TN Govt to foray into cable TV service

Chennai, July 20: The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to throw its hat into the cable TV service ring by starting its own operations soon, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said.

''The idea is in the planning stage. We are in the process of seeking suggestions from experts on how to run the operations in an efficient manner,'' he told a leading English daily here.

Besides, the Government had deputed officials to meet Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder-leader S Ramadoss, who had mooted the idea, and discuss the matter, he added.

Mr Karunanidhi said though Dr Ramadoss had favoured the Government taking over the entire cable TV network in the State, the Government had decided to stop with beginning one on its own.

The Government's decision toed the lines of legal opinion that any move to take over existing multi-system operators (MSOs) would entail unnecessary legal wrangles. With the power to regulate cable TV being vested with the Union Government, Central legislation was inevitable to take over such operations.

It may be recalled here that the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government had passed the Tamil Nadu Acquisition, Transfer and Taking Over of the Administration of Cable Television Network (Including Multiple Service Optical Transport System) Bill in January 2006, to take over operations of MSOs and ''set right the deficiency and faults in the service offered by cable TV networks.'' However, on April 24, 2006, the Governor had sent back the Bill, quoting the Constitution that the relevant powers vested with the Centre. Following this, on July one, 2006, after the State saw change of guard at the helm of affairs, the State Cabinet had decided to withdraw the Bill, stating it was not within the rights of a State Government.

Mr Karunanidhi said the service would be operationalised in phases as the entire State could not be covered in a single phase.

He believed that this move would prove to be a huge revenue earner for the Government as initial projections put the annual revenue at Rs 500 crore. The money could be used for taking up various developmental projects and welfare schemes, he added.

UNI