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As CAS is not in public interest, there is a lot of political pressure from various quarters not to implement it in the city, according to the Federation of Cable Operators Assocaition in Mumbai.
"Even the consumer guidance societies, who were initially interested in the implementation of CAS, are not favouring now and the Maharashtra government's directive to implement in at least south Mumbai is also ruled out with the pressure from Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray," president of the Federation Ravi Singh told PTI on Saturday.
"We expect that the Centre itself will announce non-implementation in the next week and we have no plans as of today to start CAS from September 1," he said.
Earlier this week, Thackeray had said he is not in favour of CAS in the metropolis and wondered "as to why the government is marketing the new system."
| CAS woes |
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Chennai, Kolkata too may not implement CAS West Bengal government too says CAS should not me launched now Demand for set top boxes extremely poor in Chennai |
"I have already told Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shanker Prasad that implement CAS first in New Delhi..if it is successful there, then introduce it in Mumbai," Thackeray had said.
"Let people decide whether they want CAS or not..why is the government marketing it," the Sena chief questioned.
The scenario is no different in Chennai. Even as uncertainty rules over the mode of its implementation, president of Tamil Nadu Cable TV Owners Association Kayal Ilavarasu said, very few people have actually opted for set top boxes.
"We are ready to implement the government's directive on CAS but we can't do it as of now because it is yet to come out with a concrete structure."
In Kolkata too, the left front government has expressed strong opposition to its implementation as they feel that the Centre has taken a decision on the matter without holding any discussion with the concerned states.
"We do not want immediate implementation of CAS. Let the Centre take the respective state governments into confidence before implementing it," Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee said on Friday evening.
No demand for STBs in Chennai
While both the Hathway Communications Private Limited and Sumangali Cable Vision, the two MSOs, were offering the STBs needed for CAS, not many had purchased them, he said.
Another dimension was added to the issue on Friday with a consumer challenging implementation of CAS in the Madras high court on the ground that no basic requirement for the system had been put in place. The petition is likely to be heard on Monday.
Hathway has also come out with a monthly rental scheme for providing STBs under which a refundable deposit of Rs 999 and a monthly rental of Rs 20 had to be made.
"As September 1 drew closer, SCV was expecting people to queue up for STBs, being sold outright by the company. But we are disappointed at the poor response of consumers to the STBs," a company sources said.
"Cable TV operators are also not clear about the bouquets offered by the Star, Sony and Zee TV networks and sports channels like ESPN, Star and Ten Sports," IIavarasu said.
TV viewers are also confused about cable operators' claim that once the STB's were put into place the number of free channels would rise from the present 30 odd to nearly 100.
Cable TV operators feel that the lack of response was also due to viewers awaiting a final announcement on the Direct to Home service by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
Asked why operators were not protesting the imposition of CAS on the people of Chennai when the city obviously seemed unprepared for the system, IIavarasu said, "CAS has not been implemented in Delhi and Mumbai for political reasons. Besides, elections are due in Delhi. Unfortunately no one has taken up our cause," he lamented.
Left Front opposes CAS
The state government's opposition to September 1 launch of CAS in the southern parts of the city has left the MSOs in the city a confused lot as they have already made all preparations for Monday's launch.
Bhattacharjee also suggested that the Centre should form a committee and ascertain the views of the governments, the operators and consumers, adding, his government has already written to the information and broadcasting secretary in this regard.
Till now, however, no communication has been received from the I & B Ministry in connection with any deferment of CAS.
Sources at leading MSOs of the city, however, said that they have already spent a substantial amount in upgrading their system as well as procuring STBs and any deferment at this stage would result in huge losses to them.