PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad based United Cable Operators Association (UCOA), on Wednesday, confirmed that all their cable TV operators will shut services during prime time (7 pm to 10 pm) on Thursday. The areas affected are Pimpri, Chinchwad and parts of Dehu Road, Alandi and Saroli, informed Advocate Satish Kambiye, President of UCOA.
Last week, city-based Pune Cable Operators Association (PCOA) anUCOA had slammed the new TRAI policy of charging per channel/per bouquet, terming it ‘uneconomical’ and ‘anti-consumer’. Earlier, Mumbai witnessed State-level cable operators’ meet to decide the future course of the protest. Mumbai cable operators have also decided to temporarily block cable TV services during prime time on Thursday as part of their protest.
The protest in Mumbai has been supported by Shiv Sena MLC Advocate Anil Parab.
Earlier, PCOA and UCOA had criticised the new policy and vowed to approach the Bombay High Court for protecting the interest of the customers. Accordingly, a petition has been filed in the court and the matter will be heard on December 28. TRAI is going to discuss this issue with Multi Service Operators (MSO) on December 27.
PUNE MAY JOIN PROTEST
Prachi Shah of PCOA said that the Pune’s cable TV operators may join their UCOA and Mumbai counterparts to augment the protest.
