The Hindu : Cable operators protest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 30, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Cable operators protest

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 29. Accusing the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) of being soft on broadcasters, cable operators from across the country today expressed concern over the ability of TRAI in being able to rein in broadcasters and protecting their interest.

A protest march was also staged by cable operators in the Capital against what the operators called the Government's apathy towards them. A memorandum was also presented by the operators to Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, expressing their concerns.

Also announced at a press conference held here today was a new website cabletvindia.com that will act as a one stop information provider for operators from across the country. Also launched was the South India Cable Service Providers Welfare Association which will represent operators of the Southern States and cities.

With representatives of the industry having had a meeting with TRAI on January 28, the operators said they had expressed concern over the "vertical monopoly'' of broadcasters and called on the TRAI to set up a license regime to bring them under the regulatory fold.

While pointing out that the TRAI Chairman, Pradeep Baijal spoke about the growing monopoly of cable operators, the All India Cable Service Providers Association today said it was the broadcasters who need to be controlled.

"If the Government can decide our costing, why can't it control the costing of broadcasting channels, especially pay channels that make money through both ads and the subscribers,'' argued Roop Sharma of the Cable Operators at a press conference held here today.

Demanding a uniform price for channels across the country, the operators also demanded the abolishment of the bouquet system that the operators claimed did not allow subscribers to actually choose what they wanted. While questioning the reasons for keeping Direct to Home service out of the service tax or entertainment tax realm, they further demanded that the TRAI should ensure a level playing field by having the same rules for both cable services.

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