Nearly more than 2000 cable television operators in Vellore district suspended their operations from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday as part of a State-wide agitation demanding among other things hike in subscription from Rs.70 to Rs.150 per connection per month and quality telecast by the Arasu Cable TV Corporation (ACTC).
Programme relay
The Tamil Nadu Cable TV Operators Association which spearheaded the strike also demanded that the ACTC relay the programmes of popular satellite channels.
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A cross-section of consumers said that the cable TV operators were already charging between Rs.100 and Rs.120 per month from the subscribers in violation of the government rule that they should not collect more than Rs.70 per month.
Additional channels
Cable TV operators stated that they charged more from the consumers since they were beaming the programmes of additional satellite channels based on popular demand, besides what was offered by the ACTC.
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A consumer said that the government itself should fix two rates, one (Rs.70) for operators who relay only the programmes offered by ACTC, and a slightly higher rate for those offering additional programmes.
Demanded hike in subscription from Rs.70 to Rs.150 and quality telecast by the Arasu Cable TV Corporation