The hour-long interactive session comprised consumer groups such as Consumer Action Network (CAN), Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI), Cable Sena and multi-system cable operator Hathway.

About the current lack of choice of cable operators in the city
Rohinton Dadyburjor, Hathways' Operations Manager cited the immense infrastructure costs involved in setting up more cable networks. These costs will inevitably mean higher costs to the consumer.

About issues of regulation and price of pay channels
This issue led to intense discussion. Dadyburjor said, "(I hope) the Government will play a mediatory role and sort the issue of pay channels". CAN President Ahmad Abdi clarified, “There is a constant war between the Multi-System Operators (MSOs), the broadcasters and the cable operators, regarding under-declaration. The introduction of CAS ... may solve their problem, but not of the user." He said further that the objective of CAS was to keep prices under control. For that a regulatory authority like TRAI under the convergence law is imperative.

About channels being free to air
Several opinions were voiced regarding this issue. Some opined that broadcasters make a lot of money from advertising and do not need to position their channels as pay channels, inspite of the fact that the UN convention stipulates that pay channels cannot accept advertising. If they indeed need set top boxes to increase their subscription numbers, they should invest in the boxes themselves and not pass the purchase cost onto the consumer. CAN was fully supportive of this view.

About the quality and after sales service
Analysts claim that two million set top boxes worth Rs. 4000 each have already between imported . Mr. F.T Khorakiwala of Akbarally's questioned the availability of after sales service once the boxes were installed, saying that while promotions abound, in the absence of competition, ‘service’ would be ignored. Hathway responded stating that since it purchased the boxes, it would surely provide warranties and repair facilities; further, UMAX, which supplies this box, would open service centres across cities where repairs will be done.

About the benefit of the new system
CAS promises to be a good technology that will help increase transparency in declaration, improve quality of reception and introduce uniformity in pricing. But how worthwhile is it really to the average Indian? Anand Patwardhan, President CGSI questioned India’s sudden decision to trail the global CAS trend. “Every other place in the world has CAS. Is it necessary that it must be followed by India too? Don’t we have our own independent identity and our own socio-cultural fiber?” The new legislative policy, he stated, was supposed to bring about uniformity in the prices and behavior of cable operators, but consumers have been allowing the cable operator to decide which channels would be free-to-air and which, pay channels. "I think it is very strange that… manufacturers would… allow the retailer decided how much he will sell their product for" he commented.

The symposium has revealed the extent of conflict regarding the viability and worth of CAS in India. It appears that broadcasters, multi-system operators and consumers are all caught in a trap. However, the extensive nationwide debate on this issue signal a new trend where Indian citizens actively voice their opinion concerning policy issues that affect their lives.

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