New Delhi: Under intense pressure to make conditional access system (CAS) consumer-friendly, government on June 3 said 60-70 free-to-air channels might be available for Rs 72 even as it ruled out any delay in its July 15 implementation in the four metros.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who had parleys with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Venkaiah Naidu as well as multi-system operators, also estimated that the entire package of free-to-air channels and pay channels was likely to cost a consumer around Rs 200.

"The multi-system operators have assured their cooperation. We have an assurance from broadcasters that they will announce their pay channel rates by June 15," he said.

PTI