Broadcasters to play it cool on CAS opposition

Broadcasters to play it cool on CAS opposition

ITV

NEW DELHI: The Indian Broadcasting Federation, which met in Hyderabad on Friday, discussed the issue of conditional access system, amongst other things, and has decided to play it safe at the moment by not keeping it quiet on that front.

According to sources in the IBF, the meeting, chaired by chairman KS Sarma, CEO of Prasar Bharati, did dwell on the issue of CAS at length and the future course of action seems to be play the wait and watch game when the CAS Bill reaches the final implementation stage.

"Various issues in the (cable TV networks Amendment) Bill were discussed and it was felt that when the government fine-tunes the procedures for implementation of CAS then, if necessary, the IBF will make a representation to the government," an IBF member told indiantelevision.com.

IBF sources indicated that as and when CAS is about to be implemented, the IBF representation will detail out the areas of concern.

The meeting also took up the issue of surrogate liquor and tobacco ads on various channels and the notices, which have been issued to them by a government panel, which is monitoring such ads on TV channels.

Star India's chief operating officer Sameer Nair and Zee Telefilms group broadcasting chief executive Sandeep Goyal attended the Friday meeting, amongst others.