I received this Rant as a comment, but I felt it deserves to be a separate article.

This is NOT my article, it was written by Nanur of Kolkata about the poor service and signal quality he received from Tata Sky staff in Kolkata

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TATASKY AND THE DTH GO TO HELLLLL
Nanur, Kolkata

They have totally cheated us here in CAS affected Kolkata at least.I (a resident of CAS affected locality in KOLKATA) bought two tatasky digicomps(as part of my multiroom service) on the 28th DEC 2006 and was told that it would be installed the next day AND YOU KNOW WHAT ? It took them over 10 days to install it (after repeated reminders amounting to over 30 phone calls to their helpline numbers which are NOT toll-free).

For most of my neighbours, who ironically bought the service, have a similar harrowing story to tell. (for many of them, it took nearly 15 days to installthe dish antenna and others..) The picture quality of a number of the channels (esp. ZEE group of channels and also HBO) leaves a lot to be desired.The picture quality of ALL the ZEE channels and HBO are of poor quality VCD.

After comparing with the quality offered by our local cable operator’s set-top box I can definitely state that the quality of these channels are far better in my neighbors set-top boxes. And STEREO SOUND ???

I have fitted the logitech THX certified speakers to the digicomps and even tried the old and faithful headphones. Only ’star movies’ offers somewhat good quality stereo sound. For the rest, I can say the sound quality is no doubt stereo,but clarity is not so superior as claimed -mainly ’FM quality’.

And after it all, I found that I am not able to watch the Ind-W.Indies cricket matches- just because all on a sudden NEO-SPORTS disappeared from their network. On the 21st January 2007,the day of the ind-W.Indies first one-dayer we tried contacting the helpline at least 20 times, but nobody responded.

My local cable operator CAS based set top box delivers better picture quality of most of the channels, not to mention that all my neighbours are able to view all the cricket matches (NEO-SPORTS is available there).

Moreover there are no good english movies/music channels (Hallmark, Zee MGM, B4U etc) and no foreign language channels in the so called ’superior technology’ DTH service- all of which are available in my neighbours set-top box of the local cable operator- all at a much cheaper rate too. I have heard that Hallmark was available about 4 months back but suddenly disappeared from their network.

A large majority of the 100+ channels which TATASKY show us are the regional language channels which are mostly free to air I do not think that I require so many channels of other states.

The same applies to people in other states too-say a person in Gujrat-shall he require so many Tamil/Kannada/Oriya etc channels ? In this respect I am to state that here in Kolkata, our local cable operator offers 9 bengali channels; Tatasky offers only five.

In order to hide so many deficiencies, Tatasky is advertising so much about the so called ’active sports/active news’ and the absolutely nonsense ’showcase’.

WHAT IS THE USE OF ’ACTIVE SPORTS’ IF , DESPITE PAYING THE PREMIUM, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO VIEW THE POPULAR SPORTING EVENTS BEING HELD IN OUR OWN COUNTRY – TAKE FOR EXAMPLE THE INDIA-WEST INDIES SERIES? Going by their service, I would not be surprised that by the time the WORLD CUP arrives, ESPN-STAR SPORTS too all on a sudden disappears from their network.

Moreover would a subscriber pay 300 bucks per month for only entertaining their children with the video games provided in the package ? And about their showcase ??!!? It is simply an advertising gimmick- how many people would, I wonder spend Rs.75/- to see a movie JUST FOR ONE DAY and that too only a few restricted hindi movies, no English?!?

In this respect I can compare Tatasky parallel to a mobile service operator who advertises a lot about the ringtones they offer, but is mum about the coverage area.

For an average customer what matters is the quantity and quality of channels which the provider should give. For quality, tatasky is satisfactory, but for quantity— too much overpriced.

I therefore feel that in CAS areas like us in kolkata, the public must stick to their faithful old cable operator, instead of jumping to the traps of DTH cheats like TATASKY ( which inspite of the ’towering advertisements- claiming to be superior to the cablewallahs’ are simply tall talks ) – who I feel, should be dragged to the consumers courts.