The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) recently downsized more than five channels from the only two cable operators, Norling cable and Etho Metho cable, in Thimphu for exceeding the 68 channels limit.
BICMA maintained that cable operators have to keep the total channels at 68 limit, and from the existing channels he said not a single channel can be taken out because all the channels has been found to be popular for the customers. Hence the cable operators are faced with difficulty in trying to add new channels with BICMA’s already existing pre-set channel list.
In regard to downsized channels, BICMA’s Chief Information and Media Officer Lakshuman Chhetri said the authority has directed the cable operators to conform with the existing rules which obliges to them to “downlink and telecast only those TV channels approved by the authority based on the legitimate papers signed with the service providers”.
The decision of the authority on the number of channels to be telecast by cable operators, he said, is determined by the existing laws, policy directives issued by the government, rules and such other regulatory considerations. As a regulatory body, when it comes to rating the channels, he said the authority approves the list of channels based on the list provided by the cable operators, and upon further consultation with the operators and the annual survey conducted by the authority.
Norling cable has downsized six channels recently like, ATN Bangla, Start Utsav, KBS World, Manoranjan, and 24 hours (24 Ganta). Currently Norling cable has 69 channels in total.
Norling cable said they aren’t aware of the reasons as to why BICMA has to downsize TV channels. “Only thing is we have to comply with their directives since we are under them. And we have done away with some of the channels after the directives from BICMA,” a Norling cable employee said.
When asked about the selection of channels to be aired, he said it is not done through public or customer consultation.
Earlier, Norling cable had channels ranging in 40s and the reason for increasing in number of channels he said is just to compete with DTH which has more than 100 channels. “Looking at the number of channels offered by DTH, our customers won’t be satisfied with the lesser number of channels offered by us,” he said.
He said dish TV is illegal in Bhutan, and yet most of the people use it. Norling cable has put up a complaint with BICMA on the matter, but no action has been taken by the authority.
Etho Metho cable had 74 channels before bringing it down to 68 channels. Manager of Etho Metho cable, Pema Tshewang said it is being done as per the directives from BICMA.
Most of the customers shared grievances with regard to decreasing number of TV channels.
Pema Wangmo, 31, a private employee who is a big fan of Korean channels said there was a rumor that the KBS World channel was taken out because of excess Korean series broadcasted owing to which students waste study time on TV. However, Pema said all series can be downloaded from the internet. “So there is no point in taking out the KBS channel, and I do not understand why BICMA is taking out channels without notifying the public,” she added.
A housewife, Kezang Wangmo said, “Since we are already paying for the cable, why buy cassettes, DVDs and download it from internet.”
Pema Tshewang said, “We do receive lots of calls and complaints from the customers since we have taken off few channels and many calls are with regard to the removal of KBS World channel.”
Considering the requests of viewers and customers, Etho Meto cable has written to BICMA for addition of a few channels.
Meanwhile, BICMA said those people who write to the authority, their grievances will be reviewed and appropriate responses will be made to them in writing.
Lakshuman Chhetri said, “When it comes to those channels that have been taken out, the exclusion of the channels referred as not in the approved list of the channels, but were introduced on an ad hoc basis.”
He added saying if those channels need to be included in the respective cable services, the due process prescribed in the existing rules, licensing terms, and conditions need to be followed.
He also said the cable operators are obliged to seek the approval of the authority before a channel is introduced in the cable service to ensure that the action is legitimate.
