[icernet] Bombay High Court stays hike in Cable TV fee

[Arul Selvan]

Cable television viewers in Mumbai have heaved a collective sigh of 
relief at the Bombay High Court's decision to stay the increase in 
subscription fees. The court Friday ordered operators to collect cable 
fees that were in effect till December 2002 and not chargethe new 
increased subscription. Cable fees had increased from around Rs 200 a 
month to Rs 300 in the new year. Most operators provide between 80 and 
100 channels on entertainment, sports and current affairs in a number of 
languages. At present most cable subscribers pay Rs.300 per month for 
the entire bouquet. Of the 80-100 channels on offer, only eight or 10 
are regularly watched.

The Indian government has enacted law to enable installation of set-top 
boxes so that subscribers can choose the channels they want to watch and 
pay only for them. The law will come into effect later this year after 
sufficient electronic set-top boxes are made available in the 
market.Meanwhile, cable operators and television channels are increasing 
subscription fees in a mad rush to maximise revenues.

Source:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_207658,000600010004.htm