Setting aside differences over the implementation of the conditional access system, broadcasters and cable operators have decided to join hands to fight piracy of pay channels in CAS areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

This is the first instance in recent times when broadcasters and multi-system operators have come together on issues related to CAS.

A sub-committee under the Indian Broadcasting Federation, apex body of broadcasters and the cable industry, has been formed to tackle piracy.

The committee would study the feasibility of individual fingerprinting of decoders to identify cable operators indulging in piracy in a particular locality, experts said.

"The committee has representation from both broadcasters and multi-system operators," an industry observer said.

Under CAS, consumers can watch pay channels only via a set-top box. But some cable operators indulge in illegal transmission of pay channels without set-top boxes.

According to estimates, piracy in the CAS area of South Delhi alone results in a monthly loss of Rs 8-9 crore to the cable and broadcasting industry. Around 2.8 lakh households with cable in south Delhi have set-top boxes. However, the industry estimates that another 1-lakh plus receive pirated pay channels.

"The sub-committee will also help resolve disputes between broadcasters and MSOs over commercial terms and any loss of revenue due to non-encryption of pay channels," a source close to the development said.

The broadcasters and the cable industry earlier used to accuse each other of not tackling piracy in the CAS areas.

The move is significant because the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has begun consultations for the rollout of CAS in 55 more cities from 2008. "If broadcasters and MSOs join hands to combat piracy in three cities, the expansion of CAS in 55 cities will be much smoother," an industry observer said.

Rampant piracy of pay channels in pockets of Delhi was widely reported in the media in May. It was reported that the cable operators were indulging in distribution of popular pay channels like Star Plus, Sony TV, Zee TV, ESPN and Neo Sports without any set-top box.