The local cable operator here, Sri Raghavendra Cable Vision has denied me an a-la-carte option. After much discussion with the operator guy I decided to check the Digital TV provider, KAIZEN website and to surprise, the website also did not have an a-la-carte option, unlike most other websites. I’m currently paying a rent/fee of Rs 380/- per month which is more than twice the amount I should be paying for the channels I use. As per Hathway website the channels of my preference would cost me Rs 180/-. Following this I decided to change my network operator from KAIZEN to the likes of Hathway or ActTV, but when I got in touch with these network operators, I got the cliched response of, “sorry sir, I’m unable to provide you our services due to a dispute with the local cable provider”. The local cable provider is trying to make the area his monopoly market and has been successful so far. The extract given below was taken from the TRAI website. It is mandatory that the cable operators must offer all channels of the platform on a-la-carte basis. The a-la-carte rate of the FTA channels shall be uniform. However, the cable operator can fix the a-la-carte (individual) rate of pay channels. Further, the a-la-carte retail rate of channels, which forms part of one or more bouquets, shall be governed by the following conditions: a. The sum of the a-la-carte rates of channels in any bouquet, shall not be more than 1.5 times the rate of the bouquet. b. The a-la-carte rates shall not exceed 3 times the average channel rate of each bouquet. Example: If the bouquet consist of 10 channels and is priced at Rs. 50 and a channel say ‘XYZ’ is a part of the bouquet then the a-la-carte rate of channel ‘XYZ’ shall not exceed Rs. 15. The sum of a-la-carte rate of all 10 channels of the bouquet, should not be more than Rs. 75. The local cable operator details are as given below, Sri Raghavendra Cable Vision, No. 1286, 8th Main, 11th Cross, W.C.R., Mahalakshmipuram, Bangalore-86. Mob:- 9482517xxx.
I would like to have the a-la-carte option as per TRAI regulation which is currently being denied. The online payment option is another government rule these operators are flouting. Also, the monopoly of the local cable operator has to be stopped and other market players such as Act TV and Hathway should be available for consumers in the area.
Email Id: apvivek@gmail