Until recently, more than 90% of the households in Tiruchi and neighbouring towns of the district subscribed to the cable television feed provided by Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation. Of late, however, the Corporation is rapidly losing its customer base to private multi-system operators due to lackadaisical approach in distribution of set top boxes.
According to industry sources, there are about 15 lakh cable connections in Tiruchi district alone. Of them, Tiruchi city accounts for about 7 lakh connections including multiple connections in households.
With the aim of digitalising the cable TV, the Corporation began distributing digital set top boxes in October through cable TV operators, who get feed from the control room of Arasu Cable TV. However, according to official sources, just about 65,000 boxes were distributed in the district.
On the other hand, it appears that the private players, who could not resist the deep penetration of Arasu Cable TV that offered cable connection at just ₹70 per connection based on the announcement of then Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, have made a strong comeback. They have flooded the market with set top boxes, including High Definition boxes, to lure the customers.
Industry sources say private players are now making strong inroads into the cable TV market dominated by Arasu Cable TV for the last six or seven years. As in early 2000, they have wooed a section of cable TV operators in Tiruchi to distribute their boxes to the customers.
The cable operators too have been showing interest in distributing private boxes than Arasu TV boxes. A section of them have formed a cartel among them to promote private boxes, it is alleged.
It is also alleged that cable operators, who are under less governmental control at the moment, have been fleecing the customers by collecting installation fee from ₹500 to ₹2,000 depending on the customers. Several subscribers had voiced their strong protest at a recent consumer meet organised by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
A section of customers, who were upset over inaction of officials to break the cartel of cable operators and fleecing, staged a protest at Woraiyur and Edamalaipattipudur. But they say that the cable TV operators continue to collect exorbitant fee for installation.
“We are tired of presenting petitions to officials on excessive fee collection and the cartel. No action has been taken against anyone. No cable operator seems to have fear of punitive action by officials,” says K. Suresh, secretary, Community Party of India, Tiruchi urban district.
When contacted, Sirajudeen, Manager, Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation, Tiruchi, told The Hindu that he had not received any complaint from customers. Sixty-five thousand set top boxes had been distributed so far in Tiruchi district.
