New Delhi, Aug 22: Government said today that channel pricing after the Conditional Access System is implemented in a phased manner across the country will depend upon market dynamics and that it will have no role in fixing prices. The government has only fixed the maximum price for free-to-air channels and the number of such channels that every cable operator will have to show. Addressing the media after inaugurating the Hathway digital CAS here, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Pavan Chopra said, "It is impossible to have arbitrary pricing in a transparent market. Post CAS, the total cable bill will depend purely on market dynamics". Asked what had happened to the government's assertion that the total cable bill of consumers post CAS will not exceed Rs 200-250, Chopra said the government cannot fix prices of channels.

On how will the CAS become operational if majority of consumers had not bought the mandatory set-top boxes and were still awaiting announcements by broadcasters on individual and bouquet channel prices, he said "everything will happen... Let the process begin. I believe channel prices should be announced shortly."

To a question on what action the government proposed to take against those cable operators who have decided not to abide by the 'Rs 72 plus taxes' package but charge Rs 180 for non-CAS areas, Chopra said re-dressal mechanisms were being put in place. Bureau Report