ITV

Category: Multi System Operators

  • Higher subscription & activation lead Den’s turnaround in Q2

    Higher subscription & activation lead Den’s turnaround in Q2

    BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Den Network (Den) reported growth in operating revenue, operating profit (EBIDTA) and profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended 30 September 2017 (Q2-18, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter. In Q2-17 (the corresponding year ago quarter), the company had reported a loss. The change to black from red in the current quarter was driven by a reported 22.3 percent increase in operating revenue and an operating profit for its cable distribution (cable) business. Den’s cable business performed well due to cost optimisation measures and the company accelerating its subscription collections. The company claims in its earnings release that its subscription collection efficiency in Q2-18 was 93 percent.

    Den’s operating revenue for Q2-18 was Rs 3,277.9 million, 20.3 percent more y-o-y as compared to Rs 2,724.4 million. Total income including other revenue grew 19.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 3,349 million from Rs 2,800.4 million. The company reported 2.84 times the EBIDTA for Q2-18 at Rs 815.5 million as compared to Rs 287.5 million for the corresponding year ago quarter. PAT for the current quarter was Rs 11.1 million as compared to a loss of Rs 439.6 million in Q2-17.

    Cable business revenue in Q2-18 was Rs 3,079.9 million as compared to Rs 2,517.4 million in Q2-17.Cable business operating profit in the current quarter was Rs 277.5 million as compared to a an operating loss of Rs 306.7 million in Q2-17. Cable business subscription revenue increased 24 percent y-o-y to Rs 164 million from Rs 132 million. Activation revenue increased more than 7 times (7.3 times) to Rs 37 million from Rs 5 million. Placement revenue increased 2 percent y-o-y to Rs 88 million from Rs 86 million. Broadband revenue declined 8 percent y-o-y to Rs 19 million from Rs 21 million. Broadband EBIDTA loss was lower at Rs 1 million in Q2-18 as compared to an operating loss of Rs 2 million in Q2-17.

    Den says that it has deployed 0.25 million digital set top boxes in Q2-18 and its digital subscriber base (including associates) stands at 11 million. Broadband subscriber base in the current quarter was 0.205 million as compared to 0.14 million in Q2-17. Broadband ARPU declined in Q2-18 to Rs 664 from Rs 775 in Q2-17.

    Total expenditure in Q2-18 was almost flat (increased 0.6 percent) y-o-y to Rs 3,261.2 million from Rs 3,240.3 million. The company has reduced employee costs in the current quarter by 17.1 percent to Rs 273.8 million from Rs 330.2 million. Placement fees expense in Q2-18 declined 22.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 107 million from Rs 138 million. Other expenses declined 3.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 756.9 million from Rs 786.2 million. Content costs in the current quarter increased 12 percent y-o-y to Rs 1,324.7 million from Rs 1,182.5 million.

  • GTPL reports higher numbers for second quarter

    GTPL reports higher numbers for second quarter

    BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) and broadband internet services (broadband) provider GTPL Hathway Limited (GTPL) has reported a year-over-year (y-o-y) growth in standalone as well subsidiary companies’ operating profits and net profits for the quarter ended 30 September 2017 (Q2-18, current quarter). GTPL’s broadband internet business – GTPL Broadband is a 100 percent subsidiary of GTPL. The company owns a 51 percent stake in GTPL Kolkata Cable & Broadband Pariseva Limited (KCBPL).

    GTPL standalone

    On a standalone basis, GTPL reported 23.9 percent y-o-y growth in revenue for Q2-18 at Rs 1,838.16 million from Rs 1,480.60 million. EBIDTA including other income in the current quarter was 19.7 percent higher y-o-y at Rs 585.13 million (31.9 percent margin) as compared to Rs 488.66 million (33 percent margin). Net profit after tax increased 53 percent y-o-y in Q2-18 to Rs 117.68 million (6.4 percent margin) from Rs 76.93 million (5.2 percent margin).

    The company reported 32.6 percent y-o-y growth in subscription revenue for Q2-18 at Rs 1,001 million from Rs 755 million. Placement revenue increased 10.7 percent y-o-y in the current quarter at Rs 588 million from Rs 531 million. Activation revenue declined 7.8 percent y-o-y in Q2-18 to Rs 47 million from Rs 51 million.

