|
ETV
Telugu, the first of ETV Network's 12 satellite
channels, was available as an FTA channel
and being carried by many networks across
the country, including Ortel.
ETV
Telugu went pay in February 2006 and around
July that year, Ortel had asked for the
signals of ETV Telugu to carry on their
network, but only in the digital mode.
"But
to safeguard the interests of the Telugu
viewers in Orissa and save them from the
burden of investing in STBs, we requested
Ortel to carry ETV Telugu in both digital
and analogue streams, like other pay channels
that are being carried in both digital and
analogue streams," Bapineedu said.
Ortel
chose not to carry ETV Telugu in analogue
and approached TDSAT and the tribunal last
week had ordered ETV Network to provide
ETV Telugu to Ortel on the digital mode
within one week, which ETV Network would
be complying with, he said.
ETV
Network, had also converted five of its
other channels as pay including ETV Oriya,
Bapineedu informed.
"Even
when ETV Oriya was launched in Jan 2002,
Ortel was reluctant to carry ETV Oriya,
but under public pressure started streaming
the same through their Network in analogue
mode.
What
is even stranger is, according to Bapineedu,
is that every time ETV Oriya planned live
events and special programmes, the signals
were disturbed, much to the harassment of
the viewer and the broadcaster.
"This
amounted to irrationally depriving the Oriya
viewers from watching, the much demanded
ETV Oriya," Bapineedu says.
"To
counter these disruptions and blackmailing
of broadcasters and to safe guard the interest
of viewers in Orissa, ETV Network and Zee
Network's sister concern Siti Cable initiated
a cable network JV by the name of Variety
entertainment, some nine months ago,"
Bapineedu explains.
"Our
new cable network (Variety Entertainment)
is growing fast and aims at providing all
broadcasters an alternative platform and
an option to Oriya Viewers for disturbance-free
viewing of their favourite channels,"
feels Bapineedu.
However,
Ortel's Rath has a different story to tell,
alleging that ETV itself is a violator of
laws, having set up their poles without
necessary inspections and even using public
utility poles illegally.
"It
is unfair that we are being accused of terror
and using strong arm tactics, when we ourselves
believe the opposite," Rath told indiantelevision.com,
adding that they pioneered cable operations
in Orissa a decade ago using legal rights
of way.
Rath
said they are the ones who go for full disclosure
of customer base, and "in fact, it
is our rivals who are using muscle power
and other cable operator practices to cut
into our market," Rath alleges.
ETV's
alleged use of public utility poles without
inspection has caused "severe injuries
to their own workers and damaged others'
installations", Rath claims.
Rath
has refuted allegations of political patronage
because "our rights of way were finalised
more than a 10 years ago when a different
government was in place".
Rath
says ETV has been restrained by the courts
on a litigation started by them challenging
the very safety standards they have violated.
"In
fact, ETV's frustration can be easily discerned
after the switching off of ETV Oriya from
our channel, its TRP ratings has fallen
by more than 70 per cent, easily verifiable
from TAM figures," Rath counters.
"We
unfortunately had no option due to their
extortionate demands, but you can easily
verify from our track records of contracts
with all broadcasters that we work in a
professional manner," Rath claims.
"Regarding
theirs or any other network competing with
us, our strategy has always been to provide
excellent triple-play service at low prices,
which we believe will continue to give us
an edge. Of course, we also believe in a
level playing field, and strongly feel that
any competitor should be subject to the
same rules that apply to us," he adds.
|
