Tamil channels back on TV in Bangalore

After going off the air for almost a month in the wake of the protests against Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal’s final award, Tamil channels have reappeared on the television sets across Bangalore.

With the dust kicked up by the Cauvery issue beginning to gradually settle down, the cable operators have decided to revoke the self-imposed ban on telecast of Tamil channels. The resumption in telecast of Tamil channels comes not only in the wake of repeated requests for the same from Tamil organizations, but also in view of a dip in collection of monthly cable subscription fees, particularly in Tamil-dominated localities of Bangalore.

According to sources Karnataka Cable TV Operators’ Association in Bangalore, subscribers in Tamil-dominated areas of Bangalore like Ulsoor, Murphy Town, Vivekanagar and Shivajinagar simply refused to pay their monthly tariff for the month of February as their favourite Tamil channels were not aired during the month.

“Many subscribers in Tamil-dominated areas are planning to withdraw cable connection and switch over to dish television, which provides direct to home telecast of all channels including Tamil”, a cable operator said.

Tamil channels went off the air in Bangalore fearing the wrath of Kannada activists soon after the Tribunal delivered a verdict on February 5, which was seen to be “unfair” to Karnataka. “But, we will not be able to run the show if the subscribers refuse to pay the monthly cable fees. There is also a threat of subscribers migrating to dish television if we continue to black out Tamil channels”, the cable operator added.