MP cable TV operators threaten strike

After initial hitches, eleven cable operators; associations of MP have joined hands to take on the state government's commercial tax department to stage a protest against 100 per cent raise in entertainment duty.

The MP Cable TV Vyavsayee Mahasangh, Bhopal Cable Operators Association, Mahakaushal Cable Operators Welfare Parishad, Jabalpur Cable Operators Welfare Association, Cable Operators Association Gwalior and other Cable Operators Associations of Ujjain, Dewas, Ratlam and Indore will stage demonstration at Teen shed on Tuesday.

Yesterday Bhopal Cable Operators Association office-bearers had told Business Standard that the issue had been under consideration and they (the association) had not been asked to participate in the protest.

Indore cable operators association namely "Adarsh Maa Ahilya Cable Operators Association, Indore" had called a statewide bandh of cable operators in protest against 100 percent hike in entertainment duty.

"Except for news channels of Prasar Bharti, all channel will remain off air," an office bearer of Bhopal Cable Operators Association told BS.

The state government has raised entertainment duty rates from Rs 10 per subscriber to Rs 20 per subscriber only in urban and cantonment areas.

The cable operators of the state are not only demanding an immediate slash in the duty but also a uniform duty in all areas including rural and urban. There are 15000 cable operators in Madhya Pradesh.