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Sankar Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, May 12

FOR cable television subscribers in Kerala, 2003 has proved to be an eventful year so far.

First, there was the blackout of popular sports channels ESPN and Star Sports by cable operators in the State. And now, the "temporary withdrawal" of the One Alliance bouquet by Asianet Satellite Communications Ltd, possibly Kerala's largest cable operator.

While five of the eight channels that make up the One Alliance platform were yanked off air at around 10 p.m. on April 30, film channel Home Box Office (HBO) was taken off the Asianet cable network on May 8. The two NDTV channels — NDTV 24x7 and NDTV India — that are also part of the One Alliance bouquet are currently not being aired on the Asianet network.

The provocation for the blackout is a "spat" between the Sony Entertainment Television (SET)-led One Alliance and Asianetover subscription rates, says a cable industry source.

According to Mr S. Rajeev, Senior Vice-President (Cable Services), Asianet Satellite Communications Ltd, the reasons for the blackout are "purely commercial".

The cable operator will be forced to hike its monthly consumer subscription charges if the broadcaster continues to charge "high rates", he added. "The market in Kerala is not ready for a further hike in monthly cable bills," he pointed out while explaining the decision to withdraw the One Alliance channels — Sony, SET Max, AXN, Discovery, Animal Planet and HBO.

Though the blackout has been on for almost a fortnight, there's been no change in the situation, he said. Nor are any discussions being held with the broadcaster, he added. Officials of the One Alliance were not available for comment.

The roots of the current standoff can be traced to the decision of the One Alliance network to raise its monthly subscription package to Rs 55 per subscriber household per month from January this year, said a cable industry source. Cable operators were forced to accept the hike as the Cricket World Cup was to be telecast on SET Max. However, now that the World Cup is over, cable operators are unable to bear the "high" subscription rates and at the same time are not in a position to pass on higher costs to their consumers, sources said.

Meanwhile, Asianet has chosen to replace the One Alliance channels with others such as CMM, SABe TV and Trendz. The cable operator has also chosen to publicise its decision to "temporarily withdraw" the six channels. Asianet Satcom's own city-based cable channels such as Asianet Cable Vision, Rosebowl and Asianet Jukebox all carry messages exhorting consumers to "fight the hike".

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