Over two lakh cable operators in Karnataka are in jitters over the government’s plan to start its own cable network to protect the interest of small-screen consumers.
Accusing cable operators of fleecing consumers, Minister for Information R. Roshan Baig recently disclosed the government’s plan.
He said the government received complaints about cable operators exploiting consumers and was planning to start its own cable network based on the Tamil Nadu model.
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“While the Tamil Nadu government-owned Arasu Cable TV Corporation is charging Rs. 70 per connection, cable operators in Karnataka are charging Rs. 400,” Mr. Baig noted.
Though the government held two meetings with association leaders to convince them to reduce the fee, they were reluctant, he said.
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According to government sources commencing cable TV network involves statutory enforcement and the government is still far from anything concrete.
However, the Karnataka State Cable TV Operators’ Association (KSCTVOA) is taking shelter under Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) norms to claim that the government is forbidden from starting a cable network.
TRAI normsIncidentally, TRAI recommended that political, religious and government entities be barred from entering into broadcasting and TV channel distribution sectors, and in case permission has been granted then an “approximate exit route be provided”.
Speaking to The Hindu , V.S. Patrick Raju, president of KSCTOVA, pointed at the fate of Arasu cable, which has been denied digital addressable system licence.
“If government sticks to its stand, there is no other way but to approach the court,” he said.
While Arasu cable provides Tamil-based channels and over 80 non-premium channels at Rs. 70 per subscriber, operators in the State are offering more than 100 channels, including Kannada, Hindi and other regional languages at Rs. 100 per subscriber, he said, suspecting the involvement of a few television channels behind the government’s move.
According to Mr. Raju, over 1.43-crore households are being supplied digital channels by the operators and there are around 2 lakh cable TV operators across the State.
Disputing the claim of Mr. Baig about collecting exorbitant fees, Mr. Raju clarified that operators were charging a maximum of Rs. 300 per connection for providing over 400 channels.
“Of this, we have to pay Rs. 140 per set top box to broadcasters,” he said. “Why is Mr. Baig not questioning multiplexes which are fleecing theatre-goers?” he asked.