Channels get time till June 15

The channels will have to decide whether they want to remain free-to-air or pay and declare their intentions to the consumers accordingly.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is also likely to come out with a second notification that will ask broadcasters to state the price of their channels — individually.

‘‘Channels cannot get away by stating that a clutch of four channels will be available for Rs 60. They will have to spell out the pricing of each and every individual channel on their platform,’’ sources in the ministry said. This, officials say, will also bring down the price of channels.

As of now, operators are confused whether they should import the set-top boxes required for receiving the pay channels once the deadline comes into effect.

Meanwhile, channels are using everything in their armour to bring home the message of the box — albeit a warped one.

While Star has lined its anchors drawn from its prime time serials to endorse the set-top box, priced at Rs 7,000, Sony and ESPN (Harsha Bhogle) too are talking to viewers on the price of the box.

Broadcasters say that the focus on the high-end box (digital) stems from the operators’ fear that there will be no takers for them.The truth, Government sources say, is somewhere in between. ‘‘Boxes will be available between Rs 3,000 and above. The price could go low depending on the demand for the boxes. And the channels are not talking of lower-end boxes,’’ officials in the I&B ministry said.