EVOLUTION
Well we all watch television, however busy we are at least for few hours each day. With modern technology no doubt television has grown has a big industry. But we consumers are still duped by the cable company (if you can call it so). Now there are dozens of channels in all regional languages in India. Roughly there are more than 200 channels put together and most of these channels make a good profit. The most profit making one’s are
1.Star network
2..Zee network
3..Sun network
The above three are run by people with lot of political clout. Every month we pay from Rs.150 to 300 for the cable connection ( in metro city). This amount fluctuates according to the whims and fancies of the cable people. God only knows how they arrive at the monthly subscription amount. You will not get any receipt from these cable wallahs for the subscription amount you pay. If you insist for one or fight for your rights, your cable connection will not work from the next morning.If you still want to fight it out you shall be threatened by goondas and may be your car or bike might suddenly have some dent on it without hitting anything. Still if you do not like your cable wallah and want to switch to another operator, well my dear fellow it is not possible, you will not be provided a connection from another operator. Such is their syndicate that you will be denied cable connection and then you should have to plead with your earlier operator ( remember the one who does not give receipt) to get back the connection and then you should have to pay him more moolah.
All these happened in Chennai and I think it might happen in any part of India. In Chennai The cable industry is in the hands of two big operators namely SCV and HATHWAY. Both these people are politically strong and no one can touch them. They decide what you see and what you should not see. Though you pay a fat sum every month you will be denied some channels from either of these operators owing to politics.
THE ADVANTAGE
Then Suddenly the word CAS became very familiar otherwise known as CONDITIONAL ACCESS SYSTEM. The government bought this to make the cable operators and broadcasters to fall in line. It was to be implemented in all metro cities in India, but except Chennai it was vehemently opposed in all part of India. Suddenly the government set aside their earlier order (what else for political reason) and implemented it in Chennai alone from August ( I don’t know why no one opposed this in Chennai)
After this all the regional tamil channels which were earlier pay channels suddenly became free to air channels. The monthly subscription was fixed at Rs.72/- plus taxes totaling around Rs.100/- and you got around 72 free to air channels and now you got a receipt for the monthly subscription you pay and you had the choice to switch to another operator if you did not like the present operator. Well these were the real advantages after CAS was implemented in Chennai.
THE DISADVANTAGE
Now to the disadvantages – Suddenly you were not able to see HBO, AXN, STAR MOVIES, ESPN, STAR SPORTS, ANIMAL CHANNEL, NGO, ADVENTURE ONE etc. Well anyway the above channels were my favourite. Suddenly I could not catch up on the Formula 1 racing or the cricket match between Paki and South Africa. All these channels were totally cut off after CAS. The set top box costs around Rs.4300/- and an additional deposit of Rs.400/- (refundable) is collected for the smart card which enables us to watch the pay channels. You should have to pay Rs.100 for the free channels and also you must shell more money for the pay channels that you choose. Well if you want to watch all pay channels you would end up paying around Rs.350 to Rs.500/- per month. It would definitely be more than the amount you are paying now if you opt for a set top box.
Now if you make an investment in these set top box and suddenly if the order for implementation is withdrawn what do we do with these boxes? As already there is a case against CAS in Chennai High Court. Well what I could not understand is this should have been implemented nationally so that the prices of set top box would have come down. If it was introduced nationally the pay channels would have second thought about this as it is now clear in Chennai that not even 10% has gone for set top box.
CONCLUSION
On the other hand you would be frustrated that in a remote village in Tamil Nadu you could watch Star Sports and Star Movies while in Chennai you will not be able to watch without a set top box.
The government seems to be in a confused state regarding the CAS implementation. It seems Chennai has become the testing ground for them or Chennai has become the guinea pig for this CAS which is very bad. After two months of it’s implementation the CAS has not made any dent with Chenniates as all the tamil channels are free to air now but for a handful of us like myself we are depreived of watching our favorite channels and most of us are also confused if we should buy the set top box. Well it is going to be a wait and watch policy but hope not for a long time.
Well folks that’s it. Just let me know you suggestion on this subject.
Be happy!!! Cheers!!!