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This step is in line with Sun's already laid out plans, as per
a company spokesman, who says that their Tamil and Telugu channels
are already pay channels. The company plans to go in for ground
distribution initially in Bangalore along the lines of their Sumangali
and Gemini cable operations in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu respectively.
Raj TV's general entertainment Telugu channel Visa TV will also
turn into a pay channel from 1 August at a Rs 6 per subscriber rate.
As of now, cable operators are undecided over whether or not to
pass on the extra charge to the subscriber.
During the course of a telephonic interview today, Ponnacha, spokesperson
for the Karnataka State Cable TV Operators Association, said that
the matter would be discussed at a state-level meeting of all district
cable operators and their associations scheduled to be held on 1
August at Kumte.
Ponnacha's personal view is that only those subscribers who are
paying a lower slab of subscription fee should pay the extra charges
so that the subscription fee in Bangalore does not exceed Rs 250
in any case. Calling the broadcasters' "sudden decision"
to turn these free-to-air channels into pay channels unjust, Ponnacha
asked, "If in Tamil Nadu, Tamil channels are free and in Andhra
Pradesh, Telugu channels are free, why should we in Karnataka pay
for Kannada channels?
"We invest all the money in dishes and cable equipment. The
ad revenues from these channels are among the highest in Karnataka,
as these channels are quite popular, why should the broadcasters
follow different policies for different states?"
Ponnacha said his network had different subscription rates for
people of different socio-economic strata. "We have multi-millionaires,
rich people, then come well-to-do small businessman and salaried
class executives, then peons and other staff, vegetable vendors
and auto-rickshaw drivers and sweepers as subscribers. People having
sets with 10-12 channels or very old TV sets generally pay around
Rs 100 per month. The maximum charges are Rs 250 per month and we'd
like to keep the limit there. An increase of Rs 24 by the broadcasters
(three channels from Sun and one from Raj) translates into an actual
minimum increase of Rs 50 for the subscribers."
"I may have to start charging Rs 250 from next month, a hike
of Rs 50 from next month onwards," said cable operator GK Ashok
Kumar of Sri Sai Maruthi Video Vision. "I've not yet calculated
the impact of service tax on my charges," said V Krishna Kumar,
another cable operator.
Ice Networks Pvt Ltd (Bangalore) managing director S Babu, meanwhile,
said that his network would abide by any decision taken at the meeting
between the MSOs and cable operators.
A dharna against Sun TV's decision is also under consideration,
according to industry sources.
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