The Star Network made a big step forward in convincing cable operators in the country to accept its new subscription regime after RPG Netcom in Kolkatta signed on.
RPG Netcom has a virtual monopoly on cable homes in Kolkatta and getting it on board represents a major coup for Star. This is especially significant because both in 2000 and last year Star was off air in Kolkatta for a good while at the time of rate revisions.

Star claims that most operators in New Delhi have also signed on to the new rates.

Confirming the development, A Jawed, Sr V-P, Star Distribution, said: "We are happy to announce that RPG Netcom in Kolkatta has accepted and signed the subscription contracts, so did AsiaNet servicing, in Kerala, where the new pricing and subscription contract will soon be finalised". In Bhubaneshwar, Ortel Communication Ltd, also confirmed the new contract. Among others, the large Multi-Systems Operators (MSOs) like Siti Cable JVs in Delhi has accepted the new rates. The response from the consumers and the cable networks across the country has thus been very encouraging.

The Delhi-based National Cable and Telecommunications Association, representing a section of cable operators in the north, says it will switch off retransmission for ESPN Star Sports for two months.

An NCTA release says that at yesterday‘s meeting of the NC TA in New Delhi, the cable TV service providers agreed to take a consolidated stand against "the arbitrary increase in the subscription fee" for the two channels. Among the independent cable TV service providers and MSOs who the NCTA says have decided to do battle with ESPN are the Zee group promoted Siti Cable, the Hinduja Group‘s InCablenet, Hathway Cables promoted Win Cable, Home Cable and Spectra Net. According to the NCTA release, the MSOs decided while transmission would be suspended for an initial period of two months, they would also be collectively returning the viewing cards of the IRD‘S provided by ESPN Software, so that they are not charged for the duration in which they do not avail the services of the two channels for re-distribution.

Sources in Hathway however denied that they had switched of the feed and said both the channels were being screened. Queried as to whether Win Cable (Hathway is an 80 per cent stakeholder while the remaining 20 per cent is held by ETC Networks Ltd) had signed on to the new subscription regime of ESPN Star Sports, he said talks were still on. The NCTA has taken offence at the print advertisement put out by ESPN Software in some English dailies, allegedly ‘derogatory‘ to cable TV service providers. The meeting decided to initiate necessary legal steps against ESPN Software in protest against the offending ad, which is ostensibly meant to goad the viewer into insisting for the two sports channels from the cable op. The ops say the viewers are unconvinced that the hike is justified, as both channels are "event based and are watched only for the duration that any major sports event is transmitted."

"The stand taken by the service providers is significant because this pay TV broadcaster insist upon charging subscription fee from Cable TV service providers even for the duration they do not avail the services of the said company for redistribution purposes," says the NCTA release. The association has also asked that if any advance payment has already been made to the pay channels by the cable ops, it will have to be adjusted once redistribution is resumed.

In a bid to connect further with the viewer ETC Punjabi has started a unique one of a kind countdown show. Sadda Top 10 lets music lovers select the top ten songs which they want aired. This is different from countdowns on rival channels like MTV, B4U which make their picks based on the opinion of music critics, album sales, market research and analysis.
Viewers have to SMS their preferences to the channel. The song, which receives maximum SMS requests, becomes the top song of the week. The rest of the countdown is done according to the SMS preference received for each song. To send in the entries in this inter-active show Sadda Top 10, viewers have to use the SMS no. 303 of Punjab Spice.

The one hour show will air every Thursday at 7.10 pm. Besides pronouncing the winning songs there are plenty of prize up for grabs for the viewers who are participating in the song selection. The show has been produced in association with Positive Comsol Delhi and winners are announced through their mobile numbers.

The release states that already 12 winners have won free stays at Amritsar, Behror and other towns. Prizes also include free airtime from the mobile service provider Spice Punjab.

Rabindra Narayan president ETC Punjabi had these comments to make about the initiative: "SMS is one more step in ETC‘s mission for reaching out to maximum viewers of Punjab and provide them with a platform to voice their heart as quantified in our channel‘s catch line - Dil Apna Punjabi. SMS provides an instant platform to our viewers to be a part of the channel." The network is working details for similar contests on the other channels. Watch this space for more details.