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NEW DELHI: In a bid to facilitate digitisation, multi-system operators (MSOs) have urged regulatory body TRAI to extend the benefits of the regulatory framework of conditional access system (CAS) to consumers who have voluntarily opted for the system even in non-CAS areas. If accepted, this would mean a [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]cable [COLOR=blue! important]television[/color][/color][/color] viewer in a city like Bangalore who has opted for CAS would be served channels with a price ceiling of Rs 5 per channel.
The idea behind this is that till the government comes up with a notification to extend [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]CAS[/color][/color] across the country, those who are voluntarily choosing the service can avail of its benefits. MSO Alliance president Ashok Mansukhani said: “The I&B ministry has clearly expressed its hesitation to extend CAS to non-notified areas. However, most MSOs are making individual efforts to offer CAS in these areas. Since CAS notification is taking so much time, at least the regulatory framework can be extended to encourage the consumer to shift to CAS voluntarily.”
Almost all MSOs are hardselling [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]digital [COLOR=blue! important]cable[/color][/color][/color] to consumers in these areas in a bid to fight the competition from direct to home(DTH). However, lack of regulatory framework means, this is just plain vanilla digital cable as of now.
Essel Group executive vice-president Avnindra Mohan said: “We are offering CAS through a set-top box to several consumers outside the notified areas. However, it is not taking off as we are not offering digital cable at a similar pricing platform as we can in CAS notified areas.”
For the consumers it would mean better technology and more choice at a cheaper rate. This would be through MSOs offering a la carte’ bouquet of television channels with a maximum price tag of Rs 5 per channel as against the conventional cable operators who charge around Rs 300 per connection every month.
'Extend CAS benefits to non-CAS area'- Media-Media / Entertainment -News By Industry-News-The Economic Times
The idea behind this is that till the government comes up with a notification to extend [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]CAS[/color][/color] across the country, those who are voluntarily choosing the service can avail of its benefits. MSO Alliance president Ashok Mansukhani said: “The I&B ministry has clearly expressed its hesitation to extend CAS to non-notified areas. However, most MSOs are making individual efforts to offer CAS in these areas. Since CAS notification is taking so much time, at least the regulatory framework can be extended to encourage the consumer to shift to CAS voluntarily.”
Almost all MSOs are hardselling [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]digital [COLOR=blue! important]cable[/color][/color][/color] to consumers in these areas in a bid to fight the competition from direct to home(DTH). However, lack of regulatory framework means, this is just plain vanilla digital cable as of now.
Essel Group executive vice-president Avnindra Mohan said: “We are offering CAS through a set-top box to several consumers outside the notified areas. However, it is not taking off as we are not offering digital cable at a similar pricing platform as we can in CAS notified areas.”
For the consumers it would mean better technology and more choice at a cheaper rate. This would be through MSOs offering a la carte’ bouquet of television channels with a maximum price tag of Rs 5 per channel as against the conventional cable operators who charge around Rs 300 per connection every month.
'Extend CAS benefits to non-CAS area'- Media-Media / Entertainment -News By Industry-News-The Economic Times
