Pune, June 12: COMING to the rescue of cable TV operators facing tough competition from DTH operators, city-based consumer rights group Grahak Hitavardhini has started a campaign to provide them a ‘‘level playing field.’’ The organisation, known for taking a tough stand on consumer protection related to cable TV, is carrying out a survey of 10,000 cable TV subscribers in the city on the basis of which it will file a petition with Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) in December.
The organisation is claiming that due to unequal laws, the cable operators were denied a level playing field. "We are not against DTH but there is a workforce of 5 to 6 lakh people in the country who will lose their jobs if a level playing field is not provided for both technologies," said Grahak Hitavardhini head Sudhakar Velankar.
He added that cable operators had made a capital investment of Rs 1,000 crore for setting up their networks which would all go waste if DTH is promoted. "Subscribers from the high income group, who generate maximum revenue for cable operators, are migrating towards DTH. This would cause the whole cable TV system to collapse," said Velankar.
To counter this, the cable operators will screen a short film depicting the pros and cons of DTH. After the survey will be be done to find their views.
Source: Expressindia.com
