IndianMascot
Core Member
The love-hate relationship between multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) is a reality, but in Amritsar the row has taken a violent turn.
Gun shots were fired when a meeting called by Punjab’s dominant MSO Fastway Transmission to discuss billing-related issues turned violent. While no one was injured, the incident has once again brought the darker side of the cable TV business to the fore.
Fastway distributor Sarbjit Singh alias Raju had called a meeting of LCOs from Amritsar to tell them about the billing and collection procedure in digital addressable system (DAS).
For the record, Raju is believed to be a close confidant of Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. He has been in the cable TV business for a long time, having worked with Siti Cable as its distributor in the past.
Raju told the gathering of LCOs that henceforth they would be required to pay the entire subscription money collected from customers directly to the MSO. The LCOs, he said, would get their share of the revenue later.
This is unlike the analogue system wherein the LCOs collected the subscription fee and gave the MSOs their share of the revenue while keeping the rest.
Raju’s proposal did not go down well with the 100-odd LCOs who had gathered for the meeting under the leadership of Shiv, Balbir Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Ram Singh. The LCOs said that they would keep their commissions and pass on the remaining amount to the MSO.
What followed was a heated argument between the LCOs and Raju and his associates. In the ensuing commotion, some people fired gun shots.
Police has registered criminal case against Shiv, Balbir Singh and Ram Singh under section 307, 506 of IPC and 25/54/59 arms act for attempt to kill Raju and issuing threat to kill him.
Wish to read further, ------------------------->
Gun shots were fired when a meeting called by Punjab’s dominant MSO Fastway Transmission to discuss billing-related issues turned violent. While no one was injured, the incident has once again brought the darker side of the cable TV business to the fore.
Fastway distributor Sarbjit Singh alias Raju had called a meeting of LCOs from Amritsar to tell them about the billing and collection procedure in digital addressable system (DAS).
For the record, Raju is believed to be a close confidant of Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. He has been in the cable TV business for a long time, having worked with Siti Cable as its distributor in the past.
Raju told the gathering of LCOs that henceforth they would be required to pay the entire subscription money collected from customers directly to the MSO. The LCOs, he said, would get their share of the revenue later.
This is unlike the analogue system wherein the LCOs collected the subscription fee and gave the MSOs their share of the revenue while keeping the rest.
Raju’s proposal did not go down well with the 100-odd LCOs who had gathered for the meeting under the leadership of Shiv, Balbir Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Ram Singh. The LCOs said that they would keep their commissions and pass on the remaining amount to the MSO.
What followed was a heated argument between the LCOs and Raju and his associates. In the ensuing commotion, some people fired gun shots.
Police has registered criminal case against Shiv, Balbir Singh and Ram Singh under section 307, 506 of IPC and 25/54/59 arms act for attempt to kill Raju and issuing threat to kill him.
Wish to read further, ------------------------->