August subscription rate to be cut
The Centre has decided to implement the conditional access system (CAS) for television viewing in phases from September 1.
Starting on this date, a zone-wise rollout in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai will have to be completed by December 1.
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The move comes despite the government maintaining earlier that the July 14 deadline would not be deferred.
In a move that would cost Rs 200 crore in revenues for broadcasting companies, subscription fees for pay channels will be waived in the four metros in August to help consumers buy set-top boxes.
Consumers in the four cities will thus be charged only Rs 72 and taxes for free-to-air channels as well as for pay channels in the month. The rest of the country will continue to pay the existing prices.
A formal announcement to this effect was likely to be made early next week, government sources told Business Standard.
On his part, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union minister for information and broadcasting, told newspersons here today: