STBs turn out a day-light robbery

Highlights

STBs turn out a day-light robbery. TV without Set Top Boxes (STB) blacked out from September 17 midnight in the city. There are still 30 % of households within the Greater Hyderabad limits who don’t have an STB installed. This in-fact has added to the advantage of MSOs who are selling inferior quality STBs

TV without Set Top Boxes (STB) blacked out from September 17 midnight in the city. There are still 30 % of households within the Greater Hyderabad limits who don’t have an STB installed. This in-fact has added to the advantage of MSOs who are selling inferior quality STBs

The digitisation of cable has affected the source of entertainment of many households. For all the households that didn’t install STBs, it’s literally a blackout since the midnight of September 17. Earlier it was said that the decision for complete digitisation would only pertain to 100 wards (old MCH area). But after September 17, telecast was stopped at Dilsukhnagar, Champapet, Attapur, Kukatpally, ECIL, Vanasthalipuram, Malkajgiri and Uppal stating they haven’t been digitised. However, the telecast resumed on September 18. Sources say that district nodal officer and joint collector B Sridhar, has asked all the MSOs to submit the details like how many have taken licenses, how many associated operators are there in the city and how many STB are installed. Reportedly the MSOs haven’t furnished the details yet.

Faulty STBs

Though the cable operators should provide STBs, not many operators follow the rules. It’s the people who are buying the STBs. The Set Top Boxes are available at a cost Rs 1200-1500, yet in the market, the traders are charging a bomb for STBs. Few angry customers reported that they are being sold assembled and faulty instruments and when asked for replacement, they are made to wait for hours in the queue. There is also no guarantee that the replaced instrument will work without a fault. The major complaint of many customers is that there is neither an MRP nor the manufacturer details printed on STBs.

Badrinath Yadav, president, Secunderabad Cable Operators Association said, “We agree that there are a few who charge a bomb for STBs and the instruments they supply are also faulty. In Secunderabad, we provided good instruments at market price. We request the nodal officer to not hasten the digitisation process in SCB area”.

When asked about why the faulty instruments did not carry the MRP details, V Srinivas, Co-Controller at the Legal Metrology Department said, “Strict action will be taken against those who sell STBs more than the MRP. It is mandatory to print the MRP and details of manufacture on the instrument. If any violations take place, people should call us at 18604253333 and register a complaint”.

Print Article

Just In

STBs turn out a day-light robbery

News

Company

Entertainment

All News