The government's official involvement is limited mainly to enforcing a code of conduct curtailing programs with explicit nudity, and liquor and cigarette ads. But in most cities, territories overlap. With few legal remedies for grievances, some operators have taken to settling differences by hiring toughs to vandalize competitors or rough up rivals. For the sake of efficiency alone, the industry could stand some consolidation. Nowadays, foreign companies want a piece of India's media market, and they are on the lookout for partners with the largest networks.
Consolidation is bound to happen.
They often serve as powerful distributors, beaming content via satellite to hundreds of small independent network operators who relay soap operas, game shows and movies to households. Largest of the so-called MSOs is Siticable, which is controlled by India's Zee media conglomerate and has about five million subscribers. There are also regional players including Sun TV's Sumangali in Tamil Nadu and Spectranet in Delhi. The situation is ripe for disputes. Last month, half of the cable population of Delhi was cut off from watching the hit game show Kaun Banega Crorepati because Star TV, owner of the show, said it was not being paid for content by Siticable.