5th July, 2003
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting  


GOVERNMENT FOR SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION OF CAS

Representatives of cable operators’ associations, multi-service operators and pay channel broadcasters met Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting (Independent Charge) here yesterday. The meeting was preceded by the deliberations they had with Ministry representatives to evolve a roadmap for the smooth implementation of the Conditional Access System (CAS) from July14, as notified by the Government under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

Sections of the media, reporting on the meeting, have suggested that implementation of CAS has been postponed to September. This is misleading.

The twin objectives of CAS, based on the principle that "consumers can choose what they wish to watch and pay only for what they watch", are: (i) the cable operator shall charge only Rs. 72 per month plus taxes for the basic tier of Free-to-Air channels; and (ii) pay channel viewers shall pay, additionally, only for the pay channels of their choice using a set-top-box. The meeting addressed both issues constructively.

Representatives of cable operators’ associations, multi-service operators and pay channel broadcasters present at the meeting agreed before the Minister on the following:

1: All of them stand committed to the implementation of CAS in the interest of the consumer and for ensuring regulated growth of the cable TV industry.

2: Cable operators will charge only Rs. 72 per month plus taxes for all channels, including all available pay channels, from all cable TV customers from August 1 onwards.

3: The period between July 14 and August 31 will be used primarily for creating consumer awareness about CAS, procurement of set-top boxes by cable operators and MSOs, and for broadcasters of pay channels to conduct promotional campaigns.

4: Each of the four notified metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai) would be divided into four zones for the purpose of staggered roll-out of the addressable system of transmission of pay channels.

5: From September 1 onwards in Zone A in each metro, pay channels can be watched only with the use of STBs. Pay channel consumers in this zone will be charged, in addition to the price of the basic tier plus taxes, only for the individual channels of their choice as per the pre-announced rates set for them. Consumers of Free-to-Air channels, who will not need an STB, will be charged only Rs. 72 per month plus taxes. In zones B, C, and D, cable operators will charge only Rs. 72 per month plus taxes for all channels, including all available pay channels.

6: From October 1 onwards in Zone B in each metro, pay channels can be watched only with the use of STBs. Pay channel consumers in this zone will be charged, in addition to the price of the basic tier plus taxes, only for the channels of their choice as per the pre-announced rates set for them. Consumers of Free-to-Air channels, who will not need an STB, will be charged only Rs. 72 per month plus taxes. In zones C and D, cable operators will charge only Rs. 72 per month plus taxes for all channels, including all available pay channels.

7: From November 1 onwards in Zone C in each metro, pay channels can be watched only with the use of STBs. Pay channel consumers in this zone will be charged, in addition to the price of the basic tier plus taxes, only for the individual channels of their choice as per the pre-announced rates set for them. Consumers of Free-to-Air channels, who will not need an STB, will be charged only Rs. 72 per month plus taxes. In zones D, cable operators will charge only Rs. 72 per month plus taxes for all channels, including all available pay channels.

8: From December 1 onwards in Zone D in each metro, pay channels can be watched only with the use of STBs. Pay channel consumers in this zone will be charged, in addition to the price of the basic tier plus taxes, only for the individual channels of their choice as per the pre-announced rates set for them. Consumers of Free-to-Air channels, who will not need an STB, will be charged only Rs. 72 per month plus taxes.

Thus, the staggered roll-out of the addressable system for pay channel transmission will be completed on December 1 in all parts of the four metros.

The Minister thanked all the participants for their cooperation and assured them that the Ministry would take their agreed roadmap into account before deciding its next step.
 
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