Open sky policy impinged

The cable operators were forbidden to downlink from 13 channels like ESPN, Star Sports, HBO, Disney, Ten Sports, Zee Classic, Zee Premier etc. not for telecasting any objectionable material or wrongful presentation but on account of a technical reason that no permission had been taken to operate the channels. The shutout services happen to include the most entertaining and educative of channels. They are most certainly not in the category of socially harmful, overly violence-prone and vulgar types. The government had earlier forbidden transmission of some foreign channels owing to their dissonance with our cultural values. But generally we have successfully signalled to the outside world of our belief in the open sky policy.

The government order is questionable not only in point of the channels being acceptable to our culture and entertainment interests but also because of having allowed the channels to be operated so far with no questions asked. As for the revenue implications of the pay channels it is a matter to be thrashed out not by an abrupt denial of the services to the TV viewers they have grown accustomed to, but through a dialogue with the stakeholders. In shutting down the channels the information ministry did neither consult the cable operators nor tried to ascertain public opinion in the matter. The apparent differences between a section of cable operators and the distributors imply the need for setting their house in order in the first place. Then the government has to be evenhanded in its policy without being seen to be influenced by any quarter with a vested interest, far less being influenced by them.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source