Painting a rosy picture for millions of television users, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said the consumer would be king once CAS (Controlled Access System) and DTH (Direct to Home) compete with each other. Prasad was trying to allay members’ fears about television-watching becoming expensive once installing set-top boxes (STBs) was made necessary during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today. Prasad said in advanced countries like the UK and US too, DTH and CAS were being used simultaneously. I&B Ministry mulls regulatory body NEW DELHI: The I&B Ministry is contemplating an independent Broadcasting Regulatory Authority of India on the lines of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to keep a check on the Indian media scene. I&B Minister Ravi Shakar Prasad said in Rajya Sabha that the need for an independent regulatory authority was felt with enormous developments in the broadcasting sector. (ENS) However, he clarified that while the Government was determined to go ahead with the implementation of CAS in the four metros by September 1, the set-top boxes would not be imposed on consumers. There is no problem ‘‘if people are happy with some 30 free-to-air channels’’, he said. Reassuring consumers that STBs would not be as expensive as people thought, the minister said the cost of the digital STB would range between Rs 2,500 to Rs 2,700 and the analogue between Rs 1,800 and 2,000. The STBs would also be available for a monthly rental of Rs 30, he said. Singh said once CAS and DTH were implemented, India would enter a new technological era. ‘‘If you want an industrial revolution.do not stall efforts to bring in CAS,’’ he said. The minister was repeatedly interrupted by Opposition members who said the Government was in a hurry to implement CAS. Prasad was taken by surprise when Shiv Sena member Sanjay Nirupam announced that ‘‘the Shiv Sena would not allow implementation of CAS in Mumbai.’’ Nirupam said the Hindujas had tried to impose CAS on Mumbai consumers and it boomeranged. Prasad, however, pleaded ignorance on the matter. CPI(M)’s Sarla Maheshwari wondered how India could squander away huge foreign exchange reserves on buying set top boxes. ‘‘Is there any lobby at work?’’ she asked.
