Many state governments, which were earlier reluctant to introduce CAS (conditional access system), are now in rethink mode, it is learnt.
NEW DELHI: Many state governments, which were earlier reluctant to introduce CAS (conditional access system), are now in rethink mode, it is learnt.
At a meeting here on Tuesday on the proposed extension of CAS across the country, representatives of several state governments expressed their support for the system, though some raised concerns over piracy issues.
Officials in the information and broadcasting ministry indicated that the government is keen to extend CAS in a phased manner.
But, there would be another meeting before the implementation dates are announced. Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are likely to go through a two-phased extension of CAS.
Also, CAS implementation is expected to be completed across 55 cities by the year 2011, it is learnt.
Growth of another broad casting platform-direct-to-home (DTH)- in the recent years is believed to have changed the views of states and other stakeholders as far as CAS is concerned.
“Now there’s a realisation that digital transmission is the only way forward,” a source who attended the meeting said.
A broadcaster suggested that the government should not allow any new channel to operate on the analogue mode, to ensure growth of digitisation.
Another stakeholder who attended the meeting said that a DSO Fund (Digital Service Obligation Fund) should be floated, on the lines of the USO (Universal Service Obligation Fund) in the telecom sector.
A part of the broadcasters’ licence fee can go towards the proposed DSO to help boost initiatives on digital transmission.
CAS is all about accessing TV channels of your choice through a set-top box at your home or office. Ideally, CAS is offered on digital (and not on analogue) mode. Currently, CAS is effective in select parts of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, besides all of Chennai.
The regulator, Trai, recently recommended that CAS could be extended to all of the four metros and 55 more cities in phases. Top officials of the information and broadcasting ministry, representatives of Trai, broadcasters, and cable operators attended the meeting on CAS on Tuesday.
m_nivedita@dnaindia.net
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