Sahara's move to replace channel criticis

Sahara's move to replace channel criticised
By a staff reporter

3 March 2006
DUBAI — Sahara's decision to replace its Sahara One channel with the newly launched Sahara Filmi Channel from February 28 until April 15 has upset Pehla subscribers, who believe it is an ''unethical and purely profit-oriented move''.

According to a Pehla representative, the cricket matches will be available to the UAE viewers on Ten Sports, which is part of the Silver Package (an upgrade for basic package subscribers).

Sahara won rights to broadcast the Indian-England cricket series, which kicked off with the Nagpur test match on March 1. Until February 28, Pehla's basic package included Sahara One, which has now been replaced with the new Filmy channel till the very end of the series on April 15.

''This is between Sahara and Pehla, but the people who will lose out in the end is the common subscriber. This is not the first time, and pathetic as it is, does not surprise me,'' Sathish, one of the callers, said.

A statement issued by Pehla yesterday said ''due to certain unavoidable technical reasons Sahara has requested for Sahara Filmy channel to replace Sahara One channel until April 15, 2006 across the Middle East region.''

sahara has prb not realized potentially how many overseas viewers it may hve lost due 2 suddenly changing sahara one and filmy with no warnings 😆