DTH operator agrees to air more Marathi channels

Political opponents Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have found a common cause. Both parties have trained their guns on Direct-to-Home Service operator Tata Sky for its alleged bias in beaming Marathi channels.

Presently, the private operator shows DD Marathi, ETV Marathi and Zee Marathi channels, while new channels like Star Maaza, Zee 24 hours, Zee Talkies and Mee Marathi are not.

A group of Sena activists from the party’s consumer protection group led by advocate Arun Jagtap met officials of the operator recently. “All Marathi channels must be aired immediately. Disallowing the telecast of Marathi channels is like controlling the language itself,” said Jagtap.

If all Marathi TV channels are not shown immediately, Sena activists have threatened to shut down all DTH companies for their alleged bias. “We want the state government to create a law under which it becomes mandatory for all DTH operators to show local Marathi TV channels irrespective of the bouquets they have,” said Jagtap.

The MNS’s Cine Workers Association also met the DTH operator to protest against what they called a “regional” bias. “We have given them a deadline of September 30 to start telecasting all Marathi Channels.

If they fail to do it, we will hold a massive morcha against the DTH operator,” said Ameya Khopkar, the association’s working president. A Tata Sky source told DNA, “We have been carrying Marathi channels from the launch of our service. We are looking to add more channels to the line-up over the next few months.”