[icernet] Set top boxes, pay channels and free channels

[Arul Selvan]

   In foreign countries, pay channels are free from advertisements. But 
in our country pay channels do carry advertisements. India being a huge 
market place, the earnings of broadcasters through advertisements on 
satellite channels are ever increasing. Once a suitable amendment is 
made to bar advertisements in the transmission of pay channels, all the 
broadcasters will be compelled to declare all their channels as free to 
air channels. 

Government acquired many controls from the Cable Television Networks 
(Regulation) Act, 1995, its amendments and the rules made there-under. 
But there is no explicit provision to prevent advertisements in the 
transmission of pay channels. Once a suitable amendment is made to bar 
advertisements in the transmission of pay channels, all the broadcasters 
will be compelled to declare all their channels as free-to-air channels. 
The broadcasters cannot afford to lose their earnings from 
advertisements. Consequently, the STBs would become unnecessary and the 
public would be saved from investing on STBs. The channels like, 
National Geography, Discovery and Animal Planet which are watched by 
children and adults with equal enthusiasm would become in the process 
free-to-air channels.

The amendment to the said Act, 1995 can be simple but at the same time 
effective. Section 4A of the Act in its explanation at clause (f) reads, 
" `pay channel,' in respect of a cable television network, means a 
channel the reception of which by the subscriber would require the use 
of an addressable system to be attached to his receiver set." The clause 
(f) can be amended by adding at its end the sentence. "Pay channel shall 
be free from advertisements."

Source:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/op/2003/06/17/stories/2003061700050200.htm