    GTPL says that it has seeded 0.52 million set top boxes and increased CATV digital active subscribers by 0.37 million in the current quarter. It says that CATV digital paying subscribers increased by 0.94 million to 6.94 million in Q2-18 as compared to 5.70 million subscribers in the immediate trailing quarter Q1-18.

    The phase-wise breakup of GTPL’s digital paying subscribers is 0.56 million, 1.66 million, 2.02 million and 2.40 million for DAS phases I, II, III and IV respectively. ARPU in Q2-18 with respect to Q1-18 has increased by Re 1 each to Rs 101 and Rs 96 in phases I and II respectively; has increased by Rs 4 and Rs 8 in phases III and IV respectively.

    GTPL Broadband

    The company says that GTPL Broadband’s total income in Q2-18 increased 13 percent y-o-y to Rs 331 million from Rs 292 million. EBIDTA grew 15 percent y-o-y to Rs 92 million from Rs 80 million. PAT increased 2 percent y-o-y to Rs 39 million in the current quarter from Rs 38 million.

    The company claims that GTPL Broadband has added 10,000 broadband internet subscribers in Q2-18 as compared to Q1-18.Its broadband internet subscriber base at the end of Q2-18 was 0.26 million. Broadband internet ARPU has increased in the current quarter to Rs 487 as compared to Rs 486 in Q1-18 and 465 in Q2-17.

    GTPL Kolkata Cable & Broadband Pariseva Limited (KCBPL)

    KCBPL’s total income grew 45 percent y-o-y to Rs 398 million from Rs 274 million. Subscription CATV revenue increased 48 percent y-o-y to Rs 256 million in Q2-18 from Rs 176 million. Placement revenue in the current quarter grew 6 percent y-o-y to Rs 80 million from Rs 76 million. Activation revenue in Q2-18 more than quintupled y-o-y to Rs 56 million from Rs 11 million.

    KCBPL’s EBIDTA more than tripled y-o-y in Q2-18 to Rs 119 million from Rs 37 million. The company reported PAT of Rs 2 million in Q2-18as compared to a loss of Rs 23 million in Q2-17.

  • Arasu can’t operate outside Tamil Nadu despite DAS compliance

    Arasu can’t operate outside Tamil Nadu despite DAS compliance

    NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu government-owned multi system operator (MSO) Arasu TV Corp has been told by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) that it cannot operate outside of Tamil Nadu despite having a provisional MSO licence.

    The MSO was granted the provisional licence in April this year and was given several extensions to prove that it had become fully digital addressable system (DAS) compliant. Arasu claimed to have gone entirely digital by 1 September 2017.

    Godfather Communication is another MSO that can only operate in Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh. Godfather’s registration is dependent on a court verdict in which it had challenged the MIB’s cancellation of its provisional registration for in Amritsar.

    There are just 1471 MSOs even after seven months of DAS in the country. Apart from Arasu and Godfather, the remaining 1469 provisional licence holders have been permitted to operate anywhere in the country, according to the list of MSOs as on 31 October 2017 placed on the MIB website.

    Early this year, the government had said all provisional MSOs will be deemed as having regular licences. They were also free to operate in any part of the country.

    The MIB had earlier this year told indiantelevision.com that it had been made clear to Arasu that the provisional licence was subject to the centre taking a final decision on the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) that no government-owned body should be permitted in the field of running or distributing television channels. TRAI had in 2008, 2012 and 2014 held that state governments and political parties should not be permitted to own TV channels or distribution channels.

    Also read :

    Post-DAS, tardy MSO registrations in six months, 14 new additions

    Including Arasu, total number of MSOs goes up to 1376, to ensure DAS implementation

    37 new MSOs in 45 days takes total to 1421, seven among 59 cases sub-judice

    Godfather, Kal, Digi Cable & Intermedia licence cancellation stayed, 50 ‘pan-India’ MSOs’ op area changed

  • Siti Networks reports higher revenue, operating profit for Q2-18

    Siti Networks reports higher revenue, operating profit for Q2-18

    BENGALURU: Siti Networks Limited (Siti) reported higher revenue and operating profit (EBIDTA) for the quarter ended 30 September 2017 (Q2-18, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter – Q2-17 (y-o-y). However, loss for the current quarter was higher year-on-year.

