Date:26/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112659901000.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Arasu Cable to implement CAS

N. Anand

CHENNAI: Following a delay by Sun TV group in sharing its digital feeds for re-transmission, Arasu Cable TV Corporation has decided to implement Conditional Access System (CAS) throughout the State.

“Considering the hesitation on the part of Sun TV management in parting with its bouquet of channels including Sun and K TV, we may go in for voluntary CAS. Under CAS, the broadcaster cannot deny signal as the end user alone can decide whether to avail of any pay channel or not. Moreover, we need not have to seek permission from others for going in for voluntary CAS,” Arasu Cable managing director C. Umashankar told The Hindu on Tuesday.

As per TRAI regulations, Rs.5 per month alone can be collected for each pay channel. Moreover, providing a set top box to each subscriber in the State would lead to an investment of nearly Rs.300 crore.

“Sun TV management has demanded Rs.50 crore from us every month, while we have invested only Rs.31 crore to establish this unit. Our plea that the amount can be charged per user as per the available figures did not yield the desired result. Hence, the amount to be invested in the set top boxes at this juncture would not be considered disproportionate. We will recover the cost of the set top boxes from the subscribers over a period of time,” Mr. Umashankar said.

Mr. Umashankar said that the rollout of Arasu Cable TV services in Chennai will be delayed further due to lack of proper infrastructure. The rollout is now expected to take place somewhere in January.