Cable TV channels in lakhs of homes in Bangalore went blank on Thursday as operators went on an indefinite strike, demanding that the Karnataka government withdraw the 150 per cent increase in entertainment tax.

Sudhish Kumar, spokesperson for the Karnataka State Cable TV Operators Association, which is spearheading the strike, said the strike, which began at 6 am, was total and would continue till their demand was met.

In the state budget, the government had proposed to increase the monthly entertainment tax on cable operators from Rs 3,000 to Rs 7,500. The measure came into effect on April one.

The association demanded that the step be put on hold till the Conditional Access System was introduced in Bangalore in September-October and threatened to spread the agitation all over Karnataka if their demand was not conceded.

Kumar said there are an estimated 700,000 plus cable homes in Bangalore, serviced by over 1000 cable operators.