By A Correspondent
Fifteen days to go and controversies regarding the first phase of digitization refuse to die. Kolkata Cable Operators Digitization Committee has already written to the ministry to take into account their representation in the meetings. Now, the Cable Operators Federation of India (COFI) has voiced its apprehension regarding a-la-carte packages. In a task-force meeting in New Delhi, COFI presented a paper saying, “Government’s promises of a high quality digital cable service with affordable price and a facility to choose their favourite channels and pay only for them will prove false if subscribers find on November I that in spite of paying Rs 800 to Rs 2000 for STB they don’t have any choice and being forced to pay two to four times more to get the same cable TV service.”
The paper then went onto list the offers from MSOs as given on their respective websites:
- DEN Networks has NO channel from Indiacast (Viacom 18 and Sun) like Colors, Sun South Indian channels etc.
- DIGI has no STAR channels, no ZEE channels and no SPORTS CHANNELS except DD sports and their package price is Rs. 250 PM.
- IN CABLE has not given any names of the channels that they will carry on their network.
- HATHWAY is the only MSO to carry all popular Premium channels on their Network but package with popular channels cost consumers more than Rs 350 (with Taxes).
- No MSO has given a-la-carte rates of channels to allow consumers to select individual channels.
Channel Package Offers from MSOs
| MSO | Name of Package | No. of Channels | Rate Per Month in Rs (Exclusive of Taxes) | Remarks | |
| Digi Cable | Basic | 145 | 180 | No Star and ZEE Channels. Minimum customer price after taxes in Delhi will be Rs. 260.00 | Taxes applicable on all packages and monthly rentals:1. Entertainment Tax- Rs 20 in Delhi.2. Service Tax- 12.5%
3. Vat- 10% 4. STB Rental- Rs 15- Rs 100 per month |
| Gold | 151 | 200 | |||
| Premium | 165 | 250 | |||
| Hathway | Basic | 135 | 160 | Minimum Customer price Rs 240.00 after taxes | |
| Medium | 198 | 220 | |||
| Premium | 242 | 275 | |||
| DEN | Pack1 | 112 | 180 | No Colosr, Sun group etc. Minimum Customer Price Rs. 260 after taxes | |
| Pack2 | 219 | 225 | |||
| Pack3 | 235 | 270 | |||
| WWIL | Janta | 118 | 100 | Minimum Customer Price Rs. 160 after taxes Minimum Customer Price Rs. 160 after taxes | |
| Popular1 (Kolkata) | 151 | 150 | |||
| Popular2 (Mumbai) | 153 | 150 | |||
| Popular3 (Delhi) | 142 | 150 | |||
| IN Cable | Manoranjan FTA | 100 | 100 | Minimum Customer Price Rs. 160 after taxes | |
| IN Silver | 140 | 225 | |||
| IN Gold | 175 | 275 | |||
| IN Platinum | 200 | 325 | |||
| IN Diamond | 250 | 400 |
STB Selling Schemes
| MSO | Outright Purchase | Rental Scheme | Hire Purchase |
| DEN | Rs.1999/- including taxes | Rs.799/- + Rs.15/-p.m. for 5 years, excluding taxes | Rs.400/- + Rs.40/-p.m. for 5 years excluding taxes |
| Hathway | Rs.1999/- including taxes | Rs.1900/- + Rs.40/- p.m. for 35 months including taxes | Rs.500/- + Rs.100/-p.m. for 15 months including taxes |
| Incable | NIL | Rs.500/- + Rs.40/- p.m. for 40 months | Rs.500/- + Rs.100/- p.m. for 18 months |
| Digicable | Not available | ||
| WWIL | Not available | ||
It was also pointed out that none of the MSOs are offering the Rs 100 FTA package as provided in the regulations.
According to the COFI memorandum, LCOs had raised this point of packages and pricing on 8th June at stakeholders meet in Vigyan Bhawan and were assured by the I&B Minister and MSO representatives that they will come out with final packages very soon. More than 4 months have passed and still no sign of any clarity on packages, pricing of channels and STB schemes.