The Hindu : Stalemate over CAS persists

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2003

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Stalemate over CAS persists

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 30. Though time is running out fast, the Government today did not come any closer to ensuring a "seamless" transition to the Conditional Access System (CAS) in four cities after a crucial meeting of broadcasters with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry failed to break the ongoing stalemate.

Uncertain about the availability of Set-Top Boxes (STBs) — needed to access pay channels post-CAS — and instructed by the Prime Minister to ensure that consumers are not inconvenienced, the I&B Ministry is now talking about a `dual feed' system. Under this, people can continue with the existing system till adequate boxes are available in the market without the threat of the penal provisions in the CAS legislation while those who have opted for CAS can switchover.

Should the Ministry settle for `dual feed', those opting for CAS will be able to access pay channels only through STBs at the new rates offered by broadcasters which still do not fall within the promised Rs. 200 limit. Others can continue to watch cable television for existing rates as the broadcasters have said that they would not increase the prices of their pay channels for the next six months.

At today's meeting which lasted about three hours — the last hour being with the Union Minister of State for I&B, Ravi Shankar Prasad — the broadcasters submitted individual rates for their pay channels. Though today's rates were lower than what was suggested about a fortnight ago, the Minister said they still would not bring the cable bill — for free-to-air, pay and monthly rental for STBs — post-CAS to Rs. 200.

Sticking to the deadline for the implementation of CAS, the Minister, however, confirmed that the Government would not make STBs mandatory for viewing pay channels after July 15 when CAS is scheduled to roll out in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. "Various suggestions came up at today's meeting and we will apply our mind to the available mechanisms to find a way to introduce CAS without any dislocation."

Even as the Ministry indicated that the `dual feed' option would be actively considered, cable operators/Multi-System Operators (MSOs) were quick to reject it saying it was not technically feasible. However, according to Ministry officials, cable operators/MSOs had themselves informed the Government that it was technically feasible; at least in Delhi and Mumbai where digital technology was being used.

While the availability of STBs is officially being cited by the Government as reason for its growing inclination to adopt a lenient approach to the implementation of CAS, Ministry officials said differences between various stake-holders had created a number of hurdles in the smooth rollover to the new regime.

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Set-Top Boxes not to be mandatory?

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