News Headline
US satellite TV cos strive to be customer-oriented
CALIFORNIA: Satellite TV service providers in the US are gearing up to expand their customer base by aggressively tapping new geographic locations and becoming more customer-friendly.
A multichannel report says that Comcast Corp. will bring HDTV a little closer to Tinseltown, launching HDTV (High Definition TV) in the Hollywood area from 29 May onwards.
The list of cities on tap for HDTV includes Hollywood, Santa Clarita, Inglewood, Culver City, Pomona, Bellflower, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Corona and Lake Elsinore, among others.
The report also says that Comcast will launch with the local ABC, NBC, PBS and Fox affiliates, along with Home Box Office and Showtime. The HDTV programming and rental of the HDTV decoder is priced at $5 per month.
Meanwhile, satellite companies continue to beat cable operators in customer-satisfaction surveys. DirecTV Inc. topped the American Customer Satisfaction Index compiled by the University of Michigan, scoring a 72.
It was followed by direct-broadcast satellite rival EchoStar Communications Corp. (68), Time Warner Cable (61) and Charter Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp., which each scored a 55. EchoStar, the nation’s second-largest satellite TV provider, with 8.5 million subscribers at the end of March and second to DirecTV’s 11.4 million, reported a $58 million profit in the first quarter. MSOs in the “other” category drew a 60.
Another report says that EchoStar Communications Corp. has agreed to pay $5 million to settle customer complaints about its satellite TV service in 13 states, Colorado’s attorney general was quoted as saying on 22 May 2003.
Prosecutors in those states had been investigating EchoStar for allegedly violating consumer protection laws with misleading advertisements, but no lawsuits have been filed.
EchoStar executives said the company had not broken any laws but agreed to the settlement to avoid potentially long and costly litigation. The Littleton, Colo.-based company agreed to change advertisements and other sales literature for its Dish Network and to improve procedures for customers to cancel service and resolve complaints quickly.
“Customer satisfaction has always been a top priority for our company,” chairman and chief executive officer Charles Ergen was quoted as saying in a statement.
The settlement involves about 1,800 complaints from consumers who felt the Dish Network misled them about pricing and contract issues, and charged their bank accounts or credit cards without consent, Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar said. Some people had complained that the ads failed to disclose a $240 early termination fee and extra charges for local programming, Salazar said.
About $3 million of the settlement will be used to compensate consumers, and the rest will be used to cover the cost of the states’ 18-month investigation.
The settlement will take effect in September. Consumers who file complaints will be compensated at an amount to be determined by the attorney general in each state.
“I think the message to all those businesses in this state and in this country is first and foremost be up front with your customers,” Salazar said. “If you don’t, you may end up in an investigation like EchoStar was in.”
The states involved are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Wisconsin.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
