When I came across this headline over my morning coffee, “Set-top boxes a must from July for greater choice“, I was very excited.  More choices always make my little heart beat very hard.

So this is the deal:

Starting July, every household in Delhi will need a set-top box to be able to view channels of one’s liking. The information and broadcasting ministry is planning to implement a ‘must-provide clause’ for cable operators to enable TV viewers in the four Metro cities to ask for their favourite channels as a right. After July 1, the sub-divisional magistrates across Delhi will take action against all cable operators who are found violating the new norms, which mandate provision of set-top box enabled digital facilities to all viewers.

Hold on, so I can no longer go with the local cable operator who already provides me with all the channels I want legally, at a very low cost, but will be forced to pay larger amounts directly to the big companies (Tata, Reliance)?

This is more choice?

Continue reading Set Top Boxes: State-Corporate Nexus (Again) →