Cable TV operators' revenue hit during lockdown

Kolkata, May 5 () Contrary to the expectation thatcable TV operators would see growth in businesses as peoplewould stay glued to their television during the lockdown, theywitnessed a 15 per cent fall in revenue in the period due to'low' renewal and lack of new content in regional channels, anofficial said on Tuesday.

The turnover from the broadband services provided bythese operators has also plummeted by 25-30 per cent, he said.

"Most of the cable TV operators are passing through arough patch as revenue has declined from both cableconnections and broadband subscriptions.

"On an average, cable TV revenue is down by 15 percent while the same from broadband falls by 25-30 per cent fora combination of factors," Association of Broadband and CableTV Operators secretary Chandranath Pyne told .

The majority of the problem is attributed to thelockdown, he said, adding that they experience 'low recharge'during the holy month of Ramzan as many follow rituals andstay away from entertainment.

"About 15-20 per cent of those who renewed theirsubsriptions downgraded their package after regionalentertainment broadcasters started running old content duringthe lockdown," he said.

The association claimed to have a subscriber base of20-25 lakh, out of 70 lakh cable TV subscribers in WestBengal.

The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) haspointed out that even if the subscriptions for Set-Top Boxes(STBs) are not renewed in April, 2020, subscribers will stillenjoy all the free channels of Doordarshan.

Most of the offices have been closed while hotels,shops and malls remained shut during the lockdown, and theyare not "recharging both TV and internet connections, thecable operators said.

These customers provide a sizeable chunk of thebusinesses, they said.

Renewals from connections to the migrant workers andstudents, who have left for their hometowns and nativevillages, have been stopped, while a section of low-valuecustomers, who depend on daily wage, are failing to rechargetheir packs for lack of resources, cable operators said.

Pradipta Pandya, an independent operator in Salkiaarea of Howrah district, said impact of the lockdown on cableoperators depend on location and profile of residents of anarea.

"We requested broadcasters to offer rebate as theycontinue to run old content and we face ire of subscribers,"he said.

Many operators, who are not withdrawing theconnections on account of non-payment, are worried of the factthat subscribers may refuse to pay dues later.

"We are not disconnecting and following the WestBengal government's instruction," Siticable head (east) SureshSethia said. BSMBDC BDC