KAL CABLE (SCV) License cancelled.

[Satvijay]

Madras HC refuses to stay the order of Ministry of I&B revoking the licenses of Kal cables. However Madras HC stayed the directive that SCV should run a scroll for 15 days that their license is revoked. Additional Solicitor General informed the Court that the license of SCV was revoked owing to issues of National Security

where did you get this news?

 

[Satvijay]

CHENNAI: In a small consolation for Kal Cables Pvt Ltd, cable television and channel distribution wing of media conglomerate Sun Group, the Madras high court on Thursday said it need not run continuous scroll on the screen informing subscribers that the cable services would be shut down in 15 days.

Justice V Ramasubramanian, before whom the writ petition of Kal Cables came up for hearing on Thursday, gave the interim relief and posted the matter to Tuesday for further hearing.

Kal Cables, owned by former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanidhi Maran and their families, moved the court saying the Union ministry of information and broadcasting had directed the company to wind up its cable and channel distribution operations in Chennai and phase II cities such as Coimbatore in 15 days.

Kal Cables obtained a permanent licence to operate in Chennai in June 2012 and a provisional licence to operate in DAS notified areas in phase II cities like Coimbatore in March 2013. In two separate letters issued on August 20, but emailed to Kal on August 26, the Union ministry asked the multi-system operator (MSO) to shut down the operation in 15 days.

The order was passed following denial of mandatory security clearance by the Union ministry of home for the company's activities. The I&B ministry also asked the company to run continuous scroll on the screen intimating subscribers that channels would not be available in 15 days.

Assailing the move, Kal Cables said the Union government had not issued any show-cause notice to the company before refusing to give security clearance and cancelling the licences. Also, the the Union government had not cited any reason in its orders for refusal of security clearance, the petitioner pointed out.

It wanted the court to quash the order and direct the Centre to give a permanent registration for the company.

 

[Viki]

where did you get this news?

From FB.

 

[aravindan]

well said sadiq, only people who are with analog cable will talk here, because , the reason is simple they have not invested anything here. they pay 100Rs every month and write here daily. they want analog cable again ( arasu cable) with more channels without investing anything thats the reason they are here.

Its all interim relief for them..But their future have come to an end & Game over for SCV for sure..

Don't underestimate the 20+ Lakhs Analog subscribers (approx) & their Rs.100 monthly rental to SCV. :no :no :no

Only their Rs.100 monthly rental fetches huge revenue than 1.5 Lakhs Digital subscribers to them.:tup

National security should not be breached by allowing SCV further & just because 1.5Lakhs People have bought their STBs..:no

Eventually we can feel sorry for one & all who have bought SCV SD & HD STB..Hopefully they would get a compensation soon..

Chennai will not get digitalised if SCV persists..:angry

 

[HOUSE-MD]

So case moved to Tuesday.

 

[HOUSE-MD]

So case moved to Tuesday.

Ministry of Home affairs to submit report on Kal Cables next week.
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The Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to submit its report to the Madras High Court next week on why it did not give security clearance for Kal Cables Pvt Ltd, a multi system operator. It is promoted by DK Enterprises and Mallika Maran, mother of former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran. Dayanidhi's brother Kalanithi, is promoter of Sun TV Network. It may be noted, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had cancelled Kal Cables license stating it did not have security clearance.

The counsel appearing for the Ministry today told the Court, "The report is confidential and it will be submitted by the Ministry (Home Affairs) on Tuesday".

While the 15 days time, from August 21, given by the Ministry will continue for the company to cut the service, the Court stayed the Ministry's direction asking Kal Cables to put a scroll on the screen informing its customers that the service will be cut.

Kal Cables runs Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV), a part of the Sun Group, which is largely based out of Chennai. The company has got around 13 lakh customers in the city. Total subscribers in the city is estimated to be around 40 lakh.

The multi system operator (MSO) provides cable television network services with a digital addressable system (DAS) here. It is one of the 17 companies whose licences have been cancelled by the government. This follows a denial of security clearance from the Union home ministry.

