A recent survey conducted by Voluntary Organization in Interest of Consumer Education (VOICE), a Delhi-based NGO, had another story to tell about areas in which CAS is implemented.

According to the survey, covering a sample of 1,000 cable TV subscribers within South Delhi designated for implementation of the CAS, 70% of the subscribers in South Delhi would prefer to go back to the earlier fixed-rate system to CAS.

"Based on detailed interviews with 1,000 subscribers, fifteen cable operators and one multi-system operator (MSO) across South Delhi, the survey gave some interesting insights into the problems faced by subscribers in the CAS-mandated region. More than half (53%) of the subscribers feel that their expenditure per month on cable television has increased," says Bejon Misra, executive director, VOICE.

Misra adds: "40% of subscribers admit that the reception quality has not improved post CAS implementation. The complaint redress system also leaves a lot to be desired, with 35% subscribers not happy with the existing mechanism."

CAS was rolled out in certain designated areas of metro cities in India from January 1, 2007 to enable digital signals to users and create an accurate database in terms of viewership. It was also aimed at plugging loopholes in the revenue income of the respective state governments and reducing the burden on consumers. But, the fact is that none of the said targets had a 100% achievement rate; but that does not dilute TRAI's effort for specifying a minimum and maximum amount that any cable operator can charge from consumers for the first time.

Sandeep Budki
sandeepb@cybermedia.co.in

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