    Siti reported 21.9 percent y-o-y growth in operating revenue for Q2-18 at Rs 3,523.08 million as compared Rs 2,889.67 million. Total Income (including other income) for the current quarter increased 22.3 percent higher y-o-y at Rs 3,562.64 million that Rs 2,913.17 million in Q2-17. Revenues grew mainly on account of higher subscription revenue partially set off by a decline in carriage revenue.

    Operating EBIDTA for Q2-18 was 41.9 percent higher y-o-y at Rs 671.75 million as compared to Rs 473.37 million, while overall EBIDTA increased 43.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 711.31 million from Rs 497.07 million. The company reported a higher loss of Rs 524.25 million in Q2-18 as compared to a loss of Rs 354.73 million.

    While commenting on the results, Siti’s chief business transformation officer Rajesh Sethi said, “Siti displayed strong growth in video as Q2 subscription income jumped 21 percent q-o-q and 52 percent y-o-y with overall collection efficiency improving to 93 percent for H1FY18. We continue to improve monetization levels and leverage our customer base in Phase 3 and 4 territories. An emphasis on cost optimization and instilling a lean culture is expected to drive efficiencies across the board and further aid the bottomline. At the same time, an organizational restructuring is underway to evolve Siti into a more nimble and effective organization. In Broadband, focus on further enhancement of service levels to retain customers and new geographies expansion is expected to drive growth along with overall improvement in the pricing environment.”

    Breakup of revenue (rounded off) and subscriber matrices

    Siti reported 51.9 percent y-o-y growth in subscription revenue to Rs 2,050 million from Rs 1,350 million. Carriage revenue declined 6.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 710 million from Rs 760 million. Activation revenues increased 15.8 percent y-o-y to Rs 440 million from Rs 380 million, but were sharply lower than the Rs 850 million in the immediate trailing quarter (Q1-18). Siti has a cable subscriber base (analogue and digital) of 13.2 million. The company had converted 1.6 million of its existing subscribers to digital in Q1-17 as compared to less than half that number in Q2-17 (0.7 million). Siti’s active video subscriber base was 11.1million in Q2-18, while it was 10.6 in Q1-18. It’s HD subscriber base increased by 34,000 in Q2-18 to 254,000 from 230,000 in Q1-18.

    Broadband revenue was flat (grew 2.2 percent) y-o-y at Rs 250 million. The company has witnessed a slight decrease in its broadband subscriber base to 238,000 in the current quarter from 240,000 in the immediate trailing quarter Q1-18.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by the company

    Total expenditure increased 22.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 4,013.93 million from Rs 3,268.10 million. Finance costs increased 32.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 371.49 million from Rs 280.02 million. Carriage sharing, pay channel and related costs increased 16.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 1,676.01 million in Q2-18 from Rs 1,434.08 million. Employee benefits expense in the current quarter increased 9.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 227.47 million from Rs 206.98 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Other expenses increased 25 percent y-o-y in Q2-18 to Rs 942.86 million from Rs 754.09 million.

  • Hathway Cable & Datacom reports improved numbers for Q2-18

    Hathway Cable & Datacom reports improved numbers for Q2-18

    BENGALURU: The demerged Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited (Hathway) reported standalone profit before tax (PBT) of Rs 140.1 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2017 (Q2-18,current quarter) as compared PBT of Rs 100.3 million in the immediate trailing quarter Q1-18 (q-o-q). It may be noted that Hathway’s numbers for Q2-17 include both cable television and broadband numbers and hence cannot be compared with Q2-18 revenues that include only broadband revenue. Hence, Hathways numbers for the current quarter have been compared to its numbers from the immediate trailing quarter Q1-18 (quarter ended 30 June 2017)

    Hathway’s total revenue of Rs 1,370.8 million for the current quarter was 5.5 percent more q-o-q than Rs 1,299.4 million. Revenue from operations in Q2-18 was 1.7 percent higher q-o-q at Rs 1311.5 million than Rs 1290 million.

    Hathway’s total comprehensible income (TCI) for the current quarter was a little more than half (lower by 49.1 percent) q-o-q at Rs 139.8 million as compared to Rs 274.6 million on account of exceptional items that had increased TCI in Q1-18 by Rs 1713 million. Simple operating EBIDTA for Q2-18 at Rs 526.6 million was 7.6 percent higher q-o-q than Rs 489.4 million.

    Hathway’s total expenditure in the current quarter increased 2.6 percent q-o-q to Rs 1,230.7 million from Rs 1,199.1 million. Finance costs in the current quarter increased 17.1 percent q-o-q to Rs 201.9 million from Rs 172.4 million. Employee benefits expense in Q2-18 increased 18.3 percent q-o-q to Rs 105.3 million from Rs 89 million. Other operational expenses in the current quarter increased 6.8 percent q-o-q to Rs 328.9 million from Rs 307.9 million. Other expenses reduced 13.1 percent in Q2-18 to Rs 350.7 million from Rs 403.7 million.

  • Arasu digital STB costs Rs 200, govt alerts subs

    Arasu digital STB costs Rs 200, govt alerts subs

    MUMBAI: Government authorities in Tamil Nadu are announcing the basic rate of installing a new STB following complaints by subscribers of the state-owned Arasu Cable TV Corporation that cable operators are charging them around four times the cost. Tirupur operators are reportedly threatening to disconnect the cable services if subscribers do not pay up.

    Tirupur district collector KS Palanisamy stated in a press release that the government had fixed Rs 200 as charges for installing set-top boxes (STBs), which the cable operators were entitled to receive. “If this is violated, those affected should register complaints at toll free number 1800 425 2911,” the Times of India reported.

    A number of subscribers are complaining that cable operators were charging them as much as Rs 700 for installing the free STBs issued by Arasu Cable (TACTV).

    Authorities had declared that the boxes will be installed from 1 September when DAS (digital broadcasting system) was launched. Cable operators however are reportedly threatening the subscribers that if they did not pay by the first week of October, they would disconnect the service.

    A political activist alleged that the cable operators had been providing around half of cable connections without maintaining records. Some cable operators reportedly asked subscribers to buy STBs sold by a private company run by the cable federation, and not the ones issued by Arasu Cable. Such STBs cost around Rs 1,500-Rs 1,700 through which, operators have claimed, more channels could be accessed as compared to Arasu Cable.

  • Post-DAS, tardy MSO registrations in six months, 14 new additions

    Post-DAS, tardy MSO registrations in six months, 14 new additions

    NEW DELHI: Despite the fact that it is more than six months since the country adopted digital addressable system (DAS) for cable television, the number of multi-system operators (MSOs) has risen by meagre 14 over the last two months to reach 1469 as on 30 September 2017.

    This total reflects poorly against figures given by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) before the DAS Task Force that there are 6,000 MSOs in India.

    The total at the end of July was 1455. In the latest list put on its website on Tuesday, the ministry has noted the cancellation of Live Satellite in Maharashtra. Early this year, the government had said all provisional multi-system operators will be deemed as having regular licence. 

    Unlike last time, there is no separate list of MSOs who have gone to court like Godfather Communication Pvt Ltd of Punjab judgment in the case of which was expected at September-end or of the Tamil Nadu Arasu TV Corporation which has been given time till this week to prove it has switched off analogue signals. The MSO had claimed to have gone digital on 1 September.

    MIB officials had earlier this year told indiantelevision.com that it had been made clear that the provisional licence was subject to the Centre taking a final decision on the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that no government owned body should be permitted in the field of running or distributing television channels.  TRAI had in 2008, 2012 and 2014 held that state governments and political parties should not be permitted to own TV channels or distribution channels.

    There is a no list of cancelled MSOs or those whose cases have been closed. The figures revealed on 3 August until July-end had given a list of 63 MSOs whose licences were cancelled or cases closed.

    Faced with just less than one month to go before total switch-off of analogue signals, the Government had on 6 March 2017 decided to treat all MSOs as permanent but with condition that the period of ten years commences from the date they got registered as provisional MSOs.

    However, if the continuation of registration of any MSO is at any time found to be or considered detrimental to the security of the State then the registration so granted is liable to be cancelled/suspended, the order placed on the MIB specified. All other terms and conditions depicted in the provisional registration letters will continue to apply.

