CAF effect: Many cable TV screens go blank

Several cable TV subscribers who have not submitted the requisite information to their cable TV operators are bearing the brunt as they are being denied access to television channels.

Multi System Operators (MSOs) have begun to crack the whip on those who have not submitted their Consumers Application Forms (CAF) as per regulations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The deadline for submitting the details was January 31.

Cable TV operators in the City said even though there were scrolls asking customers to fill in the forms, several of them are yet to submit their details. Over the past five days, channels are being blocked in phases to customers who have not submitted the CAF. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mallikarjun, who manages one of the Amogh Broadband centres in the City said, many of their customers were being denied access to television channels. “As soon as they submit the details, the services will resume,” he said.

 However, he added that the MSOs are not taking to mass blocking of channels. Every day, action is being taken against 50 to 60 customers. 

In some cases, customers who have submitted all the details too have lost connectivity. This has happened especially with customers of Hathway, according to Patrick Raju, president of Karnataka Cable TV Operators Association. 

He said all MSOs have started blocking channels to consumers who have not submitted details. However, when it comes to Hathway, due to technical snag, nearly two lakh consumers are not getting access to television channels, according to the association.The Association members even protested against this two days ago. 

“On Wednesday, the situation is slightly better,” Patrick Raju said, adding that there was still a problem with several set top boxes. Customers are either seeing a scroll saying 'one moment please' or are not getting access to a few channels. He said they had requested Hathway to make sure that consumers who have provided the CAF are not affected. He added that the association would abide by the TRAI regulations and they had no problem with blocking channels to those who had not submitted their details. 

As per TRAI regulations, customers have to give their details to cable operators who will later give it to the MSOs. The MSOs will upload the details to the subscriber management system, which will help keep a database of all the consumers.