Mamata & Uddhav threatens stir against Analog cable Blackout

[IndianMascot]

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday she would launch an agitation if TV sets were blacked out after the October 31 deadline for cable digitization.

The threat, coupled with fears of a law-and-order problem if lakhs of homes lost access to cable TV, has triggered speculation that the deadline could yet be extended. Though central data says about 82% Kolkata homes have installed set-top boxes, the number is being contested by multi-system operators (MSOs), who claim only 24 lakh (60%) homes in the Greater Kolkata region out of a total 40 lakh with access to cable TV have installed set-top boxes.

Responding to Mamata's statement, I&B ministry sources said the process of digitization was a government policy that had been adopted after due deliberation, but hinted law-and-order concerns couldn't be overlooked. "Just because there is a new minister (Manish Tewari), it doesn't mean the landscape will be unsettled. A robust campaign has been running for the last one year in anticipation of the deadline. But at the end of the day, law and order is a state subject and a state has to ensure its constitutional mandate. We will play it by ear," the source said.

She also alleged there was more to the digitization process "than meets the eye". "I've been informed that only one Indian firm and two Chinese firms have been identified to supply these set-top boxes countrywide. Is this adequate?" she asked.




Wish to Read Further, Click ----> Here

 

[IndianMascot]

Shiv Sena threatens stir against digitisation, cable union's goons beat up DTH operators in Mumbai


The Shiv Sena has opposed the digitisation deadline for cable TV that ends on 31st October and has warned that they would not allow cables to be cut off anywhere in Mumbai for those house holds who still haven't procured a set top box (STB).

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the deadline be extended till January 2013 as many people in Mumbai still haven't been able to get a STB.

Uddhav's statement, which has been carried in the Sena mouth piece Saamna and which he has been reiterating elsewhere too, says that the digitization has not been complete and the move to cut signals would force at least 30 per cent of households in Mumbai to be without cable TV.

"People are already suffering due to high fuel prices and the increase in the prices of LPG cylinders, many poor families will be unable to afford it. During Diwali, we won't allow people to be deprived from watching television," said Uddhav.

According to the Sena chief, contrary to the government claim that 100 per cent digitization is complete, only 70 per cent of households in Mumbai have got a STB, while the rest haven't. The Sena executive president alleged that the Union government had a ulterior motive in forcing the digitization.

According to Uddhav the centre's move was a bid to favour big companies. The Sena claims that most of these households are in slum pockets.

However, in many areas of the city cable operators have began threatening and beating up employees of DTH when they have gone to put up a new connection.

"Instead of paying Rs 1,250 for a STB, I thought I would go for a DTH connection as it provide me a better picture clarity than a STB. Plus a STB would mean that I would still depend on the Cable operator. However the DTH operator's employee was not allowed to install it in our building by the local cable guy," said a Amit Paranjpe (name changed) a resident of Mulund in Mumbai.

DTH operators admit that many areas in the city are a 'no go' for them as the cable operators who virtually operate as a crime syndicate have threatened and beaten up their employees.


Read Further ---- HERE

 

[IndianMascot]

We already read that Kolkata is not following Central Government digitization rules and forced MSOs to allow Analog Signal. Now we have similar news from Mumbai also :

As reported by Mid-day,

There was no total blackout of the TV sets of viewers who had still not got a digital Set Top Boxes (STB) and Cable Operator's Union leader Anil Parab of the Shiv Sena announced that most cable operators in the city had decided to continue TV transmission through the analogue signal till Dec 31.

 

[IndianMascot]

Finally Kolkata Govt got some senses

This piece of news would certainly be music to the ears of Manish Tewari, the newly-appointed Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister. The West Bengal government has turned around and extended its support to the switch over of cable TV services to digital from analogue.

The state government plans to aggressively drive implementation of digitisation in the eastern metropolis by asking multi-system operators (MSOs) to switch off analogue signals to TV homes after the Diwali festival.

"The West Bengal government held meetings with MSOs individually to take stock of the situation in Kolkata. Firhad Hakim (Urban Development Minister) spoke separately to MSOs. The state government will shortly make an announcement about switching-off signals to analogue homes," Siti Cable Kolkata Director Suresh Sethia told Indiantelevision.com

 

[Technoglitch]

a good move, now they have to switch off the analogue signals in genre wise.

 

[aumnamonarayan]

goons goons goons, we r bloody ruled by them. unless we all get on the streets and fight them out , we will not progress at the rate that we should

 

[IndianMascot]

Even that will not help dino29 bhai. Everyone have to become educated and throughly think about future prospects of their selecting candidate.

Right to reject, right to recall and online voting should be allowed. Then only we will live a real democratic life.