TN announces setting up of Cable TV Corporation

Chennai, Aug 14 (UNI) Tamil Nadu government today announced setting up of a Corporation for Cable TV distribution.

The Cable TV Corporation would function under the Information Technology Department, an official release here said.

The Finance Secretary, the IT Secretary, the Managing Director of ELCOT and the Chairman of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board would function as its Directors.

A GO had been issued to this effect.

The newly-formed Corporation would function as a Multi-System Operator (MSO) in Chennai city and as a Cable TV operator in other parts of the state.

The Government's venture into cable TV distribution assumes significance in the wake of launching of 'Kalaignar TV', backed by the ruling DMK, on September 15.

The previous AIADMK government had passed a law in the Assembly to take over the operations of the multi-system operators, but the state Governor did not give his assent to the legislation on the grounds that the subject fell under the Centre's jurisdiction.

The ruling DMK's key ally, the PMK, had been pressing the government to start a network on its own to check the rising cost of cable TV connections.

UNI