The government would implement Conditional Access System for cable television from July 15 and any attempt to violate it would be punished, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravishankar Prasad said on Wednesday.
"CAS will be implemented from July 15 in the four metropolitan cities and the date of implementation will not be deferred," Prasad told a press conference in Ahmedabad, adding this would bring "transparency" in the information and entertainment sector.
Prasad, who was in Ahmedabad to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Gujarat Governor Kailashpati Mishra, said with the launch of CAS, consumer would receive at least 30 channels at a maximum cost of Rs 72.
The cable operators would have to ensure a "proper blend" of music, entertainment, news, sports and children's programme once this system is implemented, he said.
He said while the 90s was known as the 'decade of information technology' the current one would be observed as 'a decade of Indian entertainment'.
Prasad also talked about ushering in an information revolution and said the government would play the role of a 'facilitator' in this process.
The government was contemplating a proposal to liberalise the visa regime to facilitate foreign filmmakers to shoot movies in India, Prasad said.
