Cable Operators to switch off signals of Hathway cable TV

Wednesday, 2 July 2014

Cable Operators to switch off signals of Hathway cable TV

The Karnataka State Cable Operators Association (KSCOA) has decided to switch off signals of multi-system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable & Datacom across Bengaluru on 3 July for failing to keep its promises.

The KSCOA has organized a meeting of all Hathway Operators in Bengaluru on July 1 to discuss the implications of digital addressable system (DAS) for LMOs and their subscribers.

During the meeting, the LCOs had poured their pent-up grievances against Hathway. The LCOs also demanded that the DAS regulations be implemented in full. Otherwise, the whole purpose of digitisation will be rendered futile.

The KSCOA alleged that after digitising the whole of Bengaluru, Hathway was not forthcoming with the implementation of packaging, the interconnect agreement with the LMOs and taxes to be paid to the government.

The KSCOA also rued the fact that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had hiked non-addressable tariff by 27.5 per cent in two instalments. It said the hike was against the interest of the subscribers.

The KSCOA also decided to approach Hathway officials with a memorandum of their demands on 3 July. “And that same day, all Hathway signals will be switched off across Bangalore as a mark of protest,” KSCOA president Patrick Raju said in a statement.

LCOs have nine key demands from Hathway:

Interconnect agreement between MSO and LMO
Packaging to enable subscribers to pick and choose channels of their choice based on their pocket size
To switch on sports channels till packaging is implemented
Subscription increase of 27 per cent to be recalled by TRAI
To issue Form 52 against Entertainment Tax
Service tax issue
Non-issuance of payment receipts made by LMOs
STB service to be provided
Availability of STBs.