With little communication between stakeholders of Conditional Access System — cable operators, broadcasters, multi-system operators and Government — consumers are likely to suffer when the system comes into effect from midnight on Sunday. Under CAS, pay channels can be received only through a set-top box but it is unclear how many of these boxes have reached the consumers. Besides in the absence of a pact between the broadcasters and MSOs, consumers may even end up with blank screens despite having purchased these boxes, industry sources said. The rollout of the much-delayed CAS, initially in zone one of South Delhi, could however become a testing ground for implementation of this system in the entire city later. MSOs, including Siti, Hathway and others are expected to switch off pay channels.(PTI)
