MARGAO
In view of the deadline for Digitisation of Cable TV in Goa being December 31, 2016, GOACAN has written to both the District Collectors expressing its concern that consumers may be unable to watch their favourite channels in the New Year 2017 due to the incomplete implementation of the digital addressable system.
It may be noted that the 19th meeting of the Task Force on implementation of digital addressable system (DAS) in Cable TV Network in Phase III & IV was held on November 29, 2016 and the cut-off date for Phase IV was finalised to be December 31, 2016 with no extension being granted.
​In its letters to the respective District Collectors, GOACAN has pointed out that although Cable TV on analogue signal ​will be shut down on December 31, 2016 for village panchayats areas, ​the MSOs ​and​ L​COs ​in Goa have yet to get their act together.
​​GOACAN Coordinator, Roland Martins said large numbers of consumers have not yet g​ot proper knowledge of ​the Consumer Application Form​ ​(CAF) ​and ​have paid for set top boxes but have not been provided bills and receipts ​for the same.​
​He said in many cases, set top boxes which have been provide​d to the consumers at Rs 1,500 are not HD (High Definition) compliant and would not be usable if channels become HD ​by March 2017 resulting in them having to​ spend another Rs 2,500 to get a HD compliant set top box​.
“Although HITS (Headend in the Sky) has been adopted by some smaller Cable Operators​, consumers are being informed by some ​big Cable Operators that HITS will be shut down in due course thereby causing fear & anxiety among​st the consumers," he said.
​GOACAN has also pointed out that consumers who watch Goa News Chan​ne​ls like Prudent Media, HCN, Goa 365, ​InGoa, Prime TV​, etc through the cable operators ​and who face disruptions in viewing​,​ now wonder if they will get a guarantee of continuous viewing through the new arrangement of DAS.
​GOACAN has requested the District Collectors to convene an urgent meeting of all stake holders to review the situation and take appropriate steps in the matter to protect the rights of the consumers.
​Copies of the letters have been sent to R K Srivastava, State level Nodal Officer & Chief Secretary and other officials.
