TV viewers left fuming by Ahmedabad cable operators’ no-show move

Local Cable Operators (LCOs) in Ahmedabad and other major cities of the state shut down operations on Saturday, depriving viewers of their favourite television shows. They claim that revised tariff plans, as suggested by national broadcasting regulator, will reduce their earnings and will over charge the users, which can reduce their client base. However, consumers using Direct To Home (DTH) Cable Operators Association of Gujarat (CAAG) is spearheading the protests in Gujarat. CAAG president Pramod Pandya said that they have given a call of blackout from midnight of Friday. Cable operators started shutting down services on Saturday. “We are getting tremendous response. We have caused a total blackout in the city,” Pandya said.

He feared that LCOs will now be reduced to mere commission agents. Their income will be reduced to just 35-40 per cent of present income. He said that monthly bills of end users will also shoot up. 

Mahendra Shah, a resident of Nava Vadaj said that his cable connection went blank on Saturday. “How can this be tolerated? They had said that they will blackout from Saturday night, but stopped service during the day. Our friends and relatives in areas like Sola Road have also reported disruption in service,” said Shah.

TV BLACKOUT

• Local cable operators fear revised tariff plans suggested by national broadcasting regulator will reduce their earnings
   
• There are nearly 1,200 LCOs in Ahmedabad, catering to lakhs of customers.