Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Govt. should regulate MSOs: cable operators

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai June 20. Cable television operators under the banner of the Thamizhaga Cable TV Operator's General Welfare Association (TCOA) today demanded that the State Government step in to regulate the two Multi-System Operators (MSOs) functioning in the city, as they were trying to stifle the operators.

While welcoming the split in the cable TV delivery system, by which Hathway Cable had dissociated itself with the Sumangali Cable Vision, the TCOA said there should be healthy competition between these MSOs rather than attempts to do away with operators who were interfacing with customers.

If the two MSOs did not change their approach, the State Government should step in and resolve the issue.

The TCOA meeting, presided over by its president, Sakilan, demanded that the pay channels come out with the pricing publicly for the post-Conditional Access System (CAS) scenario without delay. Also, the Centre should ensure the timely implementation of CAS.

It was clear from the stubborn refusal of the pay channels to come out with their pricing, flouting Ministry directives, that they were making enormous profits in the past, and were feeling threatened by the imminent arrival of CAS.

If the channels failed to come out with the pricing immediately, the TCOA would take out a procession in the city on June 28 as a mark of protest.

The two MSOs in Chennai should distribute their set top boxes for CAS only through the operators, they demanded, adding that the State Government should waive the Sales Tax on the STBs in the interest of subscribers.

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