DECODERS: THE CUSTOMS HURDLE

The launch of Hallmark, Kermit and Animal Planet channels in digital and encrypted mode over India continues to be a big question mark. The three channels were targeted to debut in January sometime but have failed to make their appearance following the customs refusal to clear the digital-receivers-decoders. The Delhi branch of the customs says that the channel managements imported the boxes under a wrong Custom's import classification and hence are liable to pay additional penalties.

The Lalit Modi-headed Modi Entertainment group (MEG) and Discovery managements have been pleading with the authorities for the past month or so but have singularly failed to get their boxes cleared.

As of last weekend, Discovery India CEO Kiran Karnik was hopeful that the green signal for the boxes would come by this week. MEG was also hoping that it would be able to launch the two channels some time later this month.