The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV) managing director on Thursday sought action against Multi System Operators (MSOs) which were thwarting TACTV’s operations and flouting rules regarding transmission of analog cable signals.
In a letter to City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan, TACTV MD J. Kumaragurubaran said, “TACTVs digitisation efforts are being thwarted by the continued Analog Cable TV transmission/re-transmission by other MSOs in Chennai”. The transmission of analog signals, he said, was in violation of Section 4A of the Cable Television (Regulation) Act, 1995.
Mr. Kumaragurubaran said that TACTV had switched off its analog signals in Chennai Metropolitan area from the midnight of January 31 “and from February 1, only digital cable TV services are being provided by TACTV in Chennai”.
TACTV’s digital cable TV service was launched on September 1 last by the Chief Minister and the cable corporation has so far distributed more than 19 lakh set top boxes across the State.
Pointing out that other MSOs in the city were granted DAS licence well before TACTV, he said these MSOs were continuing with their analog cable TV signals despite sufficient time available for them to switch to digital signal. The letter, however, did not provide details of defaulting MSOs.
I&B Ministry’s request
Mr. Kumaragurubaran said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting secretary, in a letter on June 12, 2017, addressed to all the authorised officers, had requested them to take necessary action against defaulting MSOs if they continued to carry analog signals after the notified date.
Authorised officers such as District Magistrate, Sub-divisional Magistrate and Commissioners of Police had powers under Section 11 to seize the equipment of the defaulting Cable TV operators for violating Section 4A of the Act, Mr. Kumaragurubaran said.
