A cable operator will have to offer his consumers a minimum of 33 free-to-air channels including three from Doordarshan, in the basic tier under the conditional access system to be introduced in the country soon.
The decision to give a minimum of 33 channels was taken at a meeting between the cable operators and the information & broadcasting ministry chaired by joint secretary Rakesh Mohan this morning.
A director from the ministry of finance was also present at the meeting.
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However, no consensus on the price of the basic tier could be reached. Cable industry sources say that while the independent cable operators wanted to be allowed to charge a minimum of Rs 3 per free-to-air channel per month, the multi-system operators, especially those with interests in broadcasting as well, were keen to fix a much lower tariff of Rs 30 for the entire bouquet.
Cable operators allege at for a price as low as Rs 30 for the basic tier, the cable industry would become sick.