Thursday, June 22, 2006

CBNSat : Message to their Customers

Dear valued customer,

Further to our communication on press with regard to our transmission being halted illegally by the CID, we wish to personally thank you for standing by us and being patient. Your support has given us immense strength to face all the battles against the unfair and unjustified actions taken against us.

We wish to gratefully acknowledge and thank our customers who have sent us emails and letters of encouragement and support. Sincere appreciation also goes out to those customers who have shown their support on the blog discussion pages.

We took this matter up in Courts and had several hearings so far and the Court verdict is currently pending. We have emphasized in Courts that in fairness to all our customers a quick resolution is immediately needed.

The overnight closure of infotainment service providers has now become an industry-wide issue. We maintain that we have all the necessary licences and documents required for our operations from both the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.

The learned Magistrate has however requested us to obtain an additional licence to maintain a “private television broadcasting station” under section 28 of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Act No. 6 of 1982. Although we are not a television broadcasting station, solely in the interests of our valued customers, we have submitted an application for the aforesaid licence under protest and strictly without prejudice to our rights in Court.

We understand the disappointment and frustration of our customers and would like to assure you that we doing everything possible to have the services back soon. In the meantime, please rest assured that we will not be charging subscription for the period during which the services were not available.

We are grateful for your loyalty and are confident that you will continue to stand by us. Together we will see this through and have CBNSat back on air again.

Yours digitally,
CBNSat.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Killjoy Chinthana: The Morning Leader Editorial

In the bad old colonial days, government servants signed off their letters saying: ‘I am, sir, your obedient servant.’ In independent Sri Lanka, even a minor counter clerk does not consider himself to be a servant of the people although his very status is that of a ‘public servant.’ He considers himself a minor potentate, just as much as ‘manthreethumas’ consider themselves monarchs, of not only all they survey but every one and everything in this supposedly blessed land.

A typical example of this political-bureaucratic arrogance has been denial to thousands of TV viewers the privilege of watching the Soccer World Cup matches now on in Germany. A greater part of humanity is watching this sporting spectacle on TV but those in Sri Lanka who were entitled to watch detailed coverage of these matches on two private channels have been deprived of this pleasure because the telecommunications panjandrums have forced them to close down because of the problem over a licence issued to these operators. Coverage of these matches on state TV channels has been only in snatches and of a very poor standard.

We are not for a moment commenting on the legality of such action by the authorities. The legal issue is a matter for the courts. But it should be pointed out that the telecommunications bureaucrats should have considered the interests of the public in this issue. They should have been well aware of the public interest in the World Cup matches and could have taken action much before so that the licencing issue could have been sorted out before or after the end of the World Cup series. Not so today’s bureaucrats. Infliction of cruelty on the public for no fault of theirs seems to be an ingrained perversity among them.

What have the political overlords done on this matter? They appear to have washed their hands off and are not concerned about it. It does not concern our constituencies and only those in Colombo and the suburbs would be affected, seem to be their attitude.

We are also aware that a number of interested parties, including some political parties, will be applying for licences for TV and radio broadcasting. It will be interesting to study further developments in this field. We do hope that it will not be on the lines of the issue of liquor licences.

There is the development of a dangerous trend of political thinking down the years: damn Colombo and the suburbs we are only concerned about the villages where the poor live. Certainly the poor deserve attention, even greater attention than the more fortunate but all people of this country, whether they live in Giriwapattuwa or Cinnamon Gardens have equal rights. And they are entitled to certain privileges particularly when they have paid to enjoy them.

The seven-month-old government of Mahinda Rajapakse has been riding rough-shod over the rights of certain categories of individuals. Our columnists have on previous occasions commented on his excise policies such as on the regulations governing the sale of liquor. While governments do have the right to regulate excise policies on liquor, it has to be pointed out that there are limits where the rights of individuals should not be transgressed for the sake of political expediency. This country is not a theocratic state where Ayatollahs of any variety have supremacy over the fundamental rights of the people.

Recently, there were reports that the government intends ordering all TV stations to stop broadcasting after 10 p.m. in view of the power crisis. This will result in further deprivation of simple joys that the middle class, particularly the professionals, now enjoy. Many of the middle class, especially the professionals, work long hours and relax after work for an hour or two. Most of them watch TV at home. Are they to be deprived of this too?

