REVERSE PATH

DAS FOR CHENNAI LCOS?

Dear Sir,

When will Tamil Nadu Aarasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd get a DAS license?

If the DAS license is denied by the I&B ministry, what is the future of cable operators who were connected with Aarasu cable TV?

Who will implement DAS as per the bill?

Please briefly answer all the above concerns.

Sankar Ganesh By E-mail.

The TRAI has recommended that State governments should not be permitted into Cable TV ground distribution or broadcasting their own TV channels. The TRAI only has the power to recommend to the I&B ministry, and not implement or enforce these recommendations. It is now upto the I&B ministry to accept, reject or hold these recommendations in abeyance. So far the I&B ministry has effectively held this TRAI recommendation (and several others) in abeyance.

Clearly there are significant political implications to any decision taken in this regard.

It may be politically prudent for the government to simply not take any decision or action on granting or rejecting state governments the permission to set up their Cable TV networks.

This will of course imply that ARASU is not granted permission to commence digital CATV operations. Chennai in particular and the state of Tamil Nadu in general is lagging in its move towards digital Cable TV. Other privately owned Cable TV Headends can certainly set up their own digital Headends and obtain licenses for these Headends. However local consumers are may drag their feet on subscribing to digital CATV which will cost more than the government subsidised analog service. Also these consumers will have to pay for a digital STB. Quality conscious consumers in Chennai and the rest of Tamil Nadu will either shift to digital CATV from a private sector MSO or take up DTH. - Ed

COMPLAINT AGAINST ONEALLIANCE

Respected Sir,

I am a cable operator, working in Sahajanandanagar, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra state. I have the ZEE & STAR packages on my network.

However, the SONY channel distributor (in Pune) is not responding to our requests for the SONY package. I suspect that he is close to another big digital Cable TV operator.

Please advise how we should proceed to get the SONY package and how to complain to the TRAI.

Thanking You,

With Regards,

Nitin Kotme
Swamy Cable Network, By E-mail.

1. By law it is compulsory for every TV channel distributor to provide any/all channels requested, either directly or through their local distributor. In case you have been refused or not being provided any channel, you must complain to the TRAI. In your complaint letter please clearly state the date when you had requested the channels, the party to whom you had written to requesting the channels and their reply, if any. You must attach copies of your correspondence proving your earlier request. You should send your complaint to:

Advisor (Broadcasting & Cable Services)
Shri. Wasi Ahmad
Tel: 011-23237922
Fax: 011-23220442
Email: advbcs@trai.gov.in

The Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India
Mahanagar Doorsanchar Bhawan
(Next to Zakir Hussain College)
Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (Old Minto Road)
New Delhi: 110 002

2. Do note that for Cable TV networks located in DAS Phase-1 & 2 areas which are now required to shut off analog Cable TV signals, broadcasters will provide you their pay channels only if you have a valid digital MSO's licence and meet other criteria which they have laid down for securely distributing their channel.