Hundreds of cable sector representatives flocked to Vikarabad raising slogans against the Reliance Jio’s policies. They include Local cable Operators and Independent MSOs of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. They have organized a rally, held a public meeting in the town and lodged their protest through a memorandum submitted to Vikarabad District Collector. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of warned Reliance that it would give a call to boycott all the Reliance products if it did not change its cable business stance.
Addressing the Vikarabad issue, the Telugu States Independent Emcees and Operators Joint Action Committee (JAC) made it clear that such a situation would not be tolerated anywhere else in AP and Telangana. The JAC has reminded that the Reliance has failed to adhere to its own promise to do business with the existing LCOs. The JAC also appealed to the public not to fall prey to the “temporary offers” terming them as a part of Jio’s long term strategy. It said that the price reduction is only a temporary ploy and they will enhance once they own the customers.
On this occasion, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Telugu States Independent MSOs and Operators has raised the following questions:
• Without showing their monopolistic face, Hathway, GTPL and Jio are trying to enter the market separately. In fact all are owned by Reliance. Why not Jio declare a direct relationship between them ?
• Isn’t it unethical for Jio, which initially promised to grow its business along with th Local Cable Operators, to now come up with the names of his its partners and support unscrupulous elements as dummy operators and hurt Local Cable Operators?
• Why confuse people with temporary offers? Isn’t it a testament to the Reliance Jio’s conspiracy to enter into the market with all sorts of quirks and all sorts of offers? Why can’t Jio announce a clear policy across the country when it is a national player?
• Is it not a testament to your ingenuity to think that cable operators and people are not in a position to notice and understand your company’s tricks and cunning tactics?
These are the questions that Reliance Jio cannot answer. In fact Jio has no answers. They know their conspiracies and their business approach. That is why the cable sector has decided to tackle collectively. It has made its stand clear:
• Openly disclose the relationship between Reliance Jio, Hathway and GTPL. Clarify whether or not those two companies are also running with Jio-investments. The public needs to know how much stake they have in any cable company.
• If Jio wants to create confusion in the cable business through dummies, what is the fate of the real cable operators who has been in business for a long time? Jio must adhere to its promise that it will do business LCOs and shall not disrupt their business.
• Jio has to accept the fact that people are being deceived by implementing one policy at a time with temporary offers. You must declare that you will restrain yourself from such immoral practices from now on.
• If Geo does not change its attitude, all Reliance products and services will be boycotted by the families of over six lakh cable operators and MSOs.The JAC will call on the people to boycott Reliance in support of its movement by making people aware of the anti-people policies of Reliance.
The Chalo Vikarabad program launched by the Cable Oerators and MSos from both the Telugu states Wednesday, January 27, has shown the shattered the unity in the business. It has sent clear signals to corporate MSOs like Jio, Hathway and GTPL that their unethical business practices shall not be tolerated and will be faced jointly by the cable fraternity. Reliance now seems to have no choice but to change its strategy.