If the power crisis has reached a critical stage, TV stations may have to close down much earlier. But conservation of power does not seem to worry the government very much when the use and abuse of power in government institutes are considered. The most sensible thing to do is to ask the heads of government departments to switch off their air conditioners at least for an hour or two and ask their subordinates to do the same. Since the Mahinda Chinthana is supposed to be loved by one and all, we can presume that such a request will be followed to the letter.

The President himself should set an example by switching off air conditioning in his wind-wafted offices at the Presidential Secretariat, President’s House and Temple Trees. He can use fans instead. This can once again demonstrate the power of the Mahinda Chinthana.

President Rajapakse should be careful to avoid the path of his former leaders, especially that of Sirima Bandaranaike: banning and nationalising all she did not like or for political expediency. The SLFP being a party left of centre — more left than centre — is inclined to enforce its will through legislation and administrative fiat rather than by seeking the cooperation of the people. If President Rajapakse goes down this road, he may soon end up with a Licence Raj where purchase of everything would be on a licence — even a wedding suit, bread or babies’ powdered milk as it happened in the 1970s.
Source:http://www.themorningleader.lk/20060621/editorial.html

Anonymous said...

This is the absolute thruth,Thank you CBNsat for comming out from the bottom of your heart and you have become our TV station,so personally close to us.

No way that we are going to move away and count on us for anything.

We are in constant touch with our fellow friends at CBN and its just a formality that we will back you to the tilt,whatever the circumstances are.

Anonymous said...

well, hope 28th is a good day for all of us. we can only keep our fingers crossed.
no doubt, we will be by you cbn sat. wish u guys all the best.

Anonymous said...

Yo ! It's high time that the Government rialise of their wrong doings ! Isn't that coooooooool dodes ?

Anonymous said...

well...welll... Being a CBNsat customer, I'm not impressed by CBNsat statement...!! Especially about not charging for the period of no coverage..!! Is that all what we get for losing the whole world cup!! You better give the service for free for another 6months or for 12months (for those who stay with you guys). Especially if you guys win that 50million damage claim case, dont even think of charing us for another 1yr..!!

If you don't act nice to us, don't forget that I will be the first to go to courts against you guys....!! There can be 1001 reasons for us to sue you guys for the damage caused by this sudden loss of service..!
you know what I mean...! ;-)

-a subscriber from Etul Kotte

Anonymous said...

Don't be soooooo opportunistic my dear friend !

First we get CBNSat up and running then we could ask for more channels ! I think thats what we should do. To add whats been missing like "TEN SPORTS" and some star channels !

That's a more deliverable thing and CBNSat have promised us too that there are more channels to come.

So shall we demand these more channels for the same amount of subscription ????

Anonymous said...

Subscriber from Panadura.

Keep up the spirit CBN. we will be with you.

A great leader once had said "you should take a person out of a mud hole and keep him on firm ground, but never put him on a pedestal"

So, you have taken us(living out of cables length) out of the mud hole(state channels), but seems like some have got onto a pedestal and now trying to sue you, for being 'deprived' of something they never got to watch if not for CBN.

Typical srilankans. This attitude is why this country is in this state today.

Our wishes for CBN to win the case fast.

In the meantime we consume much more electricity on the HT system + rent or buy pirated movies. Who is loosing? US? no, we will somehow get it. Govt. WAKE UP!

Anonymous said...

Hey Etul Kotte guy, Are you a Sri Lankan or an American ? Usually Americans would go to the extent of suing their own ass for not being able to shit properly. You should try to sue SHITNet or the corrupt government officials and good luck in that.

I could not agree more with the Panadura subscriber. I personally have seen these good channels only when I have traveled abroad, then only I realized what we had been missing and the values of channels like Discovery, NGC, etc. CBNSat gave us the opportunity to watch these very goo programming. I am happy with the way CBNSat is handling and I am very patient too.

Anonymous said...

It's nice to see that most of our CBN guys are still gathered around CBNSat. It is what that lacking in our country. People are with us in good times and leave us when bad thing struck. I give my regards to all our CBN friends. Futher I belive that CBN management will entertain us by adding new channels once they go on air.

