Starhub’s planned launch of its digital cable service has run into a wall of angry viewers, particularly those with older video cassette recorders. Incoming digital signals from StarHub interfere with the preset frequency of some VCRs, resulting in poor or no TV reception or video playback. TV sets not connected to VCRs are not affected by the digital signals.
StarHub’s assistant vice-president for corporate communications Jeannie Ong said the company had anticipated that some VCRs, especially older ones, would face the problem. StarHub said it will again send mailers about the upgrade to all households. Ms Ong said that with digital cable technology, viewers could look forward by the year’s end to more channels and interactive TV services such as an electronic programme guide and future applications such as e-mail, SMS and games.
Simon Twiston Davies, chief executive of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), said: “Digital TV is not going to revolutionize TV watching overnight. It will take time.” The Media Development Authority (MDA) told The Straits Times it “will monitor the situation and ensure that digital broadcasters retain their current analogue services until there is a substantial digital TV take-up rate.”