SingTel did it again with its MIO TV. I'm sure the exec, engineers will kill who ever with the name Murphy.
During the most critical moment the system failed again. As usual, SingTel issued a statement that
This was due to an unprecedented number of viewers tuning in for the season finale.
So now, we've
Expensive HDB's/Condo because 'unprecedented number of people migrated to Singapore'
Trains failing because of 'more than anticipated people riding public transport'
Slow/poor mobile networks because people are using mobiles
TV/Cable systems failing because people are watching programs.
The root cause is clear. It's the people
We should schedule it in a way, like in a HDB block, all the even number units should watch first half. Odd number units should watch for the remaining half. Then they can share between themselves.
Remember, you shouldn't sms or call each other. It could congest the mobile network.
Not quite sure what is going with the system but the MIO TV went down last night. There was supposed to 'the match' in La Liga between Barcelona vs Real Madrid (0200 hrs Singapore time) and the 'popular PINK screen" started to display.
I believe the "PINK SCREEN OF DEATH" or "PSOD" will be as popular as the BSOD of Windows NT soon.. By the way did you guys realized that MIO TV using Microsoft Media room as the backend system ;)
Here is a letter from another customer who wrote to straittimes forum.
Pay-TV subscribers at the mercy of channel swops
16 April 2011
ST Forum
SingTel’s's mio TV had done well to offer a Bharata pack comprising channels like Zee (Hindi) and Zing, allowing consumers like myself to economise on total pay-TV charges spend.
However, SingTel suddenly decided to discontinue Zee (Hindi) and Zing, replacing them with channels which they say are an alternative to the original channels.
What is worse is consumers cannot be freed from their contracts.
If SingTel fails to deliver on its offerings, shouldn't the consumers be allowed to cancel the agreements without penalty?
Aditya Dharnidharka
This is exactly my complaint and I'll know what will happen next. Our dear service providers in Singapore love SOP. There is a template for all these questions. So the reply will be "As part of our continuous improvement/revamp we have to change some channels. At the same time to provide variety and similar content we tied up with xyz channels and replaced abc channel. thanks for your feedback and if you've more question please fell free to call/email"
One of the bad things in Singapore is about the Cable TV or Entertainment. There are two players in pay tv market and the channels are typically in exclusive contract. Which means the Customer end up with paying to two different parties and two different settop boxes in living room.
Just to quote a recent example, Cricket world cup was shown in MIO TV and I was hoping that MIO TV will extend the same for IPL. Sadly this is not the case and the rights are still with Starhub. Same goes with rest of the content.
Thanks to the regulator it is going to be changed 'soon' (Unfortunately the soon is going to be in next few years or worst case next facade)
* Quality sucks for mainstream content (HD is good but the SD sucks)
* Delay in transmission. It DOES matter to hear my neighbours screaming "OUT" while I still shouting "SIXER" or vice versa.
* REMOTE CONTROL. May be SingTel invented this to frustrate people or reduce the usage of MIO TV so the system is not loaded. It doesn't work or work's with "DELAY".
* Customer Support
* Simple stuff complicated by your so called advanced technology.
* LASTLY but most IMPORTANTLY, changing the content during the contract period without any concern for the subscribers.
Ok, I've joined the group of MIO Haters, and believe me it took so long not because I am lucky but I am patient enough to hold my guns.
The quality of MIO TV is worse than terrestrial broadcast but being an engineer, I trusted that the singtel can do something to solve my problem. Slowly I'd accepted that the quality is what is available for me and continued watching the programs. But recently the quality became unbearable and I need to pause the live tv to see what's the text. No, its not due to below reasons as suggested by the smart customer service officer. I can plug in the years old HDB cable (it still works in my home) and see the difference
* my eye sight or
* problem with the TV or
* Lighting in the room or
* Angle of viewing
Thanks to the advanced technology you've adopted, the LIVE transmission is not "LIVE" but with a DELAY. True, it's 5 seconds but it makes a difference and I could see it when my neighbors screaming "OUT" while we're still enjoying the marvelous boundary by ten doeschate..It was an issue in Football Worldcup and saw lots of complaints in the news papers but it seems the fans accepted or just ignored it now. Or it may be a problem only for me :|
The smart customer support (Who'd suggested that the angle of viewing could be the problem of perceived bad quality) trys to "HELP" the lucky winners of "WHO HOLDS THE PHONE". It seems the norm is ten minutes of waiting time and by the way it costs me to hold the phone. I wish there is an App which can detect Service Providers calling me and put them on HOLD for 20 minutes while playing "Your call is important to us, but the officer is busy on another line. Please hold while he finishes the other call". Once you wont the lucky draw, then you're asked to repeat few times what is the problem. This is much more frustrating than watching India loosing the cricket match to pakistan.
