Mumbai: With a few weeks left to the introduction of the conditional access system (CAS), broadcasters have gone on the warpath with multi system operator (MSOs), by making demand for higher connectivity and higher rate per customer.

On the eve of the hearing of public interest litigation (PIL) by the Mumbai High Court on reduction of high cable subscription rates, InCablenet, the cable arm of IndusInd Media and Communications (IMCL), has received a disconnection notice from The One Alliance of the Sony bouquet, following which channels belonging to this alliance have been switched off.

IMCL is fully committed to government's directive to implement the CAS from 14th July in both Mumbai and Delhi where it has substantial cable networks. On the other hand, broadcasters have shown total disregard to the request of IMCL to finalise post CAS commercial terms. Substantial resources have already been committed by IMCL to the CAS scheme without a concomitant undertaking from broadcasters on both number of channels and commercial arrangements in a post CAS regime.

In response to the notice received, IMCL has pointed out to the warm relationship with The One Alliance and stated that it wished to have a continuing relationship with it in a post CAS era. It wished to discuss post CAS commercial arrangements with The One Alliance could be worked out. Despite this, channels have been switched off. IMCL appeals to its subscribers and operators to bear with it while sorting out the abrupt disconnection of signals by The One Alliance, to whom it has appealed to restore transmission in public interest.