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According to government sources, representatives from broadcasting
companies, including those from Zee, Aaj Tak, NDTV and Sahara, were
of the view that a regulatory authority for broadcasting could be
separated from the Convergence Bill, since it was not known how
long its passage would take.
However, Zee Telefilms vice-chairman Jawahar Goel played down the
meeting with Prasad saying it was a routine one to take stock of
the situation before CAS rollout. Among those in the delegation
were TV Today Network CEO G Krishnan, Sahara TV president Mahesh
Prasad, NDTV's director Narayan Rao and Goel.
A PTI report states that some broadcasters also met Shiv Sena leader
Bal Thackeray, who had been opposing CAS, in Mumbai on Monday. A
delegation of roadcasters is also likely to meet Delhi chief minister
Shiela Dikshit, an opponent of the measure, urging her not to make
CAS a political debate.
The PTI report, quoting unnamed sources, said, at today's meeting
in Delhi the broadcasters impressed upon the minister that Star
wanted CAS to be delayed as their television ratings would drop
since its direct-to-home (DTH) proposal was still in the pipeline.
The broadcasters also welcomed the setting up of a CAS Implementation
Committee, which had representatives from all broadcasters. Sources
said Prasad told the broadcasters that the government, having learnt
a lot from the CAS experience, was for a regulator, however, the
issue was clubbed with the Convergence Bill pending in Parliament.
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