In the absence of appropriate directives from the government and the central implementation task force, cable operators in south Mumbai on Monday decided to maintain status quo in regard to conditional access system and did not switch off the pay channels for the viewers.
Hathway spokesperson Anil Bhan told PTI that though they have implemented CAS at Chennai, in south Mumbai, they have not switched off the pay channels and were "waiting for official directives."
Bhan said, in south Mumbai, Hinduja's In Cable also has not switched off the pay channels and "all of us are waiting for directions from the implementation task force, which is meeting on Monday afternoon in Delhi with officials of the pay channels".
Asked about the availability for the set-top boxes for south Mumbai subscribers, Bhan said, "We have made arrangements for giving set-top boxes on hire with a deposit of Rs 2600 and rent of Rs 18 per month."
"We are also keeping the pay channels on air due to the Ganesh festivals," he added.
There has been considerable political pressure from various quarters not to implement CAS in the city alleging that it was not people-friendly, according to Federation of Cable Operators Association.
"Even consumer guidance societies, who were initially interested in the implementation of CAS, are not favouring it and the Maharashtra government's directive to implement it at least in south Mumbai is also ruled out under pressure from Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray," federation president Ravi Singh said.