Anonymous said...

looks like a bunch of CBNsat guys keep on posting...

Anonymous said...

Some guys seems to be real opportunitist like the Ethul Kotte guy(This must be the comet MF trying to irritate CBNsat customers),This is a democratic country and you want get what you think and you can go to courts all alone and you can take hulugalle with you if you realy want.

CBNsat will give the channels we want and it is not due to a mistake of them that this has happened it is because of terrorist like you who support this corrupted officials and the disgusted politicians of this country.

You certainly must be a spineless boot licker of theirs.

Anonymous said...

Finally TRC decided to wake up from the slumber they were in, if they analysed the CBN case from the onset, things would have been formalised by now.

Media Ministry guys will come up with the crap that they are waiting for TRC to draw up regulations,which if it was there in the first place we would not be having this issue.

Hope at least something positive will happen on 28th and we get to watch quality infoentertainment on CBN.

By the way comet is not off the hook as new regulations cover satellite receiving equipment as well.Let s see whether he will be so joyful in the coming days and who gets to laugh last..

GO CBN we are with you through thick and thin.

Anonymous said...

Dudes..!! This Kotte dude is a cool dude..! He gotta cool arg man!! What the F... we are doin after pay'n freaking 16k bucks..! No TV for freaking two weeks!! God know if we dudes gonna get any shit...!! Hey CBNsat dudes..better get your asses ready to give some free stuff..!! I'm with this dude..!

Anonymous said...

Who is this"paiyya pana nethi ponn aya"

Lightning_Struck_Tower said...

""You better give the service for free for another 6months or for 12months (for those who stay with you guys).""

You are making true customers like us laugh. You don’t even have CBNsat don’t you? I got a saying 4 u ….FUCK OFF!

""Dudes..!! This Kotte dude is a cool dude..! He gotta cool arg man!! What the F... we are doin after pay'n freaking 16k bucks..!""

What an ass kissing dipshit! IS MONEY ALL YOU CARE ABOUT MOFO? CBNsat didn't ask the CID to raid them and put them off air. They had all the required licenses and it is not their fault they went offline. (even the goddamned TRC didn’t know what other license they needed lol)

Some assholes here in this forum are trying to sue CBNsat. Why do you try to sue CBNsat? Why sue the innocent while you clearly know the bad guys? Sue the govt officials if you have balls. If CBNsat were some illegal company and a bunch of crooks, would they be still there fighting for justice in courts? Would they not have fled like whipped dogs? I stand by them and will back them up any moment. I will not change operators even if I have to wait months. (only other provider that has signals in our area is SATnet. Hell will freeze over when I switch to SATnet.)

First thing is to get CBNsat on air. The trouble with Srilankan is that they never are satisfied with what they have. We got access to 30 premium world class channels. While CBNsat was online all we did was whine about the lack of quality. Now that it is gone, we jabber about how good it was coz we have now realized its true value. Yet some arses here are trying to sue CBNsat and ask for more channels as ransom? You are biting the hand that fed you. WHERE IS YOUR HUMANITY? STOP BEING SO FUCKING SELFISH.

GO OWN EM ALL CBNSAT. WAR HAS JUST BEGUN. WE WILL FIGHT WITH YOU TILL THE VERY END. WE SHALL NOT GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT.

P.S.- I am not a CBNsat employee neither am I affiliated to the company. I am merely a subscriber who greatly misses the service.

Anonymous said...

Dear Lightning_Struck_Tower and other bloggers,

Please calm down..!! Although frustration made me to say that I would even consider to sue CBNsat, I have many other important things in my life to attend to rather than going to courts for a mere 16k bucks. But, after my comment, it seems that quite a large number of comments were made on the same thing.

As one guy had stated, the pattern of the blogs makes it quite obvious that most of the blogs are done by the same individual o from CBNsat themselves.

Furthermore, you should notice that I am the same person who in a previous post appreciated the great customer service of CBNsat and due to that decided to wait till they sort out their issues.

