Mumbai : DTH Operators Association has expressed its displeasure on the doubling of the Entertainment Tax on distribution platforms such as Cable TV and DTH services by the APP government in Delhi.
Anil Khera, President of DTH Operators Association said,”The recent announcement of doubling of entertainment tax on cable TV and DTH services made by the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government seems unfair and illogical. DTH as a platform is considered as critical to citizen’s right to information, news, education and entertainment”.
The sector is already saddled with a high tax, where 33% of revenues are taxed between the Centre and State. DTH operators, which comprises of Tata Sky, Dish, Airtel, Videocon D2h, Sun and Reliance, will have no choice but to hike their tariffs in Delhi to accommodate this hike in Entertainment Tax and the load will finally fall on the customer” Khera said.
Coming heavily on the AAP Governments in Delhi and lamenting the assurance by AAP on reducing the common man’s burden, Anil Khera further added, “By dropping electricity prices on one hand and increasing Entertainment Tax on DTH on the other, it does not seem like a move in favour of the Aam Admi! Is this how we plan to achieve a balance budget and reduce fiscal deficit?”
The DTH Operators and Cable TV Operators in Delhi are likely to pass on the steep hike in Entertainment Tax by the Delhi government to the customers, which is expected to burn a hole in the pockets of the common man.