    Earlier, on 27 January 2017, it had been decided that all registered MSOs are free to operate in any part of the country, irrespective of registration for specified DAS notified areas granted by MIB.

    However, they have to submit the details of headend, SMS, subscribers list and a self-certificate that they are carrying all the mandatory TV Channels, within six months from date of issuance of MSO registration, to MIB, failing which the MSO registration is liable to cancelled/suspended.

    Hence, all deemed regular registered MSOs also are required to submit the details to the Ministry within six months. The ministry list also contains full details of ownership and date of permission including contact details of the MSOs.

    Also read :

    Including Arasu, total number of MSOs goes up to 1376, to ensure DAS implementation

    37 new MSOs in 45 days takes total to 1421, seven among 59 cases sub-judice

    Godfather, Kal, Digi Cable & Intermedia licence cancellation stayed, 50 ‘pan-India’ MSOs’ op area changed

     

  • MIB asks Arasu: Give proof of analogue switch-off

    MIB asks Arasu: Give proof of analogue switch-off

    NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV), which had early this month claimed to have gone digital, has been asked to “confirm that you have already switched off analogue signals and are carrying only digital encrypted signals on your cable TV network.”

    In a letter to TACTV despatched late in the evening yesterday, the state-owned multi-system operator (Arasu) was told to reply within 10 days of issuance of the letter, “failing which your registration is likely to be suspended/revoked.”

    Copies of the letter have been sent to the police commissioner in Chennai, the secretary in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), and the principal secretary in the Tamil Nadu IT Department.

    The letter sent by the under-secretary Anil Kumar in the Digital Addressable Service (DAS) section in the ministry of information and broadcasting said, “Since the date for TACTV to switch over to digital cable service in the state of Tamil Nadu is already over, you are directed to confirm that you have already switched off analogue signals.”

    By the letter of 17 April 2017, the current letter noted, the ministry had granted provisional MSO registration to TACTV to provide cable TV network services with digital addressable system in Tamil Nadu with the condition that it will switch over to digital TV within three months, failing which its registration is likely to be suspended/revoked.

    Thereafter, following a request received from the Tamil Nadu state government seeking a three-month extension, one month extension up to 17 August 2017 was granted.

    TACTV had, on 1 September, announced the launch of its digital operations with the inauguration of upgraded MPEG 4 control room and distribution of free set top boxes to subscribers.

    Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched DAS at Nungambakkam in Chennai. Minister for information technology M Manikandan and the chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan were also present.

    The distribution of free STBs was a promise made in the last AIADMK party manifesto by the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Around seven million Arasu subscribers reportedly got access to 180 channels in digital quality at a monthly subscription of Rs 125.

    The STBs were to be distributed to users through local cable operators who could charge a one-time activation fee of Rs 200. The distribution of free STBs was scheduled to be completed in three months, an official release had stated.

    Meanwhile, the government was yet to take a final decision on repeated reports by TRAI that states, political parties, and religious groups should not be permitted in broadcasting or distribution sectors.

    ALSO READ :

    Arasu gets a month’s extension to go digital

    Arasu to formally launch DAS in Chennai on Sept. 1

    Delayed Arasu DAS starts, 7 mn subs to get 180 channels in Rs 125

     

  • Indian pay-TV expanding by 10.6 pc, 77 pc to be digitised, ARPUs to rise by ’22: MPA

    Indian pay-TV expanding by 10.6 pc, 77 pc to be digitised, ARPUs to rise by ’22: MPA

    MUMBAI: Pay-TV players in Asia-Pacific region are girding up their loins to integrate online video into their service bouquets and recalibrate owing to broadband growth while concentrating and scaling up their investment on premium content as they stare at competition

    Indian pay-TV revenue, according to the new Media Partners Asia (MPA) report, is set to expand by 10.6 per cent this year. The annual ‘Asia Pacific Pay-TV Distribution 2017’ report covering 17 markets includes analysis of 80 pay-TV and broadband operators with KPIs and P&L.

    Pay-TV industry revenues in India are on track to pass the US$-10 billion mark this year, MPA states. Industry revenues are set to expand by 10.6 per cent this year, picking up the pace again after a 6.3 per cent growth rate in 2016.

