New Delhi, June 05: In a bid to assuage apprehensions about CAS, Union I&B Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today asserted that the government’s policy will be user friendly and will “open a powerful horizon in India”. Government today issued a notification asking cable operators to declare by June 15 the rates of the pay channels. The notification also asks the cable operators to specify by that day which channels were free to air. As a respite, cable consumers will get around 70 free-to-air channels for Rs 72 per month without installing STBs.
“Consumer’s benefit is the priority of government,” said Prasad. He said set-top-boxes (STBs) would introduce a new culture in India. It would turn out to be a convergence tool in Indian households.
He said that a receipt would be issued along with every STB. On the back-side of the receipt, all the terms and conditions would be clearly mentioned featuring warranty, repair and maintenance manner notified by the government.
Incase of an installment purchase, the consumers would cease to pay rent once the price of the STB has been recovered, said Ravi Shankar Prasad.
He urged stakeholders, broadcasters and MSOs to fully cooperate in making the new system a success. He also hoped that CAS is just the beginning and Indian households can soon look forward to easy access to Internet, airwaves and computers.
Recently, government reduced the duty on STBs from 52.8% to 5% percent till July 31, thus cutting their cost almost by half.
Bureau Report