Facing a growing threat from direct-to-home service providers, which are fast acquiring subscribers in non-conditional access system areas, the cable industry wants the implementation of the system in all the areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

However, it is divided on the time-frame and the manner of implementation.

CAS came into effect from January 1 in some areas of south Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata after a Delhi High Court order. It allows viewers to pay for only the content they want to watch through a set-top box.

In a meeting with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India  on Thursday, while cable operators pressed for a voluntary rollout of CAS in the three metros in a phased manner, the multi-system operators voured mandatory implementation, and that too at one go.

However, there was unanimity that CAS should be implemented in all the three metros and that the DTH operators were taking advantage of the slow rollout of CAS to acquire new subscribers. "DTH players are giving free set-top boxes and acquiring customers in non-CAS areas. We are getting effected by the delay in the complete rollout," said Roop Sharma, president of New Delhi-based Cable Operators' Federation.

The government and Trai will meet broadcasters and consumer organisations to take their view on the rollout of CAS in the rest of the areas in the three metros. "There will be at least four to five meetings before a decision is taken," a senior ministry official said.

However, opinion was divided on whether the shift to CAS should be voluntary (that is, whether customers can watch the same channels, including the paid ones, either through a set-top box which provides them better quality or go through the analog cable).
"We want a staggered rollout of CAS and that too voluntary," said Vikky Choudhary, a south Delhi cable operator who heads an association of independent cable operators. "CAS has been poorly received in the three metros because it was done mandatorily and at one go. In order to avoid blackout of pay channels, let the government enforce CAS selectively and zone-wise," Choudhary said.