KCCL reveals why it complied with NTO 3.0

Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd (KCCL) Wednesday said it will comply with the amended new tariff order (NTO 3.0).

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.

Below is the content of the letter written by KCCL & KVBL Managing Director Sureshkumar PP to Manoj Chhangani Secretary General, AIDCF explaining the reason for them to sign the interconnection agreement as per the provision of NTO 3.0.

“As we have highlighted in various meetings of AIDCF, we would. stand with the association to challenge the anti-operator and anti-customer clauses of NTO.3 for the survival of the cable TV industry. But, as we emphasised in the various meetings, we have our own constraints, to be a part of a prolonged battle that seriously affects our business and denies the basic right of a customer to choose channels as ala- carte' or even as bouquets of their specific choice and taste.

It may kindly be noted that even after one week after the channel switch off by major broadcasters, we failed to obtain any interim order or oral directions from the Hon. High Court of Kerala to switch on and reinstate the blacked-out channels. As you may kindly note, big MS0s like SITI, which is a member of AIDCF, and most of the small MSOs have signed RIO agreements and are providing the channels to customers which are switched off from our network. They are utilising the situation and judiciously capturing our customers in Kerala with their pointed marketing operation. Moreover, Jio and DTH platforms are exploiting this crisis and adopting new strategies to capture our valuable customers. We have evaluated the market situation very seriously and are constrained to take a decision to move ahead and sign the RI0 agreement with broadcasters.

Though we are agreeable to the decisions taken by AIDCF for all general issues, in business decisions relate to pay channels we will have to adopt our own strategy, considering the nature of our existing market and keeping in view our supreme priority to meet our customer expectations. Since we are a party in the petition filed in the Kerala high court, we request you to kindly inform our decision as briefed above, to the concerned counsel well in advance for him to proceed accordingly and also and inform us of the future course of actions in this regard.”

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