News Broadcasting
I&B minister seeks consumer-friendly CAS regime
MUMBAI: Minister of state for I&B with independent charge Ravi Shankar Prasad has placed consumer interest above all.
Prasad, today, asked broadcasters to find ways and means to usher in a consumer friendly regime under the conditional access system (CAS), which gives cable TV viewers a choice of subscribing only to desired pay channels.
“We have to keep the consumer interest in mind. Ultimately, the recipient of all technology is the consumer….who is also the final arbiter. He is very demanding and discerning and wants everything at competetive costs,” Prasad said, while inaugurating an international conference and exhibition on terresterial and satellite broadcasting.
“Digitalisation: roadmap for broadcasting”, is the theme
of the three-day conference organised by the Broadcast
Engineering Society (India), BES, the apex body in the field of broadcast engineering in the country.
Prasad, who dwelt on CAS as also bringing in digital broadcasting technology in place of the current analog system, emphasised he wanted to ensure that consumer interest was not compromised while making the changes.
Stating that investment would have to be shared by all
concerned in bringing the changes, Prasad said that analgoue set top boxes would cost Rs 3000 while digital boxes would be costlier.
While inaugurating the conference, BES president JG Gupta said that the three-day conference would feature sessions on cable TV and CAS.
Press Council of India chairman Justice K Jayachandra Reddy, who was made an honorary fellow of the BES, said in his keynote address that a meticulous transition policy was needed to to be drawn up for switching over from terresterial analog broadcasting to digital.
“Doordarshan will have to address all the relevant issues
which are quite complex”, he said.
On the DTH (direct to home) front, Justice Reddy said that DTH service providers must seek to attact customers from all segments of the public using increased transmission capacity to offer new value added services.
Additional secretary in I&B ministry Anil Baijal, said that technological upgradation has opened up a flood of opportunities for cable operators to provide value added services.
An exhibition — BES Expo 2003 — has also been organised along with the conference in which latest sophisticated broadcasting equipment and innovative gadgets made by Indian and foreign companies are on display.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
