Arasu Cable issues tender notice to auction 58 slots to broadcasters

Multi system operator (MSO) Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV) has issued a tender to auction 58 Logical Channel Number (LCN) slots on its platform.

The corporation intends to auction LCN to free to air (FTA) as well as pay channels in lieu of placement fee for digital transmission throughout Tamil Nadu.

Arasu has allocated the top 11 LCNs for general entertainment and home shopping channels. Six LCNs have been allocated for movie channels while five LCNs have been reserved for music channels.

After music and movies, the sports genre has been allocated the next five LCNs. Six LCNs have been dedicated for kids genre while the infotainment channels will have five LCNs.

The top 30 slots are reserved for Tamil channels in different genres. 14 slots have been set aside for news, entertainment and movie channels in English and Hindi. The remaining five slots are for Tamil religious channels.

The tender notice states that the LCN will be awarded to the highest quoted price in the auction (H1). The monthly billing for placement fee will be based on the SMS report for the number of all Active STBs irrespective of channel subscription of the channel in TACTV network on 20th of previous month.

Upon finalization of rates on auction as per Clause 3 (a) TACTV will issue the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) to the successful channel.

On receipt of the Letter of Acceptance from the TACTV, the successful channel will have to remit a Security Deposit (SD) of one-month advance 36 lakh set top box (STB) multiplied by LCN rate fixed within three working days from the date of receipt of LoA.

The successful awardee would be given the contract for a period of one year. The channels cannot cancel the contract within one year. However, TACTV reserves the right to terminate the contract and change LCN due to an issue like non-payment.

The successful channel will have to pay one-month placement fee in advance within three days from the date of issue of allotment order and make the subsequent monthly payment before 25th of every previous month as a prepaid mode.

The notice also stated that any dispute arising out of non-fulfillment of any of the terms and conditions of this Auction/Agreement will be subject to the jurisdiction of the TDSAT only.