MUMBAI: Maharashtra Cable Operators' Foundation (MCOF) has requested Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) to urge its members – the pay channels – to offer discounted pay tariffs, if not waiving them altogether, for a period of four months from 20 April to 20 August.
The MCOF has primarily cited two reasons for making this request. First, there has been no original content for the past two months. Second is the subscribers’ inability to pay for the channels.
In a letter addressed to IBF president NP Singh, the MCOF stated that the request is specifically regarding IBF members that operate pay channels with monthly tariff ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 19 for SD feed and variable extra for HD feed.
“Our subscribers have been pointing out that all the channels have been recycling programmes for close to two months. Further, no one is in a position to assure as to when fresh programmes will be aired. Same is the case with sports and movie channels, which will be slower in offering fresh content as compared to GECs and other genres,” said the letter.
MCOF further stated: “The subscribers therefore will either discontinue these channels on their own, or we as the last-mile link will be compelled to do so since MSOs are pressuring us to pay upfront when our subscribers are unable to pay. We therefore believe that it would be in everyone's interests that pay channels offer steeply discounted pay tariffs, if not waive it altogether for a period of four months.”
The situation, said the MCOF, may be reviewed in mid-July and a suitable call be taken in respect of “GECs as a class distinct from sports and movie channels.” The cable federation expressed hope that this “ethical action” will not only create goodwill with subscribers but also retain customers for the channels to ensure that advertising income does not go down much.
“We hope that you will appreciate the fact we too will be sacrificing our marketing fee and yet are willing to do so in the interests of the entire value chain. We hope to receive an early revert in mutual interests,” concluded the letter.
