'Broadcasters trying to derail CAS'

Accusing broadcasters of trying to 'derail' implementation of the conditional access system, cable operators on Thursday asked the government to take stern steps against channels, which did not disclose their rates.

"It is now evident that Star TV, Sony TV and ESPN Star Sports channel broadcasters want to derail the implementation of CAS and have no intentions of complying with government directives," the National Cable and Telecommunication Association said in a letter to Pawan Chopra, secretary, information and broadcasting.

It said broadcasters were still not prepared with the final details on the channel rates and have devised a 'super tier aimed at forcing the entire lot of pay channels down the throat of the Indian cable TV viewers.'

Describing the practice as undesirable, it said this will not enable the cable operators to declare rates of individual channels as required by a June 6 notification.

It urged government to strictly implement the notification, which said channels which did not disclose their policy or pricing by June 15 will not be carried by cable networks after July 14 when CAS rolls out in the four metros.

"This will be the most effective step in protecting the consumer interests also it will compel these channels to either go free-to-air or declare their stand alone individual pay channel prices," it said.

Meanwhile, the CAS issue also figured at a meeting additional secretary Vijay Singh had with cable operators on the Headend In The Sky proposal. The cable operators wanted the government to be tough on the broadcasters.

The government expressed hope that the broadcasters would behave 'rationally,' Singh said.

The government feels the a la carte rates of pay channels given by the broadcasters made a mockery of television viewers in a city where the high-end consumer paid Rs 400 for getting all channels.

At a meeting convened by Chopra on Wednesday, broadcasters gave a rate list of pay channels going by which the consumer may have to pay over Rs 500 to get all pay and free-to-air channels under the CAS regime.