Cable fight takes ugly turn!

The fight was between Orissa cable Association (OCA) and the All Orissa Cable TV Owners' Association (AOCTOA). The fight took an ugly turn as as both groups engaged in mudslinging. While members of OCA sat on a strike, the members of AOCTOA alleged them of being "unfair".

 

Said a source, “the government is forming new rules for the benefit of a particular cable owner which will affect the business of hundreds of small cable operators across the state. We would continue our strike till the government decides to change its rule." The members of OCA shouted slogans against ruling BJD MP, who owns a leading cable company, and alleged that the tender process has been done to favour his company.

 

On the other hand, members of AOCTOA alleged that a Kolkata-based cable company was misleading a group of cable operators and trying to stall the tender process. If the current tender process is stalled then 'one pole one cable rule' will be effective, which will affect the business of small cable operators more. The long awaited demand for use of electricity distribution polls with right of way would help the cable operators to survive and help them in providing service in best of their abilities, they say.

 

While most of the big cities are under the coverage of Multi Service Operators ( MSO), local cable operators have their customer base in small towns and rural areas. The fight between two cable operator groups led by the ruling and opposition party leaders seems more as a political fight. As a result of the fight between two groups of cable operators ultimately, it is the customer who will suffer the most.

 

The telecast of Odisha TV (OTV) has been blocked in few small towns. The local population it seems has not taken too lightly this particular development as they feel that this is a move to deprive them of the telecast of the Jagannath Puri Yatra. With the festival around the corner, people feel this is the right time for the cable operators to have their way.