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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
Mumbai, May 26: The Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) says it will fully support the Mumbai police in thier attempt crack the whip against errant cable operators during the ongoing World Cup telecast, whose exclusive rights vest with ESPN and Star TV.
The CGSI has been receiving complaints from television viewers against cable operators who are blocking substantial portions of the television screen by cable advertisements while the cricket match is in progress. In some cases, consumers are unable to receive sports channels at all.
In a press statement, the CGSI has said it will cooperate with the Mumbai police, which has promised strict action against cable operators involved in such ``unauthorised substitution or interferene in the original transmission of various channels. The practice is illegal and violates the Copyrights Act, it has stated.
However, ironically, the Social Services Cell of the Economic Offences Wing (Crime Branch) which had decided to conduct surveillance on cable controlrooms for violation of signals during World Cup telecasts have done nothing so far.
Sources said the police, who had made tall promises about conducting surprise raids and arresting offenders under the Copyrights Act, have not budged an inch. They had even requested the public to inform them of any unauthorised airing during the telecast by cable operators. The police however claim that so far no cases of copyrights violation have been brought to their notice. Neither have they conducted any raids.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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