ITV

Category: DAS

  • Fifteen cases for extension of Phase III DAS, Rathore says digitization nearly over in most parts

    Fifteen cases for extension of Phase III DAS, Rathore says digitization nearly over in most parts

    New Delhi: Parliament was told today that cases had been filed or were still pending in around fifteen cities or states seeking extension of the deadline of 31 December 2015 on the ground of shortage of set top boxes with regard to Phase III of Digitization Addressable System.

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told the Rajya Sabha that courts in these places had either granted extension of two months or dismissed the petitions with the directions not to disconnect the cable TV network operated by the petitioners and allowed them to operate in analogue system for two to three months  

    These included Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Nashik, Orissa, Chandigarh, Allahabad, Indore, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jaipur, Karnataka, Guwahati, Kolkata and Shimla etc.

    In its order, the Bombay high court had said: “Since the Andhra Pradesh high court and Sikkim high court have passed an order of status quo, in view of the observations made by the apex court in the case Kusum Ingots & Alloys Ltd. Vs. Union of India [(2004) 6 Supreme Court Cases 254] and more particularly, paragraph 22 of the said order, the question of grant of interim order does not arise in this case.”

    The Hyderabad high court in the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh cases further extended the stay for 4 weeks beyond 29 February.

    The minister said that the Government was defending all the cases and had also filed a transfer petition in the Supreme Court.

    Meanwhile, Rathore said digitization has almost been completed in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Uttrakhand, West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar according to information received from stakeholders.

    The data provided by the multi system operators (MSOs), direct to home (DTH) and HITS operators shows that digitisation in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli is nearing completion. In other states and Union Territories it is yet to be fully achieved.

    He said that public awareness campaigns were launched in print and electronic media to ensure timely completion.

    Since involvement of state governments was crucial for the implementation of digitization, 13 orientation workshops for state and district level nodal officers were held at both central and regional levels. Twelve regional units were established for coordination. Toll free helpline was made operational. A management information system (MIS) was developed wherein MSOs, DTH and HITS operators were entering the details of area wise seeding of STBs at least once a week.

    A total of 727 MSOs had been issued registration till 21 February and regular monitoring of progress was made.

    Referring to earlier phases, he said it had been completed in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai had been completed on 31 October 2012, except in Chennai since some court cases are pending there.

    Phase-II of the cable TV digitization which covered 38 cities having the population more than 10 lakh has been completed by 31 March 2013 except in Coimbatore where some court cases are pending.

  • Fifteen cases for extension of Phase III DAS, Rathore says digitization nearly over in most parts

    Fifteen cases for extension of Phase III DAS, Rathore says digitization nearly over in most parts

    New Delhi: Parliament was told today that cases had been filed or were still pending in around fifteen cities or states seeking extension of the deadline of 31 December 2015 on the ground of shortage of set top boxes with regard to Phase III of Digitization Addressable System.

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told the Rajya Sabha that courts in these places had either granted extension of two months or dismissed the petitions with the directions not to disconnect the cable TV network operated by the petitioners and allowed them to operate in analogue system for two to three months  

    These included Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Nashik, Orissa, Chandigarh, Allahabad, Indore, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jaipur, Karnataka, Guwahati, Kolkata and Shimla etc.

    In its order, the Bombay high court had said: “Since the Andhra Pradesh high court and Sikkim high court have passed an order of status quo, in view of the observations made by the apex court in the case Kusum Ingots & Alloys Ltd. Vs. Union of India [(2004) 6 Supreme Court Cases 254] and more particularly, paragraph 22 of the said order, the question of grant of interim order does not arise in this case.”

    The Hyderabad high court in the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh cases further extended the stay for 4 weeks beyond 29 February.

    The minister said that the Government was defending all the cases and had also filed a transfer petition in the Supreme Court.

    Meanwhile, Rathore said digitization has almost been completed in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Uttrakhand, West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar according to information received from stakeholders.

    The data provided by the multi system operators (MSOs), direct to home (DTH) and HITS operators shows that digitisation in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli is nearing completion. In other states and Union Territories it is yet to be fully achieved.

    He said that public awareness campaigns were launched in print and electronic media to ensure timely completion.

    Since involvement of state governments was crucial for the implementation of digitization, 13 orientation workshops for state and district level nodal officers were held at both central and regional levels. Twelve regional units were established for coordination. Toll free helpline was made operational. A management information system (MIS) was developed wherein MSOs, DTH and HITS operators were entering the details of area wise seeding of STBs at least once a week.

