Guwahati, April 17: Cinema producers in Assam have demanded that private satellite channels should pay a producer Rs 1 lakh for the telecast of every movie.

The producers, under the banner of All Assam Cinema Producers' Association, said local television channels pay them only Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 as telecast fee.

The demand follows the launch of Indradhanu, a movie channel to promote Assamese cinema. The channel has three slots - 11am, 3.30pm and 10.30pm - for movies. Assamese movies, classics and newly released films will be telecast in the 3.30pm slot.

"Producers now get Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 only as telecast fee from local satellite channels. As many producers are new, they don't argue. But private channels earn a lot of money by telecasting these movies," said Junmoni Devi Khound, producer-cum-director and general secretary of the association. She said the association had requested all local producers not to sign any agreement at less than Rs 1 lakh per telecast.

The association was formed in 2013 and claims a membership of about 90 per cent producers of Assamese films.

"When satellite channels were first launched in the state, we gave them our movies at a very nominal rate. The condition of Assamese film industry was very bad at that time so we tried to promote Assamese cinema. But now the condition has changed. Many young people are making cinemas and if they don't get proper returns, our industry will be in a pathetic condition again," said Pulak Gogoi, veteran producer-cum-director and adviser to the association.

He said the association had discussed the matter with local TV channels recently but they did not agree to the fee of Rs 1 lakh. "We will not agree to a rate that harms a producer," Gogoi said.

According to the association, Assamese producers are deprived from "all sides". It alleged that hallowners prefer Hindi films and do not screen Assamese ones for more than a week. Because of this alleged "nexus of hallowners and distributors", the 50 per cent entertainment tax exemption by the Assam government to cinema halls, including multiplexes, to encourage local films does not work, it contended.

Sources said the situation is changing in the Assamese film industry. Around eight to 10 movies are released every year and a popular Assamese film can now earn a profit of Rs 30 lakh and Rs 40 lakh. Many young producers have also succeeded in international film festivals and have set a new trend in local cinema with their experiments.