Cable Operators on Hunger Strike infront of TRAI office

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Cable Operators on Hunger Strike infront of TRAI office


Many local cable operator associations are sitting on a ‘Dharna’ infront of TRAI office in Delhi since16 April to protest against unjust and impractical revenue share regulations and handing over control of their networks to the large MSOs. LCOs allege that TRAI has given a free hand to pay TV broadcasters and MSOs in deciding their revenue share as well as pricing of channel packages for consumers. This along with addition of entertainment tax of Rs 20 /- per STB, service tax of 12.5% and STB rental of Rs. 40 has increased the subscription to Rs. 200 to Rs 700/- per month for the consumers which most of them can not afford.

Operators have also complained that it is difficult to negotiate with MSOs as they have monoploy and make cartels with each other to exploite the LCOs as well as consumers by raising dummy operators, deactivating STBs and switching of popular channels and cricket matches.

LCOs lament that many subscribers particularly from lower economic strata are getting their cable disconnected which substantially reduces their monthly collections. Added to this is the low revenue share of 35% as fixed by TRAI which has made their business unviable. DTH is taking full advantage of this chaotic situation when cable digitisation is facing teething problems, courtesy the I&B ministry.

Subscribers are also protesting in various states where DAS is being implemented. They are upset over blacking out of TV sets even as MSOs do not have STBs to give them. Also increased subscriptions and poor quality of STBs has made the DAS experience torturous.

In spite of Manish Tewari stating that stake holders must look after the interest of consumers his own ministry officials and the regulator have designed the DAS regulations in a way that only a few large broadcasters and their MSO and DTH distribution arms gain the most from digitisation, keeping interest of majority of consumers aside.