Denied licence by Trai, Arasu TV screens may go blank next week

[M.J.Sadiq]

CHENNAI: Television screens of several lakh Arasu Cable subscribers are likely to go blank from April 1 as the state-owned entity failed to earn any reprieve from the Madras high court on Thursday or get a digital addressable system (DAS) licence from the Centre. The corporation has 61.5 lakh subscribers in 31 districts, including 14.3 lakh in the Chennai metro area alone.

In a last ditch effort, B Murugesh, general manager of the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited, filed two writ petitions in the HC, seeking a direction to the Centre to process the state government's applications for DAS licence, submitted in July and November last.

When the matter was taken up for hearing by Justice S Rajeswaran on Thursday, additional solicitor-general of India P Wilson ruled out any immediate relief to Arasu Cable and said Trai had reiterated its policy decision in 2008 that it would not permit state or central governments or their undertakings to enter either broadcasting or distribution activities or function as a multi-system operator or cable operator.

Denying any discrimination against Tamil Nadu, Wilson said since 2008, Trai had turned down the applications of Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal too.

'Chennai alone has 2,495 cable operators'

In view of increasing pleas from several other states, the Centre requested the TRAI to reconsider its policy, but by an order dated December 28, 2012 the telecom regulator merely reiterated its stand. In view of the consistent stand of the TRAI, it is not possible for the Centre to issue any liecence for broadcasting or distribution activites to any state government, the additional solicitor-general of India said.

Now these two writ petitions will be heard along with the batch of cases pending before a division bench headed by Justice Elipe Dharma Rao.

In its petitions, Arasu Cable said it was incorporated in October 2007 under the Companies Act, 1956 and that it ha spent about Rs 40 crore out of the sanctioned budget of Rs 61.35 crore to create infrastructure facilities such as installation of cable TV head ends, local connectivity, materials and labour. Though the services started in September 2008 and a subscription base swelled to about 1.6 lakh, the entity became defunct due to various reasons.

After the AIADMK returned to power it was revived, it said, adding that as in August 2011 it had 35,248 local cable operators and 2,642 multi-system operators as members. The corporation has been providing 90 to 100 channels to subscribers at a subscription of Rs 70 per month, the petition said. As on date it has about 61.5 lakh subscribers in 31 districts of Tamil Nadu. In Chennai region alone, it had 2,495 cable operators with a subscriber base of around 14.3 lakh, it said.

Trouble arose in November 2011 when the Centre issued a notification stating that the entire cable TV services in the country would be digitized by December 31, 2014. In the first phase, the four Metropolitan cities including Chennai were to be digitized by June 30, 2012. The deadline, however, was altered to October 31, 2012 later.

After the latest notification and extended deadline of October 31, 2012, Arasu Cable applied for a DAS licence on July 5, 2012 under the provisions of the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994. Despite the receipt of the application, the Centre did not take any decision, the petition said, adding that even though the chairman and managing director of the corporation met the secretary of the union ministry of information and broadcasting several times, no decision was taken.


Denied licence by Trai, Arasu TV screens may go blank next week - The Times of India

 

[M.J.Sadiq]

TRAI barrier for Arasu TV digitisation



The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TNACTVC) cannot be given a Digital Addressable System (DAS) licence due to the recommendations in this regard by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Additional Solicitor General P Wilson informed the Madras High Court on Thursday.

When the two writ petitions from the TNACTVC praying for a direction to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to process its application for DAS licence came up, Wilson told Justice S Rajeswaran that the Centre had not allowed the governments in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal to operate TV channels or do broadcasting like multi-system operators (MSOs).

The TRAI, in 2008, had stated that the State or Central governments and their undertakings or corporations could venture into the TV channel business. However, taking into consideration the request made by various States, the Centre once again requested the TRAI to reconsider its decision. But, the TRAI again in December, 2008 made clear its earlier stand.

TNACTVC counsel Abdul Saleem submitted that the corporation had applied for DAS licence on July 5, 2012 in respect of Chennai and on November 22, 2012 for 31 districts in the State. Both the applications were still awaiting consideration by the Centre. Certain private individuals or companies, which had approached for licences much after the State applied, were granted licence, he noted. It showed that the Centre was biased, Saleem contended.

Only if the Centre issues the DAS licence, will the corporation be able to give digital signals through set top boxes to consumers in the State in implementation of a notification dated November 11, 2011 for digitalisation of cable services. If the licence was delayed or refused, then severe hardship would be caused to the corporation as well as several lakhs of its customers, Saleem added.

The judge clubbed the petitions with a batch of petitions on the same issue, pending before a division bench.


TRAI barrier for Arasu TV digitisation -The New Indian Express

 

[M.J.Sadiq]

Arasu cable: Centre makes submission before High Court

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has made it clear that Central and State government ministries, departments, companies and undertakings should not be allowed to enter into the business of broadcasting or distribution of television channels, the Centre informed the Madras High Court on Thursday.

The submission came when writ petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TNACTVC) Ltd. seeking Digital Addressable System (DAS) licence to it for Chennai Metro and for the other parts of the State came up before Justice S. Rajeswaran.

In the petitions, the TNACTVC General Manager, B. Murugesh, said that after the new government took over in the State in 2011, the corporation was revived.

When applications were invited online from interested local cable operators (LCOs)/multi-system operators (MSOs) to enrol with the company, there was an overwhelming response. On the closing date on August 9, 2011, 35248 LCOs and 2642 MSOs had enrolled themselves for getting signals throughout Tamil Nadu (except Chennai.) The corporation had a subscriber base of around 14.30 lakhs in Chennai Metro and 61.50 lakhs in the other 31 districts of the State. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry issued an MSO licence to the corporation for Chennai for Conditional Access System (CAS) notified areas in April 2008.

