Government sources told The Financial Express that apart from making it mandatory for the channels to follow the uniform programming code of Doordarshan, the Union information and broadcasting ministry is thinking of incorporating certain provisions through which channels falling in the "anti-national" or "obscene" category can be prevented from being distributed through cable operators.

Significantly, the subject of Cable Networks Act has once again become pertinent following the tension at Kargil and the alleged false propaganda by PTV.

Sources said that since the government does not have any means to bar PTV from beaming the channel into the Indian territory, it feels the best solution would be to maintain a regulatory hold on cable operators.

The Prasar Bharati board has also urged the government topromulgate an ordinance to amend the existing Cable Networks Act, so that it is made mandatory for cable operators to carry DD-I and DD-II on the prime band.Efforts have been already been initiated to strengthen DD signals in all parts of the country especially border region to counter false propaganda by foreign channels.

Media experts stated that till the government has the legal means in its hand to regulate the channels it will have to take recourse in arbitrary means such as urging cable operators to blank out particular channels.

The Cable Networks Amendment Ordinance would also address the issue of pay channels. I&B minister Pramod Mahajan had earlier announced, following the cabinet approval for introducing amendment to the existing Act, that the government would fix subscription fees for pay channels for a particular period to prevent them for frequent fee revision.