CAS in but STBs' shortage leaves viewers fuming

TV viewers struggled to switch to the changed regime as all the three metros reported shortage of set-top boxes.

As television viewers in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai rolled into Conditional Access System on the New Year day on Monday, they struggled to switch to the changed regime as all the three metros reported shortage of set-top boxes and confusion over new cable TV delivery system.

"It is all very confusing and we do not have a clear idea about the pricing structure and other issues related to CAS," said a resident in Srinivaspuri, one of the areas where CAS came into existence.

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Many residents, when contacted, said they were not sure of the difference between CAS and DTH. "It is not clear to us which is the better of the two. Also, prices asked by our cable operator for CAS appear very high," he said.

There were also people who said they would not buy set-top boxes or a DTH system. "We are happy with the free-to-air channels that we will get in the new system. We will not buy STB or DTH service," said a resident of South Extension.

Many of the residents also complained that the STB/DTH equipment were "confusing and difficult to handle."