KOLKATA: City multi-system operators (MSO) have claimed that the new payment system for cable TV subscription – that no longer allows customers to pay later – has led to a sharp spurt in the number of defaulters resulting in blank screens across Kolkata. With just two days to go for the migration deadline to expire on March 31, the city has more than two lakh dead set-top boxes with the majority having been switched off due to non-payment, pointed out MSOs.Since February, MSOs have stopped allowing credit to cable operators forcing the latter to switch to a pre-paid mode. But a large section of cable subscribers has not yet accepted the idea. “A sizeable number is still used to paying at convenience. So far, they would be allowed by operators to pay even two months later but now MSOs deduct the money at a stipulated date. So, operators can’t afford to allow credit to their customers for that would put a huge burden on them,” said Mrinal Chatterjee of MSO Bengal Broadband. Each of Kolkata’s seven major MSOs have lost at least 5%-6% of their subscribers to payment default , according to cable industry insiders. SitiCable – Kolkata’s largest MSO - has 45000 blank screens across the city. According to director Suresh Sethia, the majority of these subscribers are defaulters. “We have always had defaulters but skipping a month’s payment would not result in a blackout so far. But now, the new system makes it mandatory to pay the subscription at the beginning of the month and we can’t make an exception,” said Sethia. He hoped that subscribers will get used to the new system in a couple of months.When the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) extended the migration deadline to March 31 last month, it had mentioned that no subscriber should face a complete channel blackout. It also mandated that those yet to submit their list of preferred pay channels should be offered a best-fit plan that was close to the packages they subscribed to so far. But most subscribers in the city have been unhappy with the stop-gap packages. “These packs were imposed on subscribers which they didn’t like. It left many disappointed and they have lost the urge to pay on time,” said an MSO official.Defaulters have swelled the number of blank screens, according to an official of MSO Hathaway. “It has been a constant 5%-6% so far but now they are facing disconnection. This has pushed up the number of blank screens,” he said.MSOs are, however, worried at the rising number of dead set-top boxes. A leading MSO with presence across Bengal and other eastern states has sought an explanation from its local officials. “So far, cable operators and subscribers had an understanding and late payments would be accommodated. But now we have no choice but to disconnect. Unfortunately, most subscribers are not even aware of the date on which they must make the payment. It has also increased our workload since set-top boxes are constantly having t be switched off and again switched on once the payment is made. But we believe that the situation will improve by end-April,” said Tapash Das of Ideal Cable Operators’ Association.

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