You all must be aware of the advertisements running on TV screens that from 1st July onwards it will be compulsory for the local cable operators (also known as LCOs) to provide digitized connection to their customers using set top boxes. This will be implemented initially in metropolitans only that is New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
If it really happens than the end consumers in all these cities will get digitized TV content from 1st July onwards. But problems has already start to occur. The LCOs from Delhi had gathered around Jantar Mantar and staged a peaceful protest to Shanti Bhawan against the upcoming digitization.
There are many points in the complain written by LCOs to Information and Broadcasting Minister Mrs Ambika Soni. Following are some of the points:
- First and foremost point in the complaint is that majority of the homes in Delhi don’t have STBs (Set Top Boxes) at their residences.
- Many parts of Delhi not even get digital signal from MSO. The parts receiving digital signal are even less than 20%
- The STBs coming from China does not support HD content and VODS (Video On Demand Service) content.
- LCOs are getting many inquiries from consumer about the process of digitization and how much will cost them. But LCOs are unable to provide any sort of information to consumers as they don’t have any details about the packages and channels.
Now LCOs are afraid of the situation when consumers will be unable to get TV content from 1st July onwards due to poor arrangements by MSOs. Hence they demand police protection on 1st July.