The Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002, incorporating mandatory conditional access for cable TV systems was introduced in the lower house (Lok Sabha) of parliament today by information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj. It marked a major victory for Swaraj who has been at the forefront of pushing through the legislation which has been perceived as a bugbear of some broadcasters but has on the whole been welcomed by cable TV operators.
The Bill is to be discussed in the Lok Sabha tomorrow, and if passed it will be introduced in the Upper House the day after, just before Parliament closes.

The CAS ammendment will result in the introduction of set top boxes in consumer homes, government control over the free to air bouquet with similar control for pay channels being in the hands of cable TV operators.

Its announcement resulted in a schism in the broadcasters‘ ranks with Zee TV openly favouring it, ditto with Sahara. Sony has been sitting on the fence, while Star India and ESPN Star Sports have been opposing it. .

It‘s curtains for Kamzor Kadii Kaun on Star Plus, at least temporarily.
After valiantly battling to recreate the magic of KBC, the show is winding up its current season on 21 May. The show has not been doing too well of late - it ranked 27th in the top 100 programmes put out by rating agency Tam for the week ended 30 March 2002 with a TVR of 4.48 , but slid to number 44 with a TVR of 2.84 in the week ended 27 April. Star Plus is now trying to ensure viewer interest with Bollywood fare. It will telecast Santosh Sivan‘s Asoka in a five part series from 28 May at 9 pm.

With telecast rights bought from producer Shah Rukh Khan, the channel will telecast the uncut version of the movie, a first in that it is the first time a full length film is being serialised on satellite television. While the channel is undecided about the timing of the return of KKK, no plans have yet been finalised about what would air on the slot after the five part Asoka is over.

Star Plus says the uncut version of the film would provide viewers with an opportunity to understand indepth the life and times of the great emperor.