[icernet] Conditional access in Metros makes cable TV costlier

[Arul Selvan]

The notification on the Cable Regulation Network Amendment Act, making 
it mandatory to view pay channels through a conditional access system 
(CAS), came into immediate effect in the four metros. In other words, 
viewers will have to shell out more for watching pay channels like Star, 
Zee, Sony, Discovery, National Geographic, as it will be illegal to 
receive these channels without a CAS. So, subscription bills are 
expected to rise to around Rs 500 per month. Currently, a cable viewer 
pays anything between Rs 100 and Rs 300. As of now, cable operators 
collect roughly Rs 5,000 crores as subscription fee, of which 
broadcasters claim only Rs 500 crores is passed on to them. With the CAS 
in place, broadcasters will hope to gross at least Rs 2,500 crores, to 
begin with.

Source:
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=16685