Mobile TV: We have received recommendations from TRAI. The issue is of opening of the terrestrial networks - it involves Prasar Bharti and they have to be on board. Spectrum is not holding back mobile TV - there’s enough spectrum that is available. Analog is not holding back. There’s one very big issue of terrestrial transmission and how it effects the Infrastructure available. We’re currently in dialogue with Prasar Bharti. I feel we should open up terrestrial networks, but that is my personal view.
Issues with the optical disk law - The recommendations that FICCI had submitted had lots of problems. They had recommended that the disks without any content should have have ways of identifying them. Because of this, manufacturers had to keep large records, and these had to be open to inspectors. However, Piracy is an issue. The best way to tackle piracy is to manage the supply side, by releasing the films on digital platforms: simultaneous releases on Theatres, Disks and Internet is a solution. If there is enough availability of DVDs in national and international markets on time, then people would not be going to these sites. We’re also seeing what can be added to the copyright act to make it more useful to tackle piracy.
Television - The government is soon going to come out with a policy on HITS which will improve the digitalization of cable networks - there are more than 70 million households. We’re looking at CAS in 55 cities in the next three years. There’s a monopoly on the audience measurement situation, because it determines the content that goes on television - the TRP ratings. We’re referring the matter to TRAI for audience measurement. Also, IBF has also started with a measurement system - the broadcasters are coming up with a more appropriate mechanism. The government will not be a part of the measurement agency. The issue of limiting the price of channels by the TRAI needs to be raised, now that the system is getting stabilized.

More on this later.