    A total of 727 MSOs had been issued registration till 21 February and regular monitoring of progress was made.

    Referring to earlier phases, he said it had been completed in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai had been completed on 31 October 2012, except in Chennai since some court cases are pending there.

    Phase-II of the cable TV digitization which covered 38 cities having the population more than 10 lakh has been completed by 31 March 2013 except in Coimbatore where some court cases are pending.

  • Centre and states have gained from TV digitization, viewers to get better viewing experience: Economic Survey

    Centre and states have gained from TV digitization, viewers to get better viewing experience: Economic Survey

    New Delhi: The Government has claimed that preliminary data shows that central and state governments have gained significantly because of digitization of cable television, as transparency in the subscriber base through digitization has led to increase in tax collections.

    While stating this, the Economic Survey for 2015-16 did not give any figures specifically relating to increase in revenues because of digitization. But it said digitization achieved by December-end 2016 would usher a new era in broadcasting, as it would enhance the viewing experience of the users and upgrade the service, the survey said.

    The survey tabled by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who also holds the Information and Broadcasting Ministry portfolio, said in order to achieve universal digitalization by 2017, the government is implementing the Broadcasting Infrastructure Network Development Scheme for modernization and upgradation of Prasar Bharati.

    He said India has been experiencing higher volume of content consumption due to increasing per capita consumption, media penetration and use of 3G devices.

    It was noted that India is the world’s second largest TV market after China with 168 million (16.8 crore) TV households, implying a TV penetration of 61 per cent.

    There are about 847 satellite television channels, 243 FM radio channels and 190 community radio stations operating in India.

    India’s broadcasting distribution network comprises 6,000 multi system operators (MSO) and seven direct to home (DTH) operators.

    At the outset, the survey said the Indian media and entertainment industry has recorded unprecedented growth over the last two decades, making it one of the fastest growing industries in India.

    According to a report by FICCI-KPMG, the Indian media and entertainment industry grew by 11.7 per cent to Rs 1026 billion(Rs 1,02,600 crore) in 2014 from Rs 918 billion  (Rs 91,800 crore) in 2013 and it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9 per cent to reach Rs 1964 billion (1,96,400 crore) by 2019.

    DTH in India is also growing at a rate of about one million (10 lakh) subscribers per year. HITS (headend in the sky) technology will play a key role in achieving the goal of 100 per cent digital distribution in India. At present two HITS operators have been permitted by the Government to operate their set up.

  • Centre and states have gained from TV digitization, viewers to get better viewing experience: Economic Survey

    Centre and states have gained from TV digitization, viewers to get better viewing experience: Economic Survey

    New Delhi: The Government has claimed that preliminary data shows that central and state governments have gained significantly because of digitization of cable television, as transparency in the subscriber base through digitization has led to increase in tax collections.

    While stating this, the Economic Survey for 2015-16 did not give any figures specifically relating to increase in revenues because of digitization. But it said digitization achieved by December-end 2016 would usher a new era in broadcasting, as it would enhance the viewing experience of the users and upgrade the service, the survey said.

    The survey tabled by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who also holds the Information and Broadcasting Ministry portfolio, said in order to achieve universal digitalization by 2017, the government is implementing the Broadcasting Infrastructure Network Development Scheme for modernization and upgradation of Prasar Bharati.

    He said India has been experiencing higher volume of content consumption due to increasing per capita consumption, media penetration and use of 3G devices.

    It was noted that India is the world’s second largest TV market after China with 168 million (16.8 crore) TV households, implying a TV penetration of 61 per cent.

    There are about 847 satellite television channels, 243 FM radio channels and 190 community radio stations operating in India.

    India’s broadcasting distribution network comprises 6,000 multi system operators (MSO) and seven direct to home (DTH) operators.

    At the outset, the survey said the Indian media and entertainment industry has recorded unprecedented growth over the last two decades, making it one of the fastest growing industries in India.

    According to a report by FICCI-KPMG, the Indian media and entertainment industry grew by 11.7 per cent to Rs 1026 billion(Rs 1,02,600 crore) in 2014 from Rs 918 billion  (Rs 91,800 crore) in 2013 and it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9 per cent to reach Rs 1964 billion (1,96,400 crore) by 2019.

    DTH in India is also growing at a rate of about one million (10 lakh) subscribers per year. HITS (headend in the sky) technology will play a key role in achieving the goal of 100 per cent digital distribution in India. At present two HITS operators have been permitted by the Government to operate their set up.

