Cable operators threaten to gherao ESPN office in Kolkata

Kolkata, Jun 21 (UNI) The West Bengal Cable Television Operators' Welfare Association (WBCTOWA) has threatened to gherao ESPN office here after the channel's decision not to provide signal for World Cup.

In a statement, Joint Secratary of the association comprising about 40 cable television operators Pareshnath Mandal said at least one million soccer fans in the city would be deprived of watching their favorite teams playing in the league matches.

He said the association would move the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appelate Tribunal(TDSAT), stage demonstrations and also gherao the Channel's office.

He said now ESPN Software India provides signal only to the present set of MSOs, and hence the ESPN has violated the Telecommunication Interconnection Regulation Act, 2004.

" It is bound to provide signal to anyone wanting to view the World Cup matches, " he stated.

Mr Mondal also alleged that despite the state government's intervention, ESPN continued blocking the signal in order to back the other three MSOs of the city.

UNI PP SJC DB1648