Operators to offer channels à la carte
Ashish Roy | TNN | Feb 14, 2019, 05:15 IST
Nagpur: Local cable operators (LCOs), who were forcing consumers to opt for television channel packages, have now promised to offer them channels on à la carte basis with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) extending the deadline for choosing channels till March 31.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, LCO leader Subhash Bante said that operators were offering packages to consumers as they were overburdened with deadline of February 15 looming near. “It takes around 50 minutes for a consumer to choose channels on à la carte basis. On the other hand choosing a package takes only a few minutes,” he added.
Citing his own example, Bante said, “I have about 2,000 consumers and six staffers. How can six persons go to houses of so many consumers and get forms filled up within such a short duration. Now that TRAI has extended the deadline, we will not force anybody to go for packages.”
The LCO admitted that consumers would have to pay less if they opt for channels on à la carte basis. “You have to pay Rs20 as additional network capacity fee (NCF) for every 25 pay channels. If you opt for a package the number of channels you subscribe unnecessarily goes up and you end up paying more,” he said.
Replying to a query, he said, “Broadcasters were fleecing consumers by forcing them to opt for channels that they did not watch. They told advertisers that their group had 20 channels and use to ask companies to advertise on all their channels instead of the ones that people watch. There are presently 852 channels in the country of which 250 to 300 will close down within six months.”
On consumers unable to watch channels that they had chosen, Bante said, “GTPL server has crashed and hence consumers are unable to see some channels. We have discussed this issue with multi-system operators (MSOs). They have assured to fix the problem as soon as possible. Till then consumers will have to bear with us.”
According to the LCO, TRAI is yet to decide the share of their revenue in the subscription fee paid by consumers. “We have been assured that it will be fixed soon,” he said.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, LCO leader Subhash Bante said that operators were offering packages to consumers as they were overburdened with deadline of February 15 looming near. “It takes around 50 minutes for a consumer to choose channels on à la carte basis. On the other hand choosing a package takes only a few minutes,” he added.
Citing his own example, Bante said, “I have about 2,000 consumers and six staffers. How can six persons go to houses of so many consumers and get forms filled up within such a short duration. Now that TRAI has extended the deadline, we will not force anybody to go for packages.”
The LCO admitted that consumers would have to pay less if they opt for channels on à la carte basis. “You have to pay Rs20 as additional network capacity fee (NCF) for every 25 pay channels. If you opt for a package the number of channels you subscribe unnecessarily goes up and you end up paying more,” he said.
Replying to a query, he said, “Broadcasters were fleecing consumers by forcing them to opt for channels that they did not watch. They told advertisers that their group had 20 channels and use to ask companies to advertise on all their channels instead of the ones that people watch. There are presently 852 channels in the country of which 250 to 300 will close down within six months.”
On consumers unable to watch channels that they had chosen, Bante said, “GTPL server has crashed and hence consumers are unable to see some channels. We have discussed this issue with multi-system operators (MSOs). They have assured to fix the problem as soon as possible. Till then consumers will have to bear with us.”
According to the LCO, TRAI is yet to decide the share of their revenue in the subscription fee paid by consumers. “We have been assured that it will be fixed soon,” he said.
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