Sun, 22 November 2009
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Telenet has launched its digital television service, but the fanfare has been soured by its profit-driven self-interest.There is rarely ever loyalty in business — and Belgian cable television firm Telenet confirmed an unspoken truth this week.
Instead of being praised for launching its digital television service, Telenet attracted consumer wrath for its decision to scrap eight channels.
These eight channels made way for 'progress'.
Telenet turned its back on faithful paying customers, reducing content without a corresponding cut in price.
This was in breach of contract signed with municipal councils. Minister for Consumer Affairs Freya van den Bossche has started an inquiry.
Adding oil to the fire, many consumers who wanted to retain the eight channels have been unable this week to obtain the obligatory CableTuner.
The supply problems left the public and retailers fuming — and with good reason.
And then Telenet made a sweeping gesture: the cable tuners were not for sale at all.
The EUR 49 paid to obtain one was instead classified as a 'guarantee'. When you return the tuner — even if it is after 30 years — you will be repaid the money.
Initially, a time period of three years had been written in the fine print, but public pressure and howls of protest by consumer watchdog Test-Aankoop have won Telenet concessions.
But the fact remains: two-thirds of TV viewers in Flanders were short-changed.
Consider also the 40,000 people left behind by progress.
Their crime: living in old apartments where Telenet considered it too expensive to upgrade the cable network to receive both digital and analogue television.
These were the low-income earners and the elderly, the least attractive consumers for a profit-driven digital business.
Progress has passed them by and they are left with the crumbs of analogue history.
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