|
The
DK Cable operators association of Mangalore has been holding
the Viewers in Mangalore at a ransom by blocking the telecast
of the Star TV bouquet of channels, claiming that they have
been protesting against the increase in the subscription
rates for the channel. Is it really the truth or is it mere
eyewash?
Well it is said that the star TV rates have been increased
from about Rs. 24 /- to Rs. 30/- an increase of about 30
%. For a channel to sustain this increase is necessary since
they have to constantly keep churning out new programmes
so as to retain their viewership. This increase however
would increase the burden on subscribers by about 30 paise
per day or 6 -10 rupees per month, which in today's world
is a negligible figure. Channels need revenue since the
ad-revenue is not enough to meet all it expenses. In these
days when people do not protest in the rise of petrol, diesel
or electricity. (It is only the political parties who protest
to gain some political mileage) they wouldn't mind paying
some money to watch Kaun Banega Crorepati, Kyunki Saas Bhi
Bahu thi, the daring Vikram Chandra and Barkha Dutt in star
news, for the quality of these star channels is much better
than the other available telecasts and quality is always
at a price. It doesn't come cheap.
So
what does the cable operator lose if the subscription rates
are increased?? Nothing at all it is alleged by the cable
TV subscribers association that the number of subscribers
in Mangalore is stated to be at 11,500 people. Isn't it
hard to believe that a westernized city standing only next
to Bombay in western cultural influence has only 11500 star
TV subscribers? It is a well-known fact that Multi system
operators in Mumbai and other parts of the country have
been under quoting the number of subscribers so as to save
their moolah and make a little bit more profit. Neither
do these cable guys issue a receipt for the collection of
subscription thus avoiding the payment of entertainment
tax and income tax on collections. An understating of about
100 subscribers by the operators would save the operator
about 3000/- rupees per month. The subscription rates too
until recently were Rs. 150/- and these continue to be charged
in many parts of the district. Deposits collected by the
operators ranging from 1500/- to 2000/- rupees are not refundable
and so this is more in the nature of a capital receipt to
the operator. No doubt there are expenses to be incurred
for providing the service towards salaries, maintenance
of lines etc. but even then the outage of service citing
the welfare of the subscribers in untenable.
Add
this to the outage of service at regular intervals due to
maintenance, power failures etc and the subscriber seldom
gets to watch the full programme or episode in peace. So
it finally boils down to one point. Are the cable operators
really interested in the welfare of the subscribers or the
viewers?? Already most of the subscribers in the city have
been protesting against the blockage of service and before
the cable operators turn out to be the villains in the eyes
of the subscribers the cable operators better wake up and
clean up their act.
Sunil
Gonsalves.
Click
here if you would like to Contribute.
Click
here if you would like to send Feedback.
|
