| What's more, this message was stated in
no uncertain terms today by additional secretary (broadcasting) in
the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry Vijay Singh and
later by the I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to MSOs and cable
ops at separate meetings.
Prasad, who met representatives of MSOs and independent cable ops
today, said the government wants four of the following assurances
from industry:
* Availability of STBs for the consumers;
* Availability of the boxes at an affordable price;
* Proper servicing and maintenance of the boxes; and
* Making available to the consumer cable services without arm-twisting
them.
When an independent cable operator brought up the issue of delaying
tactics being allegedly employed by the broadcasters where announcement
of the prices of pay channels is concerned, Prasad is reported to
have allayed any such fears saying that the government would take
steps, if necessary, to make the broadcasters fall in line.
A cable operator from Delhi, Rakesh Dutta, also suggested that
cross service restrictions of 20 per cent as in KU-band DTH ventures
should be put in place to stop the broadcasters from manipulating
the market, especially when a broadcaster also has interest in a
ground distribution company. The examples of Zee Cable's interest
in Siti Cable and Star's in Rajan Raheja-controlled Hathway Datacom
were cited in this regard.
However, the I&B minister is reported to have not made any
commitment on this issues today.
Earlier in the day, in a stock-taking meeting that additional secretary
Singh had with MSOs and independent cable operators, various issues
relating to CAS and its rollout from 14 July was discussed.
According to some of those who attended today's meetings, the ministry
official sought assurances from the industry on the availability
of STBs --- something, which indiantelevision.com learns from sources,
were immediately given by the MSOs represented in the meeting.
Singh is also understood to have told those present in the meeting
that the government has given the broadcasters time up to 10 June
to furnish details regarding the channels they operate in India,
the nature of the channels (whether FTA or pay) and, more importantly,
the individual pricing of the pay channels.
The ministry has recently shot off another missive to broadcasters
citing an earlier letter dated 20 May saying that details requested
for have not reached the ministry yet and should be done immediately
and not later than 10 June.
The details sought by the ministry include the names and number
of channels operated by a broadcasting company, channels categorised
as "pay" channels, the pricing of the pay channels (separately
for individual channels and for the bouquet), the names and number
of FTA operated by a broadcasting company, brief description of
the content of each of these channels (both pay and free-to-air).
Those who attended today's meetings included representatives from
Siti Cable, INCableNet, Hathway and independent cable operators
like Dutta, Roop Sharma. The surprise package of the day was National
Cable& Telecom Association president Vikky Chowdhry, who was
invited to today's meeting, but is not a member of the government-piloted
task force on CAS.
The government may meet the broadcasters also separately as part
of an initiative to ensure a smooth rollout of CAS in the face of
stiff resistance
and criticism from various political parties, including the Bharatiya
Janata Party that leads India's coalition government.
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