  • DAS Phase III stay extended in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

    DAS Phase III stay extended in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

    New Delhi: With the Supreme Court stating that the stay on Phase III of digital addressable system by the Bombay High Court is not pan-India, stakeholders in three states – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh – have received further extensions for varying periods.

    While the Hyderabad High Court has clubbed the two cases of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and granted a four week extension, the Allahabad High Court extended the stay for three more months.

    The Hyderabad High Court which received the counter-affidavit from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, gave time to the petitioners in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana – AP MSOs Federation and Federation of Telangana MSOs – to file their replies,

    The plea taken by both the petitioners had been the shortage of set top boxes, which had in late December led to a two month extension.

    The Supreme Court had made the observation on an appeal by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, which was subsequently withdrawn.

    In Allahabad, where the petitioners have also taken the plea of shortage of STBs, the High Court directed I&B Ministry as well as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to file counter-affidavits within four weeks.

     “In the meanwhile, we direct the respondents not to disconnect the cable TV network operated by the petitioner through the analogue system for a period of three months from today,” the court said.

    DAS Phase III has already been stayed for varying periods by High Courts in Assam, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, for the entire states, apart from Tamil Nadu where prolonged legal cases have been pending since Phase I.

    In Karnataka, three individual stakeholders have got stay orders in Mangalore and Mysore areas while there is no state-wide stay. However, MSOs and Local Cable Operators in various parts of Karnataka told indiantelevision.com that transmission is still being use in analogue mode even in areas that fall in Phase III but for which no stay has been obtained.

    Interestingly, Ministry sources admitted to indiantelevision.com that there was a misreading of the Bombay High Court directive. The Court had merely refereed to the Kusum Ingots & Alloys Ltd vs the Union of India 2004 case to say that if one High Court gives a stay, another High Court can act in similar fashion if the facts are similar – in this case, shortage of STBs. Thus, they agree that the High Court stay was only confined to Maharashtra and not pan-India.

    The Bombay High Court passed a unique judgment stating that the Hyderabad High Court order would be applicable across India as per the Supreme Court judgment in.

    Meanwhile, The Ministry has filed a similar petition and sought not merely vacation of the stay orders by various High Courts, but also clubbing the cases together.

    The meeting of the Phase III and Phase IV Task Force – the first to be held after the 31 December deadline of Phase III – was told by Ministry Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) R Jaya that the percentage achievement had increased from 76.45 per cent as on 30 December 2015 to 90.44 per cent as on 15 February 2016.

    It was also claimed that the seeding of set top boxes by multi system operators increased from 6.91 million (69.1 lakh) to 12.43 million (124.3 lakh) for the same period.

    DAS Phase III covers 33.18 million (331.8 lakh( TV households across 29 states and five Union Territories, after changes made in updates for various states.

    Although Phase III was aimed at covering all remaining urban areas in the country, Ministry sources admitted that several urban may now be clubbed with the rural areas where the deadline is 31 December 2016.

  • DAS Phase III stay extended in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

    DAS Phase III stay extended in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

    New Delhi: With the Supreme Court stating that the stay on Phase III of digital addressable system by the Bombay High Court is not pan-India, stakeholders in three states – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh – have received further extensions for varying periods.

    While the Hyderabad High Court has clubbed the two cases of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and granted a four week extension, the Allahabad High Court extended the stay for three more months.

    The Hyderabad High Court which received the counter-affidavit from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, gave time to the petitioners in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana – AP MSOs Federation and Federation of Telangana MSOs – to file their replies,

    The plea taken by both the petitioners had been the shortage of set top boxes, which had in late December led to a two month extension.

    The Supreme Court had made the observation on an appeal by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, which was subsequently withdrawn.

    In Allahabad, where the petitioners have also taken the plea of shortage of STBs, the High Court directed I&B Ministry as well as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to file counter-affidavits within four weeks.

     “In the meanwhile, we direct the respondents not to disconnect the cable TV network operated by the petitioner through the analogue system for a period of three months from today,” the court said.

    DAS Phase III has already been stayed for varying periods by High Courts in Assam, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, for the entire states, apart from Tamil Nadu where prolonged legal cases have been pending since Phase I.

    In Karnataka, three individual stakeholders have got stay orders in Mangalore and Mysore areas while there is no state-wide stay. However, MSOs and Local Cable Operators in various parts of Karnataka told indiantelevision.com that transmission is still being use in analogue mode even in areas that fall in Phase III but for which no stay has been obtained.

