News Bureau,

I.&C.A. Department

Government of West Bengal

Writers Buildings, Kolkata 1

No.377(50)-ICA/NB/PR

CHIEF SECRETARY'S LETTER TO ADDITIONAL SECRETARY, I&B, MINISTRY

Dated September 5, 2003

Dear Shri (Vijay) Singh,

Kindly refer to your D.O. No.9/1/2000-BP&L(Vol.IV) dated September 3, 2003 and related correspondences and discussions on the proposed implementation of CAS in Kolkata. After receiving the D.O. letter dated September 1, 2003 from Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, I asked the Secretary, Information & Cultural Affairs Department to convene a meeting of the MSOs, representatives of the cable operators and consumer groups to assess the field realities and associated problems. The issues that emerged in the said meeting are briefly stated below:

The consumers are still not convinced that the system is as consumer friendly as it is claimed to be. Had it been so, there was no case for deferment of its implementation in Delhi in view of the "Impending Assembly Election".

CAS has not yet been implemented in Mumbai and conditions in Chennai are not comparable with those in Kolkata. Whereas in Chennai, majority of the consumers watch free to air regional channels, in Kolkata there is a sizeable viewership of the popular pay channels. This is because of the mixed population in Kolkata having different cultural affinities and tastes.

Consumers are also not sure of the availability, price and conditions for procuring the STBs. Freedom to switchover to channels of their choice at short notice is also likely to be curtailed in the proposed system.

Consumers are still not aware of the likely price of pay channel packages as some of the broadcasters reportedly have not yet declared their prices even to MSOs. They feel that the choice of their favoured channels may be too costly for them to bear and that the new system is likely to be more industry friendly than consumer friendly. In any case, the element of cross subsidy now prevailing in the economically backward areas which the consumers enjoy would be discontinued after the introduction of CAS.

Serious public grievances leading to law and order situation in the field are not ruled out in case of hasty implementation of CAS. Since it has not yet been implemented in Delhi and Mumbai, there is a feeling that Kolkata is being singled out as a ground of experiment results of which are still unknown.

Issues narrated above are only illustrative and not exhaustive. Apart from the points raised in my earlier letter regarding selection of the zone, legal and enforcement matters, there are various other problems which need to be sorted out. You are also aware that Sarodotsav will start in Kolkata later this month and introduction of CAS right now may disturb the festive season.

Under the circumstances, the State Government still feels that the system should be introduced in all the Metros simultaneously after sorting out al the related issues. I would, therefore, request you to kindly convene a meeting of the State Governments concerned for working out the modalities of simultaneous introduction of CAS in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

( S.N. Roy )

Shri Vijay Singh,
Additional Secretary,
Govt. of India,
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting,
New Delhi - 110 001.