In a bid to enforce the fixed monthly cable television charges policy introduced earlier last month, the information ministry has decided to cancel the licenses of cable operators who are claiming higher subscription fees from viewers.

"It is about time the government did something about the operators. They tend to charge each subscriber whatever they can squeeze out them," said Shams Siraj from Green Road.

Siraj cites the example of his own cable operator. While the local cable operator charges him Tk 300 for 70 channels, another viewer from the same neighborhood pays Tk 250 for an equal number of channels. "I have been paying more for the same number of channels, which is totally unfair," said Shams Siraj.

Earlier, on July 11, the information ministry set the fees for cable television subscription at Tk 300 per month for operators providing 60 channels, of which 30 at least are to be pay channels.

Prior to this announcement, the cable television industry was beset by subscribers' perpetual grumbling, along with indiscriminate collection of subscription charges based on the convenience of the cable operators. However, the situation has changed little since then, as the majority of cable operators are still claiming charges in violation of the new policy.

Cable Vision, a cable operator from Kalabagan, charged Tk 500 from subscribers for the month of July. Officials from Cable Vision told this correspondent that lowering their rate to Tk 300 would have rendered a huge loss, however they are planning to follow the new government policy from this month.

Similar notions and complaints emerged against a good number of cable operators throughout the city who are demanding self-enforced fees from subscribers, primarily based on the status of local residents.

Ataur Rahman, a resident of Mirpur, used to pay a monthly charge of Tk 300 to the local cable television operator. However, his cable operator increased the charges to Tk 350 on the month of July.

"They (cable operator) told us that the government increased the monthly cable charges, consequently we have to pay higher charges for subscription," said Ataur Rahman.

A week before the new charges were introduced, residents of Indira Road were paying Tk 450 for 50 channels, while viewers in Dhanmondi or in Kalabagan were paying Tk 500 per month for 70 channels. A number of residents from Gulshan and Banani were paying Tk 600 for 80 channels or the same amount for 70 channels.

Most of the cable operators from these areas are yet to adjust their charges following the new policy.

"I heard that the government has introduced new cable television charge policies but I am still paying Tk 500 as I used to," said Tanvir Zaman, resident of Dhanmondi.

Meanwhile, residents of Agargaon, Shyamoli, Pallabi, Begunbari, Badda and adjacent areas were paying Tk 300 for 70 channels or even more. In certain areas such as Bashabo, Rajarbagh, Shahjahanpur, Malibagh and Tejturipara, the same number of channels was available at only Tk 250.

Cable operators who used to claim lower monthly charges than those set out in the new fixed charge policy claimed that they are having a hard time convincing their subscribers to pay higher charges.

"Our subscribers include people from all walks of life. We have customers ranging from high ranking private and public company officials to grocery store owners, maids, hotel boys and even rickshaw-pullers," said Abul Kalam, a cable operator from Rayer Bazar.

"Despite their social status and income, they are all our customers and I would rather charge them less than lose them," he added.

Cable operators argued that a fixed rate would make cable television operators incur huge losses. "This new act will strangle the cable TV industry to death," said Jamil, a cable technician from Tilpapara. "Operators from the city fringes will be the first to die out. Eventually, in a few months, most of the operators in the city will follow their path," he added.

According to Kamrul Islam, Press Secretary of Cable Operators Association Bangladesh (COAB), the fixed subscription policy would hardly leave any room for profit, since the monthly fees for each pay channel added up to an outrageous sum.

"The number of pay channels needs to be reduced, as there are lots of unnecessary channels which are not wanted by subscribers. Also, we have to pay a huge amount of money for these channels," said Kamrul Islam.

"Exclusion of these channels would actually be good move for both subscribers and the operators in the longer run," he added.