Other companies that were denied a licence, are: Kashmir-based Arshad Cable Network Private Limited, IB Communications in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra-based Intermedia Cable Communication Private Limited, New Delhi-based Eminent Cable Networks, Digicable Communication Services in Kolkata and Tamil Nadu-based Kavery Digital Networks Private Limited.

Kal Cables has today challenged the government order at the High Court.

The government order, dated August 20, 2014 said, "In view of denial of security clearance by the Ministry of Home aAfairs, regular registration cannot be granted to Kal Cables Private Limited in terms of provisions contained in Rule 11 C and accordingly the permanent registration granted to Kal Cables stands cancelled with immediate effect."

The ministry has given 15 days to wind up the company's operations. The company is one of the major MSOs operating in Chennai. The city has a subscriber base of about four million households, of which about one million are DTH subscribers, said P Shakilan, founder of Tamizhaga Cable Operators Association.

Kal Cables has about 1.3 million subscribers.

Kal Cables claimed that it was not given an opportunity to present its case before the Ministry.

==

Source: Ministry of Home affairs to submit report on Kal Cables next week

 

[M.J.Sadiq]

Yes, TN cant be left under analogue for long. Once Chennai gets Arasu then entire TN would have Arasu.

Under the above given situation if they want to go DAS at 100% then they might have to give Arasu the license as an exception as otherwise with current state govt having another 18+ months in power DAS would become impossible with arasu not having the license as there is not a single alternate person who can make even a 50% DAS even at 24 months.

So whoever wants it or not, Arasu is necessary for everyone at this moment and only they can bring DAS in TN within next 18 months and as highly expected the same govt continues for another term then Arasu just stays concrete.

Arasu is here to stay.

FYI, to achieve DAS, it is not necessary to have an MSO with digital offering. Having DTH as a replacement for analog is also to be considered as DAS. At the end, there shouldn't be any analog connection which is the target of getting digitized.

 

[HOUSE-MD]

FYI, to achieve DAS, it is not necessary to have an MSO with digital offering. Having DTH as a replacement for analog is also to be considered as DAS. At the end, there shouldn't be any analog connection which is the target of getting digitized.

DTH is never a proper replacement for DAS and if this option is tried then there would never be a 100% DAS instead a max of 20 - 25% might get completed.

DTH can be a part of DAS but not a complete one, to do DAS as planned Arasu has to be given license else there is noway for a quicker DAS as there is no proper alternative for Arasu at-least for the next 18 months.

 

[M.J.Sadiq]

DTH is never a proper replacement for DAS and if this option is tried then there would never be a 100% DAS instead a max of 20 - 25% might get completed.

DTH can be a part of DAS but not a complete one, to do DAS as planned Arasu has to be given license else there is noway for a quicker DAS as there is no proper alternative for Arasu at-least for the next 18 months.

Bro, I am not saying DTH is the replacement for DAS. In fact DAS includes DTH as well. I am saying, from the explanation point of view, if all people is going for DTH instead of cable, then also we will achieve Digitization @ DAS @ Digital Addressable System


..

 

[HOUSE-MD]

Bro, I am not saying DTH is the replacement for DAS. In fact DAS includes DTH as well. I am saying, from the explanation point of view, if all people is going for DTH instead of cable, then also we will achieve Digitization @ DAS @ Digital Addressable System
..

Yes, i agree. If everyone goes to DTH even then DAS can be achieved.

But at present conditions i think max 10 - 20% of total subscribers would go to DTH and another 10% (current status)- 20% could move to STB to a non Arasu MSO (If such an MSO still exists) so still there will be 60 - 80% left as analogue.

If Arasu is kept in waiting for license then these 60 - 80% analogue will always stay as analogue due to no alternate MSO having both the fund and manpower to make such things happen as we saw this for the last several years under CAS and later under DAS deadline.