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Admitting that the telecom ministry nod would clear a lot of haze
over the DTH project, Tata Sky CEO Vikram Kaushik told Indiantelevision.com
today, "I have heard from the media that we have got a
clearance (from the telecom ministry), but I am yet to receive any
official communication from the
government."
However, Kaushik sounded pleased and said as and when the telecom
ministry clearance is officially communicated to Tata Sky, it would
be a step forward towards obtaining the final licence from the information
and broadcasting ministry.
Still, there are various other clearances from government agencies
that have to be obtained by Tata Sky, which also includes a green
signal from the Wireless Planning and Co-ordination Commission (WPC)
for satellite frequencies to be used by the DTH service.
Tata Sky, a 80:20 joint venture between Tata Sons and the Rupert
Murdoch-controlled Star Group, is proposing to invest up to $ 500
million in capital expenditure in the DTH project that is looking
at beaming 150-odd digital channels to subscribers' homes in India
in the initial phase.
Slated to be serviced through an Insat satellite, which is likely
to be put in geo-stationary orbit later this month, the Tata Sky
DTH project will have to compete with ASC Enterprises-promoted Dish
TV and pubcaster's DD Direct+ for which the subscribers don't have
to pay any monthly fee.
ASC Enterprises LTD is a venture of the Essel Group that is controlled
by Subhash Chandra who is also the main promoter of Zee Telefilms.
Also read:
Insat 4A
to launch on 22 December in French Guyana
Tata-Sky
leases Insat 4A; to offer 150 channels
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