The corporation’s services were inaugurated on October 20, 2012. The Centre issued a notification directing that the entire cable television services in the country were to be digitised by December 2014. In the first phase, four metros, including Chennai, is to be digitised. The corporation applied for DAS licence. It also sent reminders. In spite of all efforts and the direction of the High Court’s Madurai Bench to issue DAS licence, the Centre, due to “political interference and for the sake of certain vested interests” had been delaying the licence to the corporation “without valid reasons.”

The Additional Solicitor-General, P. Wilson, submitted that earlier the Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal governments had not been allowed to operate television channels or to do broadcasting like MSOs. The TRAI’s recommendations in 2008 were against Central and State governments and their corporations and undertakings having television channels. When Tamil Nadu sought DAS licence, the Centre taking into consideration the requests made by various States, again requested TRAI to reconsider its decision. In December 2012, the regulatory authority made it very clear that Central and State Government ministries, departments, companies and undertakings should not be allowed to enter into the business of broadcasting or distribution of television channels.

Mr. Wilson said another writ petition on the matter was pending before a Division Bench. the judge ordered that the petitions be tagged along with that petition.

Arasu cable: Centre makes submission before High Court - The Hindu

 

[M.J.Sadiq]

Arasu TV: Centre refers to TRAI's recommendation

CHENNAI: The Centre today informed the Madras High Court that TRAI has recommended that the central, state governments and their undertakings should not be allowed to enter the broadcasting sector.

When the case relating to Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd came up before Justice S Rajeswaran, Additional Solicitor General P Wilson referred to TRAI's recommendation.

Observing that governments in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal too have requested like Tamil Nadu, he said "we (the Centre) have not allowed the respective state governments to operate TV channels or do broadcasting like MSOs (Multi- System Operators)."

He said TRAI first recommended in 2008 against the Central, state governments and their undertakings and corporations, from being a broadcaster or having TV channels.

"Though the Tamil Nadu government made an application seeking for Digital Addressable System (DAS) license, the central government, taking into consideration the request made by various states, once again requested TRAI to reconsider the decision," he said.

But, TRAI again by its recommendation in December 2012 had made it very clear that central ministries and departments, companies owned and undertaken by the Centre, joint venture of the central government with private sectors, and government funded entities should not be allowed to enter into business of broadcasting and into TV channels, he said.

TRAI also recommended against state departments, government owned companies, undertakings, joint venture of state government with private firms, and state funded entities doing business in broadcasting and TV channels, he said.

Justice S Rajeswaran posted the petitions by the Tamil Nadu government along with another petition pending before a division bench of the same court for further hearing.

The Tamil Nadu government had sought a direction to restrain the I&B Ministry from interfering with the transmitting of cable TV signals by Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation in Chennai and also in Tamil Nadu.


Arasu TV: Centre refers to TRAI's recommendation - The Economic Times

 

[babajingalala]

How did they start without license in south TN is the question now

 

[sathishbabu4u]

To Operate Cable MSO, except Chennai, other parts of TN there is no need of any license, as DAS is yet to applicable.
Hence Arasu able to operate outside chennai. Now DAS deadline nears to coimbatore and near future other parts will come under DAS, Arasu has exit from all areas.
I think Analogue will go in chennai from April 1st.

 

[HOUSE-MD]

I think this is a clear and strong message sent to Arasu and is a real threat, now the only ways Arasu now has is (I'm only pointing out the alternatives and options and i have nothing personal with Arasu or its competitors),

1. Can approach Chennai or Madurai HC and get a stay for TRAI's order in TN citing nonavailability of STB in the state, high prices of STB's which the poor cant offer.

2. Remove Arasu, acquire another MSO under Jaya TV and appoint retired IAS officers and manage, this is much easy and trouble free. (but if someone else comes after 5 years then we may have new STB's every 5 years )

3: Start Arasu DTH (contest that while prasar bharati can have a DD why cant Arasu) and dump local cable industry.

4: Adopt a resolution in the TN assembly and challenge everyone and everything against Arasu and force Arasu into the Market.

I strongly feel that due to the huge delay caused by Arasu (may be due to laziness or wantedly) in starting an MSO in chennai has brought all these issues, had Arasu started its work in Chennai and gone CAS by 2011 and suppllied STB's there wont be any way for TRAI to stop them and ask people to buy another STB.

 

[Satvijay]

This is not going to end.. only SCV JAK and few other new MSO will rule chennai

 

[HOUSE-MD]

I don't think SCV can manage with the impression it has created among the public and LCO's, LCO's are the ones that gave full support to Arasu as a move against SCV.

So more chances of TCCL using the situation and Akshaya, crystal, jak and SCV having control at some parts in Chennai.

It's clear that SCV cant be a Monopoly any longer and could change into a smaller MSO.

 

[sathishbabu4u]

Exactly.. SCV will surely go out now.. or will be smaller MSO.
Crystal MSO here in chromepet ruling now , and also am able to see ads of Ambattur areas. Feel Crystal moved Ambattur also and also trying to get some other areas in chennai.
My LCO and Most LCOs in chennai have wrong opinion abt SCV and they don't want to continue with SCV. New MSOs giving lot of opportunities to LCO , hence LCOs trying to connect TCCL, and other MSOs. (pearlpearl, i really don't y ur LCO not moving out from SCV).
Personally i feel TCCL is much better, will have lot of LCOs in chennai , can take STB when packing from one house to another and also package wise price is better.
In chromepet itself i have 2 LCOs in my area , (my lco connected to Crystal, dont know abt another lco). So hereafter Monopoly will surely change (because of non-politics), competition between MSO will come (eargerly waiting for that). Before that analog should be stop in chennai by SCV.