Press Release
Blockbuster TV channels may soon become invisible to the viewers in Kullu
Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Cartoon Network, POGO and many more will become inaccessible to 35,000 viewers in KulluKullu, 19th October 2007: Zee Turner, the distribution company of coveted channels like Zee TV, ZEE CINEMA; CNBC, Pogo, HBO etc. today launched a campaign in Kullu to sensitize people about the unscrupulous activities being undertaken by the cable operator, Kullu communications in their city. The operator is taking undue advantage of its monopoly situation, has not only being trying to arm twist Zee Turner but has also been exploiting the viewers. This has lead to viewers being deprived of their favorite programs and channels despite making regular payments for these channels to their cable operator.
It is noteworthy that latest NRS data states that Kullu has 7000 cable and satellite households. Whereas, the number of households declared by the operators to Zee Turner is barely 700, thereby underdeclaring the subscriber base by 90% !!! Further it has declared its subscriber base of more than xxxx subscribers to other competitive broadcasters whereas it has executed the agreement with Zee turner with a meager subscriber base of 700 subscribers only.
Zee Turner, the distribution company of Zee Entertainment and Turner International, for past XXX months, has been requesting the operator to declare the correct subscriber base and give Zee Turner. When repeated reminders, public notices and even legal notices failed to make any impact, Zee Turner was left with no option but to deactivate its channels on the operator’s network on 17th October 2007.
As a result of deactivation, the viewers in Kullu are not able to watch popular programs like; Saath Phere, Kasam Se, Ghar ki Lakshmi Betiyaan on Zee TV; MAD, Galli Galli Sim Sim, Mr. Bean, Takeshi's Castle, Khichdi on Pogo..
As part of its awareness campaign, Zee Turner is urging its viewers to demand a rightful reduction in their monthly cable bills if Zee Turner channels are missing from their TV screens.
It is to be noted that as per a TRAI's regulation, if a cable operator drops a channel/ bouquet of channels from his network, he is required to reduce the price of such channel/bouquet to be charged from his customers. The viewers are, therefore, entitled and may ask for reduction in price from their monthly cable bill if these channels are missing due to such switch off.
With Zee Turner switching off its channels in these cities, the operator has started misleading the viewers by stating that Zee Turner is imposing a price hike of its channels, hence the deactivation. On the contrary, there has been no increase in price of channels and the deactivation had been solely due to outstanding payments and under declaration of subscriber households. In fact, the regulatory body TRAI has freezed prices of the channels/bouquets and prevents broadcasters from any sort of price hike.
About Zee-Turner
With 14 regional offices and a countrywide network of over 100 dealers, Zee--Turner has the maximum depth and width of channel distribution in the country. Headquartered in New Delhi, Zee-Turner was incorporated in February 2002, when the two media giants - Zee Entertainment Ltd. & Turner International India Pvt. Ltd. - joined hands to form a distribution joint venture. Zee-Turner manages distribution and trade marketing for Zee, Turner as well as third party channels such as CNBC and Reality TV, in India and Nepal.Zee-Turner's comprehensive bouquet caters to every genre and age.
Its channels are: Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee news, Zee Studio, Zee cafe, Zee Trendz, Zee marathi, Zee Gujarati, Zee Punjabi, Zee Bangla, Cartoon network, CNN, Reality, CNBC, Awaaz, POGO, Zee Business, HBO, Zee Premier, Zee Classic, Zee Action, Zee Sports, Zee Kannada, Zee Telegu, Zee Talkies, Play TV, ETC Punjabi, ETC, Zee Music, Zee Jagran, Zee Smile, 24Ghante, 24 Taas & Zee Jagran.