Tamil Nadu asks PM to intervene in Cable digitisation

Jaya urges Manmohan Singh to direct I&B Ministry issue licence to state-run Arasu Cable TV

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today asked the Prime Minister's intervention in Cable digitisation.

In a letter she asked the Prime Minister to direct Information and Broadcasting Ministry to issue licence to state-run Arasu Cable TV Corporation.

She added that Centre has issued licence to nine other operators in Tamilnadu, but for the Corporation.

The Corporation has placed orders for the supply of Set Top Boxes, Conditional Access System and Subscriber Management System and erection of Head End at a cost of about Rs.50  crore.

It may be noted the Corporation has been seeking extension of cable digitisation programme stating that it don't have enough infrastructure (set up box).

The programme which suppose to be implemented on October 31, according to Centre's deadline, has been extending since MSOs have said they don't have enough boxes.

The letter further stated that  Tamilnadu Cable TV Corporation offers 100 channels at Rs 70 a month.

There has been a good response from the public and the Local Cable Operators.  23,000 Local Cable Operators with a subscriber base of 60 lakhs are availing of the services of this Corporation.

While stating that the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has also passed orders on December 6, 2012 that “the process of issue of licence to Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation may go on and the licence may also be issued”.

"I urge you to intervene in the matter and direct the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to issue the Digital Addressable System licence to the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd immediately," said the Chief Minister in her letter to the Prime Minister.