have decided to give a buffering period of seven days to the viewers when the cable channels go off air after midnight on January 31 — the deadline set by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for customer migration to the new regime.
“If the central government doesn’t extend the deadline further, we will give a buffering period of one week to customers. The MSOs will provide a basic package after the channels go off the air after January 31 midnight. In the meantime, we will reach out to them and apprise them of the situation. Content of this basic package may vary and it will be decided by the MSOs,” Mrinal Chatterjee of Bengal Boradband told TOI.
“I don’t know what others are doing, but Meghbala, an MSO operating in the city, has decided to telecast the ‘free-to-air’ channels for seven days,” Secretary of Cable Operators Sangram Committee Apurba Bhattacharya said.
“I was sitting in the office for the last two days but there has been hardly any response from the customers. Only 10% to 12% of them have registered their choice. The cable operators have been visiting the homes but without any positive response,” Chatterjee said.
Meanwhile, the state government has formally requested the Centre to extend the deadline so that the three-tier cable-operated telecasting system comprising the broadcasters, MSOs, DTH companies and cable operators can adapt to the situation properly. “Broadcasting is something where the state has nothing to do. It has only requested the Centre to extend the deadline but there is hardly any chance of an extension,” Chatterjee said.
Industry insiders, however, said cable operators and MSOs were not happy with the revenue-sharing pattern in the new system and hence, they were reluctant to accept it.
There are 15 broadcasters that air all the pay channels and 250 MSOs all over the country. In Kolkata, there are nine MSOs. “The Centre can pressurize them but they cannot do the same with numerous cable operators who are the vital component in this system” a source said.
“In the new system, the broadcasters will get 80% of the revenue and the rest 20% will be shared by the MSOs and cable operators. In reality, the MSOs will get 8% to 10% and incur huge loss. Naturally, they are reluctant to convince the people,” he said.
“If the central government doesn’t extend the deadline further, we will give a buffering period of one week to customers. The MSOs will provide a basic package after the channels go off the air after January 31 midnight. In the meantime, we will reach out to them and apprise them of the situation. Content of this basic package may vary and it will be decided by the MSOs,” Mrinal Chatterjee of Bengal Boradband told TOI.
“I don’t know what others are doing, but Meghbala, an MSO operating in the city, has decided to telecast the ‘free-to-air’ channels for seven days,” Secretary of Cable Operators Sangram Committee Apurba Bhattacharya said.
“I was sitting in the office for the last two days but there has been hardly any response from the customers. Only 10% to 12% of them have registered their choice. The cable operators have been visiting the homes but without any positive response,” Chatterjee said.
Meanwhile, the state government has formally requested the Centre to extend the deadline so that the three-tier cable-operated telecasting system comprising the broadcasters, MSOs, DTH companies and cable operators can adapt to the situation properly. “Broadcasting is something where the state has nothing to do. It has only requested the Centre to extend the deadline but there is hardly any chance of an extension,” Chatterjee said.
Industry insiders, however, said cable operators and MSOs were not happy with the revenue-sharing pattern in the new system and hence, they were reluctant to accept it.
There are 15 broadcasters that air all the pay channels and 250 MSOs all over the country. In Kolkata, there are nine MSOs. “The Centre can pressurize them but they cannot do the same with numerous cable operators who are the vital component in this system” a source said.
“In the new system, the broadcasters will get 80% of the revenue and the rest 20% will be shared by the MSOs and cable operators. In reality, the MSOs will get 8% to 10% and incur huge loss. Naturally, they are reluctant to convince the people,” he said.
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