The All India Avishkar Dish Antenna Sangh (AIADAS) and All Local Cable Operator Association Delhi (ALCOA) have jointly appealed to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to reconsider the recently revised registration fee for cable TV operators.

The new regulation, part of the amendments to the Cable Television Network Regulation Act, 1994, extends the registration period from one year to five years, but the fee has been increased to Rs.5000 an amount both associations deem excessive.

The associations argue that the hefty registration fee places an undue financial burden on cable TV operators (LCOs), who are already grappling with declining revenues due to changes in technology, policy shifts, and evolving market dynamics.

“When the Cable Television Network Regulation was first implemented in 1994, the annual registration fee was Rs.50. It was later increased to Rs.500 a 1000 percent hike within a year despite protests from operators. Today, a further 100 percent hike to Rs.5000 has been imposed, which is untenable given the current challenges faced by LCOs,” ALCOA stated.

Since the implementation of the New Tariff Order (NTO) in 2019, LCOs have witnessed a steady decline in their customer base. In 2024, when the registration process was made free on the Broadcast Seva Portal, only 46,500 LCOs registered out of the estimated 1 lakh operators nationwide. AIADAS and ALCOA argue that the Rs.5000 fee will deter even more operators from registering.

Both organizations propose a fee reduction to Rs.2000 for a five-year registration term, citing this as a balanced solution. “At Rs.2000, the government would still generate Rs.20 crores in revenue if all 1 lakh operators register. This is a fair compromise that ensures compliance while not overburdening LCOs,” the associations stated.

The associations emphasized that LCOs have been instrumental in providing affordable television services across India, particularly in rural and underserved regions. The increasing financial pressures, coupled with regulatory hurdles, are making it difficult for these small-scale operators to survive.

“Cable TV operators must be registered, and the five-year duration is appreciated, but the fee should reflect the realities of the industry,” said Dr. A.K. Rastogi, AIADAS President.

AIADAS and ALCOA have jointly urged the MIB to revise the registration fee to Rs.2000 and adopt a supportive stance toward LCOs. They believe that this adjustment is essential for sustaining the ecosystem of local cable operators, which serves millions of households across the country.

The associations hope the government will recognize the critical role of LCOs and act swiftly to alleviate their financial strain.