[icernet] Just in CASe, Govt hurries with Direct to Home service

[Arul Selvan]

  Finance Ministry clears DTH project  forget CAS troubles, your 
cablewallah may soon be history. The DTH requires a one-time investment 
of Rs 6,000 on a set-top box and a pizza-sized dish to receive signals 
from a satellite. The rest is free. Because the Prasar Bharati 
Corporation is a public service broadcaster, it has decided to keep its 
DTH operation free. This means the consumer does not have to subscribe 
to the channels  he gets them free. And being digitally transmitted, he 
neednt worry about the quality either.

The Finance Ministry has said yes to the Prasar Bharati Corporations 
DTH project. At a meeting of the Expenditure Finance Committee on 
Friday, the corporation was given the approval to start its DTH 
operations. Just in case you are wondering why the Government is pushing 
through with DTH, when it is still battling for CAS, its because in all 
evolved markets, whether it be the US, or UK  the consumer gets the 
first right to choose what he wants. DTH, cable service, Conditional 
Access System or terrestrial transmission, all can co-exist, say 
sources in the corporation. As for the goodies on the plate, the 
corporation will be wooing broadcasters and niche channels around the 
world to join its platform for a token fee. They can make money through 
advertisements. The bait? The entire country gets connected, including 
the North East. So far, three players have applied for DTH licences  
Agrani, Essel Shyam (promoted by Zee), and Space TV (backed by Star)  
all of whom have been issued letters of intent. Once they deposit a sum 
of Rs 10 crore, applications will be scrutinised by Home, Defence and 
Communication ministries.

Source:
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=25404