Another AIDCF member KCCL switches sides; complies with NTO 3.0

In another setback to the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd (KCCL) Wednesday said it will comply with the amended new tariff order (NTO 3.0).

KCCL was a prominent member of AIDCF with over 3.1 million subscribers in the fight with broadcasters allegedly over price hikes of channels and bouquets.

With this, KCCL is the seventh MSO to sign the interconnection agreement as per the provision of NTO 3.0 joining the likes of Siti Cable, its JV ICNCL, UCN Cable, Thamizhaga Cable TV, Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV and KAL Cables who initially non-compliant.

In its fight with broadcasters, AIDCF is now left with six MSOs – GTPL Hathway, Hathway Digital, Den, In Cable owned by NXT Digital of Hinduja Group, Fastway Transmissions, and Asianet Digital.

The combined reach of these six MSOs now stands at 2.5 crore homes out of which Reliance-owned GTPL Hathway, Hathway Digital and Den control 1.8 crore homes amounting to 75% of the homes that are not receiving Star India, Zee Entertainment and Sony channels.

The Kerala High Court is hearing the petition filed by AIDCF against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) which will enter the fourth day in a row on Thursday.

With the counsels of AIDCF and TRAI concluding their arguments on Wednesday, the broadcasters – Star India, Zee TV and Sony – appealed to Justice Chaly for hearing them on Thursday.

Appearing for Star India, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi told Justice Chaly that he would require half an hour time to present his case.

He submitted that his disconnection notice had been impugned without making him a party.

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