Cable TV operators register protest

Kochi, Jun 28: Blank screens greeted television viewers in Kerala today as cable TV operators switched off their services for 12 hours to protest against a five per cent 'luxury tax' proposed in the state budget last week.

President of the Kerala unit of the Cable TV Operators Association E Jayadevan said the ''blackout'' was total all over the state.

He said the new tax proposed to be imposed by the state government on cable TV operators would push the sector into a ''deep crisis''.

The sector was already facing problems due to ''high rates'' charged by the popular pay channels.

However, to spare the football lovers in the state, the 12-hour cable TV ''blackout'' will be on only till 1800 hrs.

If the government did not concede their demand for a roll-back in the proposed tax, the association would step up its agitation by holding a protest march and 'dharna' in front of the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on July three, he added.

UNI