CAS (Conditional Access System)

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CAS is a device, whcih will be restrict the viewer to see any pay channel without this device.

14 July Deadline

Viewes in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta and Chennai will no longer have access to all channels. It will be illegal for the cable operators of metros to broadcast pay channels without a set-top box (STB). Viwers will have to buy STBs to watch pay channels. Without a STB, however they can watch free-to-air(FTA) channels for a nominal fee of Rs 72 plus taxes. If you live outside these metros, CAS will come to your city in phases.

PAY CHANNEL AND FREE TO AIR(FTA) CHANNEL ?

A pay channel is one for which the broadcaster charges a monthly fee from the cable operator. A FTA channel is one for which an operator pays nothing to the broadcaster. However, regardless of whether a viewer is getting an FTA or a pay channel, he has to pay a amount to his cable operator.

WHAT YOU CAN WATCH FOR RS 72 ?

For Rs. 72 plus taxes, your cable operator will provide you atleast 30 FTA channels that have with mix of news, entertainment and sports. The government has made it mandatory to air three Doordarshan (DD) channels. The cable operator gets to decide the other 27. Right now, all DD channles (except DD Sports), Sahara TV, SAB TV, Aaj Tak, FTV, MTV, Sun TV and a number of regioal language channels are FTA. But even though the choice of free channels rests with the cable operator, as per a 7 May notification, the government reserves the right to review the free bouquet periodically.

CHARGES TO WATCH PAY CHANNELS ? At present, all broadcasters offer only bouquets of channels. That means if you want to watch Zee English, you will have to subscribe to th Zee-Turner bouquet for Rs. 55. The prices of standalone channels have not been released yet. But individual channel may be proced on a tier basis. At the bottom of the Pyramid are the FTA channels at Rs 72 plus tax. Then comes the tier where channels could be sold at Rs. 25 a piece, followed by premier tier (movies and sports) for Rs. 40 a piece. It may cost you Rs. 375 - Rs. 500 to watch all channels post-CAS. This doesn't include the cost of the set-top-box (STB).

WHAT IS AN STB ?

An STB is a decoder that allows you to watch only those channels you choose to pay for and blocks out the rest. The STB is plugged to your TV set and comes with its own remote control. Boxes are compatible with all TV sets irespective of their model.

WHERE CAN I GET MINE FROM?

You cannot pick an STB off the shelf. Your cable operator will sell you a box that is compatible with its software.Some might give you a choice between an analog (Rs.2,000-4000) and a digital box (Rs. 4000-8000). Most will offer only digital box.

A digital STB is the best option if you can affrod it. It gives you more bandwidth, for every one channel on an analog box, you can get 12 on a digital one.A high end version can give you access to Internt, pay per view, video on demand and other such goddies that the New Economy is supposed to bring in. If, say, you want to catch movie on HBO but have no subscribed to the channel, you could ask your cable operator to activate your STB for that moviev onlyv. You will pay only for that movie. It will be some time before these services take off. you need to buy an STB for every TV set at home.

I WILL HAVE TO BUY A SET TOP BOX AND PAY FOR CHANNELS TOO ?

Yes you have to bye STB and pay for channels to. If a one time payment of Rs. 7,000 odd hurts your pocket, don't worry. There might be help at hand. Some cable operators plan to offer STBs on lease for rentals as low as Rs. 100, but you will have to shell out a deposit. MSOa are talking to banks and finance firms to offer consumer durable-like loans to consumers to buy STBs, with an EMI that works out to about Rs. 200 for a three year loan.

IS THIS STB IS MOVABLE ?

No that will be bad news. There is no interoperability, that is, an STB is compatible only with the CAS of one MSO. So if you move house, you may have to buy a new STB. If your cable operator has leased the box to you, then this won't pose a problem. Some MSOs are planning to join hands and work out an exchange system for these boxex. So, if you are moving from an area that is serviced by, say, Hathway, to one that is serviced by Incablenet, and the two have tied up, then you will exchange your STB with someone who is moving into Hathway area.

BILLING PROCESS ?

Your STB will monitor exactly which channel you opted to watch during a month and a bill will be generated at your cable operators end. Your bill will include ht cost of channels you choose to watch, FTA channels, entertainment tax (Rs. 30) and a service tax of 8% on your cable bill. Once a month you can alter your choice to view the channels.