Cable TV war hots up in state

Although it will be a while before the Conditional Access System (CAS) will be implemented in Ahmedabad, multi-system operators (MSOs) have already begun attempts to consolidate their position by attempting to rope in the maximum number of cable television operators and increase viewership.

However, cable operators are still unsure of their role in the post-CAS period.

As of today, there are four major MSOs operating in the city and all the 500-odd cable operators are connected to either of these.

However, in what could be termed as a tug of war, MSOs are making frantic attempts to 'snatch' cable operators of rival networks to increase their reach in the city.

The four MSOs who operate in the city are Siticable, Incable, Syndicate Cable and Ekta Cable. Siticable has the largest network and reach, followed by Incable.

Syndicate Cable and Ekta Cable have been promoted by cable operators themselves.

While Siticable and Incable have been in the business for about ten years, there have been other MSOs which have cropped up, only to merge with the bigger ones or simply disintegrate.

Cable Operators of Behrampura and Danilimda had, about two years ago formed a separate MSO called Nine Plus Network.

The network subsequently spread to Paldi and Vasna areas as well. However, about four months ago, all the operators joined Siticable, although some operators claimed that they were forced to join Siticable.

Nine Plus had allegedly snatched away most of the cable operators of GSN, another network operational in the Paldi area.

GSN had taken control of the Paldi area after a long-standing conflict with Skynet, which too had been forced to shut shop. Skynet had its network in the Paldi and Vasna areas.

Meanwhile, a group of about 20 Nine Plus Network operators have started their own MSO about two months ago, naming it Ekta Cable.

Ekta cable now covers some localities of the Vasna, Jivraj Park and Vejalpur areas of the city. The fourth MSO, Syndicate Network, also formed by cable operators, has been going stable for the past three years and covers Naranpura and Ghatlodia.

"Although it will be a while before CAS is actually implemented in Ahmedabad, there is an attempt by MSOs to strengthen themselves. This is evident from the fact that Nine Plus Network recently got merged with Siticable," said Ahmedabad Cable Operator Association (ACOA) president Pramod Pandya.

Pandya said cable operators were unsure on what their role will be after CAS is implemented here.

The monthly cable television rates have stabilised between Rs 250 and 300 in most areas of the city.

Over the past two years, the monthly rate for each connection has risen from around Rs 175 to Rs 250, mainly because of a hike in pay channel rates by television companies.