[icernet] Govt Dismisses Pay Channel Price List

[Arul Selvan]

Even as the government has not fixed any deadline for broadcasters and 
MSOs to return with consumer-friendly channel prices for the conditional 
access system (CAS), Mr Chopra made it clear that the government would 
come down heavily on errant broadcasters. All along, I&B minister Ravi 
Shankar Prasad has been talking about a monthly cable bill of Rs 200 for 
all pay channels, free-to-air channels and a monthly rental for set-top 
boxes. As broadcasters failed to follow the 
consumer-friendly
 line, 
the government has decided to act tough now.

In a media briefing following the meeting, Mr Chopra spoke about taking 
coercive measures against broadcasters if they did not 
quickly come 
with a reasonable package
. Not elaborating on what the coercive steps 
would be, he said the government had the option of amending the Cable TV 
Act and introducing regulatory mechanisms. He said if 
(consumer-friendly) prices of channels are not declared soon, without 
giving any deadline, theyll have to either go free-to-air or off air.

Source:
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=36514