MUMBAI: Get set for a fresh round of jousting between pay broadcasters and cable operators.

The Shiv Sena backed Cable Operators and Distributors Association (CODA), which claims to speak for the last mile operators in Mumbai, has vowed to resist any further hikes in pay channel rates.

A statement issued by CODA today pointed out that "there has been a compounded increase of over 1,000 per cent in the pay channel outflow over the past three to four years."

The additional hikes in pay channel outflows, which became effective December 2003/ January 2004, works out to approximately Rs100 per subscriber per month, CODA has claimed in its statement.

Speaking to indiantelevision.com, CODA president and Shiv Sena Vibhag Pramukh Anil Parab said the fresh hikes works out to an increase of 58 per cent over the present rates and asserted that CODA would be opposing it tooth and nail.

The CODA statement indicates that the LMOs are expecting channel switch-offs by pay broadcasters over the issue and has appealed to the public "to co-operate one and all and resist any such unreasonable hikes in your monthly cable charges."