Also you guys made life more difficult with the "technology". I don't really understand why we need to change the screen settings by going in to "
Menu---> Right arrow-->Right arrow-->Right arrow-->Right arrow-->Settings-->Down arrow --> Channel Guide --> Enter --> Down arrow --> Down arrow --> Down arrow --> Down arrow --> Enter--> Screen Settings -->
Choose the settings and it'll ask for confirm and test and then accept. The funny thing is the feed is in different format. Why can't you just sense the feed and adjust the screen settings accordingly?
Why shall I press the remote button 19 times to change something which shall be accessible by few clicks. Also how come the "Screen Settings" are under "Channel Guide"? This is not a proper way to prove that you are using Microsoft product/software for your IP TV
Fellow blogger even posted the screenshots here
Final complaint is the content & also the high handed change of programming content. Whn MIO TV started you guys have CBEEBEES, Baby first (Kid's/Toddler channels) and BBC Knowledge. The first two are a very good addition to Singapore pay tv and the main reason behind we opting for MIO TV. However within a month (Aug 2009) the BBC channels were gone. We cannot change our subscription because we are still under contract. You'd changed the bundling few times, and every time you offer "new channel" which seems so new. Content is another biggest joke. My dad told me even he dont recall watching or hearing the movies in the Bollywood EROS list.
Cricket in HD is an exception and I wish the programming folks @ mio tv would learn one or two things on how to offer "interesting content". Hopefully I can see Nat Geo, Discovery, History, Cartoon Network, etc channels in the future.
Back to Singapore and believe me guys. I've got a shock of my life when I reached my home. For a moment I thought I entered the wrong house and only realized after my domestic helper wished me.
This is CRICKET period and I am one of those lucky guys who's got MIO TV at home with sports subscription which is WORKING. So no wonder my living room is filled with friends, friend of a friend and friend of a friend of friend and some unknown faces (who later introduced that they worked in my wife's friend's ex-company). If you don't believe come to my house next Sunday during India match and you can have first hand experience on how complicated Indian friendships or relationships can be..
Coming to the point, I confess watching the sport in HD is really an unique experience. I still remember the Prudential cup (1987) matches and to watch the match in 11" B&W television set we traveled almost close to 50 KM to a relative's (Refer to above to understand the definition of relative) home. It's great with the added graphical display showing the replay's and analysis.
Here we've two different feeds, one in Hindi and the other in English. Hindi feed is exactly the same as those transmitted in India while I believe English version is some thing exclusive to paid viewers. So the + or - point based on how you see is, THERE ARE NO ADVERTISEMENTS.. Seriously no ad even during the drinks time or lunch break. For me it's really boring to watch complete game without the 'masala' ads coming in between. Anyway my friends liked it and I am guessing to see more crowd during the next weekend.
Another interesting thing I observed is the match between Srilanka & Indian Canadian teams. I think the Canadian cricket team is filled with folks from south asian origin and its almost like watching our Indian team 10-15 years back. They are slow in the field, often dropped catches, missed run-outs but I am impressed with their spirits. If they'd have done better in the field, they'd have shown the Srilankan's a tough time. Anyway's best of luck and move on guys..
There is a news in CNA this morning (Here) and the interesting part is the collaboration on Procurement & other business areas. At first I was thinking what kind of synergy singtel can find in portugal as the markets re quite different. Also so far singtel overseas partnerships are mainly based on mobile and what makes our telco to go and partnership in iptv arena. After reading the press release and SingTel announcement I realized that the agreement is not simply on IPTV but it's much more to it.
They will also leverage joint scale and assets in wholesale procurement, leading to potential cost savings. They will also foster joint talent pools, which could result in employee secondment.As part of the agreement, both firms will tap into each other's proven expertise and partnership deals, in areas such as IPTV and FTTH, as well as the mobile and business markets.
Portual Telecom is the largest TELCO and operates mainly in Portugal & Brazil with with significant presence in some african nations & PRC. I can see some similarities between PT & ST which I tabulated below.
Is SingTel going to buy something in Europe again ? We dont know but IMO they should think twice or thrice. Other than Portugal, one lucrative thing is assets in Brazil. Singapore has significant interests in Brazil thanks to Temasek Holdings and TLC's but is it the right time to enter in latin america? Also does SingTel has the experience/expertise to be a global player? we don't know but its really interesting to watch out what will happen.
By the way one final point is I know the justification/rationale to partner with Portugal telecom. Do you know what's their IPTV service called?
