AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran has called for the central government to eliminate the 18% GST on cable TV services, emphasizing the need for more affordable access to television. In a post on the X platform, Dhinakaran also advocated for reducing TV channel prices from Rs 19 to Rs 5, supporting the demands of the Tamil Nadu Cable TV Operators' Welfare Association.
Recently the association conducted a hunger strike in Egmore, Chennai in reference to the yearly increase in fee structures of the TV channels that has called for increased subscription fees. The above increases have been coined by poor households, who rely on the cable TVs for essential news and entertainment.
Cable operators went on to argue that current rising electricity costs in Tamil Nadu has already put financial pressure on cable operators' business. The other 18% GST imposed on cable TV by the central government has compounded this pressure and may force many cable-TV operations to shutdown.
Dhinakaran stressed the importance of protecting the cable TV industry and called on the central government and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to address these concerns. He urged the repeal of the 18% GST to ensure affordable cable TV services for all citizens, particularly those in economically vulnerable sections of society.
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