At a time when the DAS license is being given out to select few and Jayalalitha's TACTV license is still pending approval from the I&B ministry, Karnataka Public Relations and Infrastructure Minister Mr. Roshan Baig has expressed a keen interest in setting up a cable television system if the centre permits it. The Minister said he will be setting up a new cable TV system so as to solve the high subscription fees charged by the current operators.
The Minister praised the Arasu cable in Tamilnadu and said that the Karnataka Government is working on similar lines to come up with a state owned cable service wherein subscribers need to shell out just Rs.100 per month.
The KSCOA (Karnataka State Cable Operators Association) were quick to retaliate and said that “We told him that Arasu charges Rs. 70 and gives only free to air channels and regional services, while the others give all the leading channels, which is what the consumers want”
Khullar has already raised a concern saying that any government body or agency getting into the cable business is against the rule. The cable operators are fretting that if the Government will get clearance from the centre then they will be in a soup as they won't be able to compete with them.
We feel that Government should keep away from running businesses. The best example of how inefficient the Government is whilst running a business is the pathetic state of Air India and BSNL.
