Hyderabad: After ABN Andhra Jyothi and TV9 channels, a few more Seemandhra channels are facing blockade in Telangana state.
There were complaints that some multiple system operators (MSOs) have stopped broadcasting ETV-Andhra Pradesh and Sakshi news channels since Sunday.
The complaints were from the consumers who are availing the services of In Digital network.
Complaints were received from residents in Secunderabad, Marredpally, Sainikpuri, Tarnaka, Habsiguda and Uppal areas.
However, the cable television operators informed that all the major multiple system operators in the city such as Hathway, Siti Cable, Digi Cable, which cover over 90 per cent of cable TV subcribers have been airing ETV-AP and Sakshi news channels as usual and that there is no ban as such on these channels.
“Barring ABN, all the Telugu news channels are being aired as usual. There is no ban on Seemandhra channels.
The subscriber base of In Digital is very less. They may be some revenue sharing problems between the two, which can be sorted out,” said Mr L. Hari Gowd, president, Greater Hyderabad Cable TV Operators Association.
The MSOs need to pay ‘carriage fees’ to news channels for airing their content and if they fail to do so, the channels stop the signals to MSOs.
While the ABN continues to face the ban across Telangana, TV 9 has been restored though partially in Hyderabad.
Cable TV operators in Telangana districts are bringing pressure on MSOs to stop TV 9 even in Hyderabad till Telangana Legislative Assembly takes a decision over derogatory remarks made against Telangana legislators in June this year.
Telangana MSOs Association president M. Subhash Reddy was not available for comment on this issue.