    Cable, the dominant platform in Indian pay-TV with 59 per cent of subscription revenue and 67 per cent of subscribers, will expand by 7.0 per cent this year to exceed US$ 3.6 billion, according to MPA forecasts. Revenues for DTH satellite meanwhile will grow by 13.6 per cent to reach approximately US$ 2.6 billion. Pay-TV advertising, meanwhile, is set to contribute just over US $3.8 billion.

    Media Partners Asia president – India Mihir Shah said: “India’s pay-TV market has been shaken and stirred by macro-economic developments, from demonetisation to tax reform, as well as structural shifts in the marketplace, notably TV ratings for rural areas as well as proposals for a new tariff regime from the regulator. That said, the market continues to offer scale and opportunities for monetisation. India’s pay-TV industry will add five million net new customers this year, lifting the base to 155 million homes. By 2022, this base will have grown to 173 million homes.”

    “Although average revenue per user or ARPU is relatively low at US$ 3.4, this will rise to US$ 3.8 by 2022,” Shah added.

    “Digitalisation offers a major opportunity, not only to incumbent cable and DTH operators, but also to new platforms such as DD FreeDish. By the end of this year, there will still be 44 million analogue cable homes in India that need to be upgraded to digital networks. We expect 77 per cent of India’s pay-TV base to be digitalised by 2022. On-ground enforcement of the government’s cable digitalisation programme, together with more foreign direct investment as well as healthy primary and secondary capital markets, will also help drive digital subscriber growth.”

    India’s pay-TV market is poised to be the fastest growing in Asia Pacific over the next five years, as revenues increase by a 7.1 per cent annual growth rate between 2017 and 2022, according to MPA forecasts. Analysts projected pay-TV industry revenues in India to pass the US$ 14-billion mark in 2022.

    Revenue from pay-TV advertising will grow by a 10.5 per cent annual growth rate over this time-frame, increasing its share of the pay-TV pie from 38 per cent in 2017 to 45 per cent in 2022. Pay-TV subscription revenue will grow by a 4.8 per cent annual growth rate, with its share of the pie set to fall from 62 per cent in 2017 to 55 per cent in 2022.

    India is the second largest pay-TV market in Asia-Pacific, after China, which is expected to generate US$ 21.0 billion in revenue this year, according to MPA. Japan, a US$ 6.5 billion pay-TV market, is third. Korea sits in the fourth place, at US$ 5.5 billion, while Australia lies fifth at US$ 2.8 billion.

  • Cable operators who worked with Arasu, Sumangali ‘blocking’ new digital players, plaint lodged

    Cable operators who worked with Arasu, Sumangali ‘blocking’ new digital players, plaint lodged

    MUMBAI: A district collector in Tamil Nadu has reportedly received a complaint against a cable operators’ group that had worked with Arasu Cable for not allowing new digital operators to enter the market.

    The plaint has been lodged against the group of about 20 operators which had earlier worked with (then) analogue cable operators such as Arasu Cable and Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV), the Times of India reported.

    The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV)’s digital operations  (DAS) were launched on 1 September with the inauguration of upgraded MPEG 4 control room. The Centre had in April this year given a provisional MSO licence to Arasu on the condition that it adopts DAS within three months. TACTV had sought extension, but the Centre had only agreed to one month — till 17 August.

    Around a fortnight ago, a Tamil Nadu federation of unions had alleged that the Arasu MSO had been following  ‘monopolistic practices’. TACTV had set the subscription fee as Rs 70, which was below the fee recommended by TRAO. Of this, cable operators were expected to pay 50 per cent to Arasu, the federation alleged.  

    Now, on Monday, the petition submitted before the Coimbatore district collector TN Hariharan by a local digital cable television operator said the group of 20 has taken over around 85,000 connections in the district and put pressure on BSNL not to allot fibre-optic cables to new digital players.

    Cable Television Network (CTN), a Coonoor-based digital cable television operator, which claims to have around 500 connections, alleged that the ‘cable mafia’ had misled the BSNL by lodging false complaints against the new entrants.

    ALSO READ :

    Delayed Arasu DAS starts, 7 mn subs to get 180 channels in Rs 125

    Arasu ‘monopolistic practices’ decried by LCOs, TN body seeks GST exemption

    Punjab govt. studying Arasu & other regulatory models on distribution