Cable operators, Ten Sports lock horns over fees

The cricket lovers of the state may miss the India-Pakistan cricket series as the cable operators have locked horns with Ten Sports channel over the increase of subscriber fee.

The cable operators are planning to blackout the Ten Sports, which has the right to telecast the series live in India.

"We may black-out from broadcasting the India-Pakistan series to be held in this month as Ten Sports is putting pressure on us to pay higher subscriber fees. While we have only 100 subscribers, they are demanding fee for 1,000 subscribers," said Pramod Pandya, president, Ahmedabad Cable Operators Association (ACOA).

"That Ten Sports is asking more subscriber fee is a violation of the Trai order. Ten Sports has not also given us the copy of the contract agreement and has not issued any bills against the payments" said Pandya.

There are around 16 lakh cable connection in the state. All Gujarat Cable Operators' Association will meet tomorrow in Ahmedabad to discuss the issue.

"We writing to Ten Sports o look into the matter again. If they go ahead with their proposed plans and are not going to change their stance, we will not broadcast the series.

"The Mumbai cable operators and several others associations in the country have already announced to blackout Ten Sports during the series", said Pandya.

This is the first Indian team to visit Pakistan after a gap of 15 years. The Indian team is scheduled to reach Pakistan March 10.

The series will kick off with the first one-day international to be played on March 13.

The one-day matches will be followed by Tests. When contacted, R K Singh, Advisor to Modi Entertainment Network (MEN), distribution arm of Ten Sports said,, "Ten Sports would keep the subscription fee unchanged at Rs 14 per subscriber per month, across the country. This price has been constant since Ten Sports was launched in April, 2002.

"Despite the massive increase in demand due to the Indo-Pakistan series and the top quality production, Ten Sports has not changed the subscription fee, keeping in mind the interest of the viewers.

"The cable operators have been very positive during their dealings with us and they are keen to show the cricket series," he said.

Singh however said that MEN would ask the cable operator to reveal their correct subscriber base.