Phase I cities to get monthly bills for cable TV services: MSO Alliance

Digital cable TV consumers will soon find monthly bills coming to them for using cable TV services. Facing the brunt of non-implementation of consumer billing, the Multi-System Operators Alliance, said that cable TV subscribers in three metros - Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata would start getting cable TV billing on a monthly basis.

Starting December 2013, subscribers will get a bill for their cable TV every month starting with that of November 2013. The new facility has been initiated as per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulations; and sources state that it has been done with intent to conduct greater transparency in billing.

“This move is important as it will ensure that there are no additional or random charges levied on the subscribers. Our viewers will thus pay only for what they watch and they must insist on a bill from their local cable operator or multiple system operators at the time of monthly payment”, said a release.

As per the TRAI regulations, subscribers will get a time period of 15 days from the date of the bill to make their payment. In any case, if the subscriber fails to make the payment after the expiry of the due date of payment, the MSO or the affiliate LCO (local cable operator) has the right to charge interest on the outstanding amount. Digital cable currently has over 19 million subscribers in the 41 cities covered under Phases 1 and 2 of digitization

It may be noted that the MSO Alliance had also launched an ad campaign using print media and cable TV channels, to spread awareness about the monthly billing system. The campaign, an initiative of the MSO Alliance comprised of digital TV platforms, namely DEN Networks, Hathway Cable & Datacom, Siti Digital Cable Television and InCableNet.