But, now it seems quite obvious the waiting is merely a dream. Remember, some of you were almost sure of getting things sorted out after one week. Then after 2 weeks...! But, now it doesn't look like going to be over for another weeks...or months...!! Especially after TRC has decided to regulate all the sat tv channels...! Now, this means... surely months if not weeks..!! (knowing the efficiency of the TRC officials)

One more comment..If you guys are real CBNsat subscribers(non CBNsat representatives), and are in real need to watch the rest of the world cup.. what are our options??
Going for another SAT tv provider is not an option, cause all of them will be shut down sooner or later. So, is COMET cable the only option?
But, would they not get into same trouble?? As far as I know, they are using local broadcasting mechanism so they do not fall into this category. But if there are any doubts on these COMET guys then we will be wasting our money again.

I assume, genuine CBNsat guys who knows the market would reply and discuss this real problem of CBNsat subscribers.

I feel sorry for some guys who seem to go real mad at me for my previous comment.
NOTE: I am a genuine CBNsat customer and one day if I quit CBNsat and get another connection, I will post my CBNsat account number and the SIM card number. Then you will realize this was a real concern of a genuine CBNsat customer.

As another blogger had posted, pls try to post comments in a civilized manner. We all know, "kunu harupa" but please don't go public with those.

-Etul Kotte guy

Anonymous said...

Yo Yo Atul Kotte dude!! Keep it up! I kinda like your style!!
About the filthy stuff.. comeon dude.. don't take it personal... this is free world dude..! don't u dude see the filthy stuff on internet..? come on.. grow up dude!!

Anonymous said...

Next time these idiots will shut down internet service providers saying that u can watch tv and listen to radio through internet and hence u need a media licence for that.

Is this the type of fools who runs this country ? No wonder that this country is in this state !

They'll ask mobile companies also to obtain media licence because u can watch streamind video on them. State channels are also seen on mobile streaming ! So is this illegal too ?????????

See by going to hide a unjust thing that CID had done to CBN on the orders of Mr. SHITNet and few the whole country is in a mess !!!

Is this RATA PERATA ???????
Or what ????????????/

Lightning_Struck_Tower said...

First of all apologies for my language in earlier post :D As for the ethul kotte guy, I will break your arguments one by one.

“”If you don't act nice to us, don't forget that I will be the first to go to courts against you guys....!!””

“”Please calm down..!! Although frustration made me to say that I would even consider to sue CBNsat, I have many other important things in my life to attend to rather than going to courts for a mere 16k bucks. “”

Why do you contradict yourself so much? In your first post you were making us strongly believe you actually are GOING to sue CBNsat (good luck lol). Then in your second post you are saying you have more important things to do than sue for 16k bucks. Which one should i believe? Or should I take any of your future posts seriously?

“”As one guy had stated, the pattern of the blogs makes it quite obvious that most of the blogs are done by the same individual o from CBNsat themselves.””

If you have been visiting this blog from the beginning, you damn well know that many DIFFERENT people post in this blog. In bottom of CBNsat forum page, there is a hit counter. Do u think one or two people refreshed this page 3000 times? (And as far as I know it doesn’t record if the same user keeps refreshing the page—it records hits from different IPs.)

And who cares if CBNsat employees post here or not (I personally DONT think they do.). They are citizens of this country as well. They have every right in the world to post here if they want coz it is their JOBS that are at risk. We lost ENTERTAINMENT but they are at the risk of losing their JOBS!


“”Remember, some of you were almost sure of getting things sorted out after one week. Then after 2 weeks...! But, now it doesn't look like going to be over for another weeks...or months...!! Especially after TRC has decided to regulate all the sat tv channels...! Now, this means... surely months if not weeks..!! (knowing the efficiency of the TRC officials)””

Yeah so who’s wrong in this case? CBNsat or less efficient TRC/govt officials? Why cant you see the simple truth mate? Why cant you see who started all this? Open your eyes! Your judgment is no better than CID’s judgment (yeah that is an insult)

“”One more comment..If you guys are real CBNsat subscribers(non CBNsat representatives), and are in real need to watch the rest of the world cup.. what are our options?? “”

We have two options.
1. Watch matches on rupavahini (I know how pathetic that is)
2. Switch to COMET (for people in colombo only.COMET has no islandwide coverage but that is the only FUNCTIONING operator as of now)
Do u see our options are limited? Is the limitation of alternatives a fault of CBNsat too? CBNsat was THE solution (isladwide coverage, better set of channels, best quality). It is not their or our fault it is offline now. It all comes down to the corrupted officials. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THOSE *******.