    Interestingly, Ministry sources admitted to indiantelevision.com that there was a misreading of the Bombay High Court directive. The Court had merely refereed to the Kusum Ingots & Alloys Ltd vs the Union of India 2004 case to say that if one High Court gives a stay, another High Court can act in similar fashion if the facts are similar – in this case, shortage of STBs. Thus, they agree that the High Court stay was only confined to Maharashtra and not pan-India.

    The Bombay High Court passed a unique judgment stating that the Hyderabad High Court order would be applicable across India as per the Supreme Court judgment in.

    Meanwhile, The Ministry has filed a similar petition and sought not merely vacation of the stay orders by various High Courts, but also clubbing the cases together.

    The meeting of the Phase III and Phase IV Task Force – the first to be held after the 31 December deadline of Phase III – was told by Ministry Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) R Jaya that the percentage achievement had increased from 76.45 per cent as on 30 December 2015 to 90.44 per cent as on 15 February 2016.

    It was also claimed that the seeding of set top boxes by multi system operators increased from 6.91 million (69.1 lakh) to 12.43 million (124.3 lakh) for the same period.

    DAS Phase III covers 33.18 million (331.8 lakh( TV households across 29 states and five Union Territories, after changes made in updates for various states.

    Although Phase III was aimed at covering all remaining urban areas in the country, Ministry sources admitted that several urban may now be clubbed with the rural areas where the deadline is 31 December 2016.

  • Chrome DM report on ‘Cable Dark’ areas

    Chrome DM report on ‘Cable Dark’ areas

    MUMBAI: The transition from analogue to digital in Phase 3 (all urban areas excluding those that were part of Phase 1 and 2 – municipal corporations/municipalities) has caused certain areas of the country to become ‘cable dark’. 

    There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration when understanding why certain states are witnessing a higher amount of cable dark penetration than others. In Uttar Pradesh for example, the majority of cities use DTH, and due to the lack of a dominant MSO, cable penetration is low in this state. 

    Gujarat and Punjab are experiencing a more structured approach because they have a dominant player (GTPL and Fastway, respectively). On the other hand, a state such as Maharashtra does not have one defined player; but at the same time has been facing a shortage of set-top boxes – from where the stay has stemmed.

    Similarly, governments in the south support cable operators, so in Andhra Pradesh, cable still exists and despite the digitization mandate, cities still receive analog feeds; Tamil Nadu witnesses penetration of Arasu in most cities, but digitization boxes have not reached these areas either. ‘

    Alongside this, the size of the state also needs to be taken into account: Mizoram’s cable dark city is one which has a large population, thus resulting in more than half the population beingcable dark.

    Another hurdle that cable dark cities face is the fact that cable operators in some dark areas make cable available to consumers during prime timehours, to cater to a TV starved audience, Chrome Data Analytics& Media’s on-ground coverage reports.

    It is essential to understand that there is no fixed or systematic pattern according to which cable is out and different states are facing different factors.The state-wise percentage of cable dark population can be seen in the table below:

    “Each time a transition takes place, some kind of ‘switch off’ is inevitable – be it an electric transformer replacement in your colony or a human operation. We need to remember that digitization was mooted,  in the first place, to address four major broadcasting issues – taxation, transparency, choice for consumers and the quality of content. So dark outs, irrespective of the reason, should be taken as the minor issue they are when compared to the greater good digitization promises for Indian broadcasting”, says Chrome Data Analytics & Media founder and CEO Pankaj Krishna.

    Overall, digitization has brought with it several hurdles that all states must collectively overcome. One must collaboratively focus on the larger picture and be patient to reap the benefits of digitization in the long run.

     

  • Chrome DM report on ‘Cable Dark’ areas

    Chrome DM report on ‘Cable Dark’ areas

    MUMBAI: The transition from analogue to digital in Phase 3 (all urban areas excluding those that were part of Phase 1 and 2 – municipal corporations/municipalities) has caused certain areas of the country to become ‘cable dark’. 

    There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration when understanding why certain states are witnessing a higher amount of cable dark penetration than others. In Uttar Pradesh for example, the majority of cities use DTH, and due to the lack of a dominant MSO, cable penetration is low in this state. 

    Gujarat and Punjab are experiencing a more structured approach because they have a dominant player (GTPL and Fastway, respectively). On the other hand, a state such as Maharashtra does not have one defined player; but at the same time has been facing a shortage of set-top boxes – from where the stay has stemmed.

