Calcutta, April 7 :     AXN and TNT today succeeded in convincing cable operators to end the blackout on their channels in a few days, even as STAR TV?s attempts at negotiation were cold shouldered. ?Talks with STAR cannot be casual and have to be treated cautiously as it is the main culprit behind promoting a dual policy and trying to break our unity,? a cable operator said. Even though RPG Netcom has agreed to mediate talks between STAR officials and the cable operators, it seems unlikely any concrete discussion will take place in the next few days, considering today?s mediation bid was a failure. Sorting out problems with AXN and TNT is first on the cable operators? agenda. The joint action committee of the unions will meet AXN officials tomorrow. TNT will meet them for a final round of talks on Friday. According to sources who attended today?s meeting, TNT was confronted with tough-talking cable operators who demanded a substantial discount on the current rate. Since the local officials are not empowered to take a decision, the TNT country-wide chief has been sounded and the head office will have the final say. AXN, which met the cable operators informally for the second time today, offered a percentage discount on the basic rate of Rs 4.50 for a fixed time frame. This would entail special rates that will be split between multi-system operators like RPG Netcom and SitiCable, a portion for independent cable operators and another to medium size operators in rural areas. As AXN, too, needs clearance from its head office, final negotiations are slated for tomorrow. The broadcasters have no intention of prolonging the stand-off and are not in favour of alienating cable operators either, a source said. Shankar Chatterjee, secretary of Cable TV Operators Association, the largest and oldest union, said: ?We would not like to talk about the offers we made to TNT and AXN today. Negotiations are on and they have agreed to get in touch in a couple of days. We need these discounts as more channels are turning pay and our average cost per subscriber is Rs 155. After all, the cables, which are our assets, lie in the open. The depreciation and upgradation expense for these cables is huge. Besides, it is an unorganised industry and there is unhealthy competition.? Even as cable operators tried to make the best of the blackout, explanations are being handed out to subscribers. A cable union in Hooghly has issued a leaflet, clarifying its stand. ?The step has been taken to protect the interest of the viewers and also retain the business of cable operators. The spurt in free-to-air channels turning pay will prompt a huge increase in subscription rates.? Subscribers, who paid a substantial amount for the the installation as well as upgradation of connections with operators like RPG Netcom, are fuming. ?They have handed us a leaflet, informing of an increase in the subscription rate to Rs 150 along with an additional Rs 300 on an annual basis for the pay channels,? a subscriber in Salt Lake said. A New Alipore resident more vehement when he said: ?The cable operators here charge Rs 200. And, now if they come around and ask for more or keep the channels blacked out we will take them to the consumer court.?