MUMBAI: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), which has been riven recently by persistent reports of major rifts between pay and free-to-air lobbies within it, sought today to put up a united front.
 

An IBF statement issued in Delhi says: "There have been misleading reports in some sections of the Press that the Indian Broadcasting Foundation is headed for a split on the issue of Conditional Access System."

"This is to clarify that all IBF members are united on all issues including CAS. The IBF is affectively working under the dynamic leadership of KS Sarma, CEO, Prasar Bharati, and there is no question of division in the Foundation."

Speaking earlier to indiantelevision.com from different sides of the fence, both Kunal Dasgupta, SET India CEO and IBF vice-president, and Markand Adhikari, SAB TV vice-chairman and MD, struck a common tone on the matter. They asserted there would not be any split in the IBF and talks of separate bodies / associations representing pay and FTA channels were untrue. They maintained that while there may be differences due to competing business interests, a split was not in the offing.