New Delhi: Government on August 6 denied in the Rajya Sabha any confusion in the implementation of the Conditional Access System (CAS) for viewing pay TV channels which would be introduced in a phased manner in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai and in one go in Chennai from September 1.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said this in a statement in response to a calling attention motion moved by Shiv Sena member Sanjay Nirupam and nine others on the CAS and the criteria for uplinking of foreign channels.

On the issue of uplinking, Prasad said ownership and management control should vest in Indian hands and this was a prime concern of government in evolution of the policy for foreign news channels.

He said an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) had been set up a fortnight back to examine foreign exchange norms/guidelines, particularly relating to uplinking of news and current affairs channels.

"The case of one of the applications seeking uplinking as per extant guidelines is under examination", he said.

Referring to CAS, Prasad said the government has been in constant and continuous dialogue with the representatives of stakeholders in the industry -- manufacturers, broadcasters, multi-system operators and cable operators.

He said the period up to the roll over of CAS in the four metros would be used to step up preparedness, build consumer awareness and enable import/ manufacture of set-top boxes (STBs).

The Finance Ministry, he said, has reduced the customs duty from 50.8 to five per cent on the import of STBs which has been extended till September 30.

He said it had been estimated that analogue set top boxes would cost about Rs 2,500 and digital STB would cost between Rs 2,700 and Rs 3,000.

A few multi-system operators have also come out with attractive introductory offers and easy affordable schemes through higher purchase, loan schemes, instalment basis and refundable deposit with a nominal daily rental.

As on July 31, 1,07,882 STBs have been imported, he said adding with increasing demand and indigenous production and supply, the prices of the boxes were likely to fall further.

PTI