It will be black out for cable television viewers in Delhi from Monday midnight as cable operators shut down transmission of all channels for three days in protest against government's lopsided amendments to the Cable Networks Act. Stating that the amendments hold cable operators responsible for the programme and advertising code being relayed by satellite broadcasters, the cable TV operators warned that if the government failed to address their grievances, the agitation would be continued, intensified and carried out in all towns and cities in the country. They said the entire spectrum of cable operators of Delhi, including Siti Cable, In Cablenet, Hathway Datacom, Spectranet and all independent cable operators have got together to launch the agitation.
The government had barred cable operators from showing pirated films besides enforcing the programme and advertising codes on all channels, including the free-to-air ones. Fearing harassment from local authorities which have been empowered to act through the recent amendments, the agitated cable operators have demanded among other things that the police should not be allowed to interfere in the cable network business as it would lead to further corruption.
Bureau Report