| According to Zee Turner COO Siddharth Jain said, "We
have been holding talks with RPG Network for a long time in the hope
of settling the issue amicably. We have been forced to take such an
action owing to the large outstanding from their end."
Jain also alleged that some cheques issued by the RPG Network had
not been honoured by the banks concerned. "This only goes to
show a complete lack of effort from the RPG management to resolve
the problem," Jain added.
RPG could not be contacted for comments on the issue, though it
is not a new for an MSO to be switched off by broadcast networks
on issues relating to payment of subscription money.
RPG Netcom, part of RPG Enterprises, is a premier multi-system
operator (MSO) in Kolkata, providing cable TV services in the city
and its adjoining districts, covering several cable operators. RPG
Netcom is also the sole distributor of Star Network channels in
Kolkata.
"We regret the inconvenience caused to our viewers. It is
unfortunate, and an irony that our viewers, who make their payments
on time, have to suffer due to non-payments by the MSO. This also
despite the fact that cable operators on their part make their timely
payments," Jain said in a statement.
The Zee-Turner bouquet offers the largest number of channels popular
in almost every genre in India that include the flagship channels
Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee News, Zee English, Zee MGM, Zee Music, Trendz,
Cartoon Network, POGO, CNN International, CNBC-TV 18, Reality TV,
ETC, ETC Punjabi and the regional Alpha channels that include Alpha
Marathi, Alpha Punjabi, Alpha Bangla, Alpha Gujarati.
Zee-Turner Ltd. is a joint venture company that manages distribution
and trade marketing for Zee Telefilms and Turner International bouquet
of channels, as well as the third party channels such as CNBC-TV
18 and Reality TV in India and South Asia. Headquartered in New
Delhi, Zee-Turner boasts of a combined viewership of more than 30
million households with an equal spread through the country.
|
