The Hindu Business Line : Cable TV sector seeks industry status

It will soon approach the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to push for its agenda in this regard, Mr Sanjay Mansukhani, Secretary of Cable TV Equipments Traders and Manufacturers Association (CTMA) , on Friday told a news conference held here to announce the details of the Cable TV Show 2005, the annual event of CTMA.

Mr Mansukhani said that an estimated Rs 80,000 crore had been invested in the Indian cable TV sector till date. The industry comprises 70,000 cable operators who, together, provide direct employment to around 15 lakh people. "The cable TV industry in India is worth Rs 12,000 crore in terms of annual subscription revenue. As such, it is much bigger that the film industry. However, while the film industry has been granted industry status by the government, the cable TV sector is yet to be accorded industry status," he said.

According to him, the grant of industry status would provide the industry access to institutional funding and insurance coverage, among other things. CTMA has also presented a case of a "level-playing field" as far as taxation is concerned. Mr Mansukhani said that while value-added tax (VAT) on products and equipment categorised under computers and telecommunications was four per cent, for products and equipment related to the cable industry, the VAT levy was 12.5 per cent.

Also, basic import duties on the same equipment used by the cable industry and telecom companies were categorised and taxed separately.

Equipment categorised under telecom had zero import duty but when the same equipment was categorised as cable TV equipment, a 15 per cent import duty is levied, he said.

Mr Mansukhani said that over 10,000 cable operators, traders, manufacturers, channel partners, distributors, broadcasters and multi-system operators from across India and SAARC countries would participate in the show to be held in Kolkata between December 20-22.

For the first time, a six-member delegation from the Pakistan Electronic Media Association would participate in the show , he added.