The Union government will implement the much awaited Conditional Access System before July 14 this year helping to streamline the cable TV industry.

"CAS, which gives priority to consumer interests, is designed to bring in transparency in the cable regime and will be implemented at all costs before the July 14 deadline," Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad said in his inaugural address at Frames 2003, an annual convention on business of entertainment organised by FICCI.

He said a task force comprising industry leaders and experts has been constituted and is deliberating on the issue.

"The government is determined to implement CAS with clarity and without any ambiguity," the minister added.

A self-regulation was need of the hour and IB ministry would not play the role of a moral police, leaving selection of channels to viewers' discretion, Prasad said.

On film co-production, the minister said India was open for joint ventures with other countries in feature and animation film production.

"Foreign firms will be welcomed to shoot and process movies in India and a single window clearance system would be installed for speedy processing," Prasad said.

He said marriage of animation and infotech industries would result in creating more job opportunities and bring investments for the country, the minister said.

On Doordarshan and All India Radio, Prasad said that funds were a major concern for these state-run organisations.

However, the government has made a provision of Rs 80 crore (Rs 800 million) for Doordarshan.

Prasad said by end of the eighth plan, DD's reach would increase to over 93 per cent of Indian population, compared with present coverage of 89.8 per cent.

"AIR would be de-monopolised and a second round of talks were expected to be on by next month. Details are yet to be worked out," he added.

On Prasar Bharti, the minister said DD and AIR has some of the finest video and audio collection, which would be archived in a digitalised format.

"We have recorded voices of many great leaders, and the government sees a good potential for digitalised audio and video CDs," he added.