VOICES

With so many channels going pay, it is better to lay the cards on the table before the subscriber. A viewer is not some unknown amorphous entity; rather we believe there is a need to create an association with him right from the start. He must know how much each channel is charging. Discovery Communications India managing director Kiran Karnik on the rationale behind declaring a maximum retail price for cable operators wanting to distribute Animal Planet and Discovery in India quoted in The Sunday Review, The Sunday Times.

Our viewership would have been higher if we had been a 100% desi (local) channel. Star's indigenisation is limited by its shareholders' agreement whereby less than half the programming content can be Hindi. Why put the blame on us? Recently-sacked Star TV India executive director Bimla Bhalla quoted in The Sunday Review, Sunday Times of India

India's fast growing telecommunications and broadcasting industries will need over 130 transponders by 2002. Though we (Isro) have plans to launch more satellites, private industries should come forward to invest in this crucial sector.
Indian Space Research Organisation chairman K.Kasturirangan to The Press Trust of India.

I would like to counter the feeling that ESPN or Star Sports hike pay charges before major cricketing events. Our practice is to go for an increase every year as stipulated in our agreements with cable operators. The hike in cable operators fees is thus not event-related.
ESPN-Star Sports India chief R.K. Singh on the channels' policy of increasing carriage fees charged to cable TV operators.