NEW DELHI: Apparently, cable TV subscribers in Delhii called the TRAI‘s and the MSOs‘ bluff and won. After consistently stating that the last date for submitting consumer application forms (CAFs) or channel selection forms (CSFs) to cable TV operators was 25 June, the telecom regulator gave them more time to submit their forms in Delhi.

TRAI today announced that the last date has been extended to 10 July, but warned that there would be no further extension. Yesterday, MSOs had stated that the process of CAF collection was proceeding smoothly and that they were going to comply with the TRAI‘s orders and disconnect errant subscribers after today (Read: Indiantelevision.com‘s CAF story MSOs say that cable TV customer response positive for CAFs). Today, however, a delegation of them went and moved TRAI to extend the deadline primairly for Delhi..

The telco regulator noted that though there had been a ‘tangible’ increase in the number of people who had filled the CAF forms, there were still a large number of cable operators and multi-system operators who had informed TRAI that they did not have the full details of their consumers yet.

Consumers have been asked by TRAI to cooperate in every way to ensure that CAF are complete in every manner.

However, it was made clear that no further extension would be given and the MSOs would have no option but to disconnect the signals to consumers who fail to give the forms in time.

Meanwhile, TRAI has launched an SMS service to reach out to consumers about the importance of CAF, even as major channels have jointly launched a television commercial featuring the lead actresses from popular series.