Cable operators black out TV screens over new packages

He said the response to the strike has been massive and major portions of Kolkata,mainly its central,northern and eastern parts,have been hit. “Salt Lake has been hit by a relatively smaller extent. Hooghly,Midnapore,Burdwan,Malda and Nadia have been partially hit,” said Bhattacharya adding their consumer base comprising middle class and lower middle class families have been the worst sufferers of the hike.

“The MSOs have to work a way out,but for reasons best known to them,they are not doing it,” he added.

The MSOs,on the other hand,said the blackout had no impact. “There was a scattered response to the strike. Hardly 2 per cent of the consumers have been affected,” said Suresh Sethia,Director of Siti Cable,an MSO.

Some of the MSOs have termed the cable operators’ act as dadagiri and said they would take legal action against errant operators. “The strike was on a Sunday,at a time when people are anxious about panchayat elections and a high voltage cricket and football matches are due tonight. If they are so concerned about the consumers,why are they depriving them TV viewing on a crucial day?” asked Sudip Ghosh,director of another MSO,Manthan. He also said that cable operators had violated TRAI regulations which said there should be a 21-days’ notice before a strike is called. “I am definitely going to take legal action against them,” he added.