pOLIMER FIGHTS IN WAY: mONOPOLY PRANKS

High drama marked the launch of Polimer satellite tv, a venture of Thamizhaga Cable TV Operators’ General Welfare Association here on Wednesday, after Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV) allegedly refusing to give signals for the channel.

However, the satellite TV went on air with the leading multiple service operators (MSO) -SCV- clearing the air by giving signals, following a gherao by the members of the association in front of Sun Television Office at Mandaveli.

P Shakilan, president of Thamizhaga Cable TV Operators’ General Welfare Association claimed that SCV had asked them to pay Rs 6 crore for letting the channel to be telecast through it. He said they rejected the demand, saying that cable TV operators were the key persons in promoting several Tamil channels, including Sun TV.

Later, an assurance was given that SCV would give signals for the channel on the day it was being officially launched, he added.

But, he pointed out, Polimer TV was blacked out in major cities, including Chennai. “Therefore, the members of the association decided to gherao the Sun TV office, urging the latter to air the channel,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, tension gripped Mandaiveli as thousands of cable TV operators thronged there, starting from five in the evening. A large posse of police was posted in the area to prevent any untoward incident. Finally, the agitation was called off after the newly launched channel was given access to the Chennai audience by SCV.

The official launch of the channel was at the Madras University Centenary Auditorium.

Polimer TV is the first satellite television channel in the country to be launched by cable TV operator.

THANKS: NEW INDIA EXPRESS