MUMBAI: Boom in the entertainment media sector has to be supported by low cost good quality theatres in order to reach to the public at large, said the Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and parliamentary Affairs P. R. Dasmunsi.

Speaking at the valedictory session of ‘India – The Big Picture’ Conference 2007, Dasmunsi said that in the long run digitalization has to ensure that technology is made available at affordable cost to sustain the cinema – seeing habits of the common man. “Of late building up of good theatres is confined only to set up multiplexes, which a common film goer cannot afford. Additional investments on creating more single screen theatres are warranted.”

Dasmunsi also added that the core group set up by the ministry on Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) has made its presentation to the ministry and a view in this regard would be finalized by this year end. On measures to check piracy in the film sector, Dasmunsi stated that the group set up to look into it has since submitted its report on Optical Disc laws and the Ministry is examining the draft provisions.