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MSOs meet reaches dead-end on CAS
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The much-hyped multi-system operators’ (MSOs) meet in Delhi today failed to come up with concrete conclusions, though various issues arising out of postponement of conditional access were discussed.
According to the people who attended todays meeting, the prime concern of the cable industry is what would happen of the investment already made in setting up the infrastructure for CAS. Though seeking legal recourse against the deferment of rollout of addressability – an option suggested by a Mumbai-headquartered MSO – was discussed, but no final take was done.
This option needs to be studied further by lawyers before it is opted for, a senior executive of one of the MSOs told indiantelevision.com after the meeting. Another issue that was discussed revolved round the slow death of the cable industry if the broadcast and cable regulator and a certain section of the industry gave more prominence to alternate delivery mechanisms like DTH and broadband.
Representatives from Siti Cable, Hindujas-controlled INCablenet, Trinity (formerly Spectranet) and RPG attended todays meeting, amongst others. The MSOs are contending that with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) putting a freeze on the cable services price in CAS and non-CAS areas, apart from postponing implementation of CAS for three months, the cable fraternity is increasingly feeling the pressure from all sides.
Add to this, the games that broadcasters play, a representative of a MSO said, adding, As it is the broadcasters have again started asking for a hike in subscriber base and charging for new channels launched.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