“”I feel sorry for some guys who seem to go real mad at me for my previous comment.
NOTE: I am a genuine CBNsat customer and one day if I quit CBNsat and get another connection, I will post my CBNsat account number and the SIM card number. Then you will realize this was a real concern of a genuine CBNsat customer.””

You might wonder why I back CBNsat so much. One doesn’t need to be an employee of CBNsat to do that. How about **A LOYAL SUBSCRIBER WHO UNDERSTANDS THE TRUTH**? (Does the word “LOYAL” mean anything to you?) I will not post my account number here and prove it to you lol. You can think whatever you want/ do as you wish/live in a dream.

First priority is to get CBNsat back on air. And I am prepared to wait no matter how long it will take. To those who flee the battle, I have two words... “GOOD RIDDANCE”

It may take time but it is coming back……

Anonymous said...

It seems that many of you are not trying to feel the real situation.
I dont think the CBN is so innocent as they have stated in their latest notice. It seems they have run the company like a commucation centre in a village junction. They have been very careless and irresponsible.But since their opossition(SL Government) is more annoying and courrupted I do not wish to blame cbn anymore.
For all of you I suggest that we must help cbn to come out of this .
But we must push them to bemore responsible on bussiness(They realy lied to us in the early days of crisis).
I am not frogetting the real entertainment cbn gave us and I want to protect it.But i do not wish to stupidly help them on whatever going on.SO I ask all of you to be more realistic

Anonymous said...

IN early days even the govt didnt have a clue about the licence. CBnsat is a satellite communication company and operates on broadband. It does not need a licence from SLRC to operate broadband. Read TRC website.

Regualtions were drawn on 21st this month. Is CBNsat irresponsible for ignorinh regulation which were NEVER there?

That is reality.

Anonymous said...

Guys lets be real...!! Why did we get a CBNsat connection?? Its to enjoy the life watching infotainment..! Now what..??? We are missing the best sports festival which comes once in 4 years!!
Thanks a to you Lightning_Struck_Tower, I have decided to move to COMET cable. Its been real fun bloging in this post..!! I still feel sorry for CBNsat. But, I dont want to make my life misserable coz my SATtv company is having trouble giving service. My kids are complaining all day and night coz they dont have Cartton network!!
So, Adios.... CBNsat... sorry to say... there goes one more CBNsat customer....! As for the rest of the guys who wish to stay tuned to "No Signal" on the blue screen.... I wish all you.. "a lot of courage and patience"
- Etul Kotte guy

Lightning_Struck_Tower said...

Good luck Ethul Kotte Dude. Have you removed CBnsat dish from it's fixed location too? Or are you still keeping it just in case........

Good Luck with Comet anmyways :)

Anonymous said...

i will stick with CBNsat.

Anonymous said...

I will not try to play with the CBNsat dish. In case it comes back, I'll use it as the 2nd connection and compare the two for a while and then might get rid of one of them...!
Today is a real bad day football fans in SL!!! Channel eye doesn't show the Agentina-Mexico game..!! You see I'm still up at 2AM just to see updates from CNN on ARTtv!!

Anonymous said...

LankaPage.com

Sri Lanka::
* Sri Lanka govt to regulate satellite service providers
Friday, June 23, 2006, 13:11 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

June 23, Colombo: The controversial probe against satellite television service provider CBNSat is likely to be dropped as the government is considering licensing all satellite service providers.

Accordingly, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) is considering measures to register satellite service providers and promulgate rules to regulate the services provided by them. It is likely that the TRC might register all equipment needed for satellite transmission and reception. Regulations will be provided to enable the TRC to monitor providers, vendors, users and usage of the facilities.

The Criminal Investigation Department recently raided the office of the satellite service provider CBNSat and shut down its transmissions on allegations of operating without a valid licence and approvals. CBNSat went to court against the ruling, and the court extended the shut down order to two more competitive service providers, LBN and SATNet.

Satellite services are becoming popular in both metropolitan and rural areas of Sri Lanka as they provide good service. Signals for most TV stations are very poor in many areas outside Colombo. Lo