    Similarly, governments in the south support cable operators, so in Andhra Pradesh, cable still exists and despite the digitization mandate, cities still receive analog feeds; Tamil Nadu witnesses penetration of Arasu in most cities, but digitization boxes have not reached these areas either. ‘

    Alongside this, the size of the state also needs to be taken into account: Mizoram’s cable dark city is one which has a large population, thus resulting in more than half the population beingcable dark.

    Another hurdle that cable dark cities face is the fact that cable operators in some dark areas make cable available to consumers during prime timehours, to cater to a TV starved audience, Chrome Data Analytics& Media’s on-ground coverage reports.

    It is essential to understand that there is no fixed or systematic pattern according to which cable is out and different states are facing different factors.The state-wise percentage of cable dark population can be seen in the table below:

    “Each time a transition takes place, some kind of ‘switch off’ is inevitable – be it an electric transformer replacement in your colony or a human operation. We need to remember that digitization was mooted,  in the first place, to address four major broadcasting issues – taxation, transparency, choice for consumers and the quality of content. So dark outs, irrespective of the reason, should be taken as the minor issue they are when compared to the greater good digitization promises for Indian broadcasting”, says Chrome Data Analytics & Media founder and CEO Pankaj Krishna.

    Overall, digitization has brought with it several hurdles that all states must collectively overcome. One must collaboratively focus on the larger picture and be patient to reap the benefits of digitization in the long run.

     

  • Allahabad HC accepts Govt’s view to not press on DAS Phase III

    Allahabad HC accepts Govt’s view to not press on DAS Phase III

    NEW DELHI: Taking note of the Government position that “it will not press for requirement of having a set top box as of now,” the Allahabad High Court has put off to 28 January, a petition by the Allahabad Cable TV Operators Welfare Society seeking extension of the deadline of implementation of Phase III of digital addressable system (DAS).

     

    Justice Dilip Gupta and Justice Mukhtar Ahmad in their order said they did not feel the need of any interim order at this stage.

     

    The Court took note of the letter from an under secretary in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry citing that according to legal opinion, the extension order issued by the Bombay High Court was valid for the entire country.

     

    The letter was written to Assistant Solicitor General Chetan Mittal with regard to a similar case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which was then dismissed as infructuous.  

     

    Counsel Vivek Singla had told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that “the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India has decided not to press the requirement of having a STB as for now till the decision of the cases, which are pending before various other Honourable High Courts.”

     

    The Ministry had also sent to Mittal a detailed note on the issue, apart from orders by the Hyderabad and Bombay High Courts.

     

    The Bombay High Court had relied on the Supreme Court order in the Kusum Ingots and Allous Ltd case where the apex Court had said that a High Court could give an order similar to that given by other High Courts if the circumstances were similar.

     

    The matter has already been stayed by other High Courts including Sikkim, Odisha, Chhattisgarh for the entire state, and for individual local cable operators in Karnataka and Kerala on the common plea that there was acute shortage in seeding of STBs.

     

    However, Ministry secretary Sunil Arora had told Indiantelevision.com earlier that the Centre would be moving the Supreme Court in this matter. Ministry sources said that the petition in the apex Court was likely to be an appeal against one High Court with an application that all other matters may also be heard simultaneously.

  • Allahabad HC accepts Govt’s view to not press on DAS Phase III

    Allahabad HC accepts Govt’s view to not press on DAS Phase III

    NEW DELHI: Taking note of the Government position that “it will not press for requirement of having a set top box as of now,” the Allahabad High Court has put off to 28 January, a petition by the Allahabad Cable TV Operators Welfare Society seeking extension of the deadline of implementation of Phase III of digital addressable system (DAS).

     

    Justice Dilip Gupta and Justice Mukhtar Ahmad in their order said they did not feel the need of any interim order at this stage.

     

    The Court took note of the letter from an under secretary in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry citing that according to legal opinion, the extension order issued by the Bombay High Court was valid for the entire country.

     

    The letter was written to Assistant Solicitor General Chetan Mittal with regard to a similar case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which was then dismissed as infructuous.  

     

    Counsel Vivek Singla had told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that “the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India has decided not to press the requirement of having a STB as for now till the decision of the cases, which are pending before various other Honourable High Courts.”

     

    The Ministry had also sent to Mittal a detailed note on the issue, apart from orders by the Hyderabad and Bombay High Courts.

     

    The Bombay High Court had relied on the Supreme Court order in the Kusum Ingots and Allous Ltd case where the apex Court had said that a High Court could give an order similar to that given by other High Courts if the circumstances were similar.

     

    The matter has already been stayed by other High Courts including Sikkim, Odisha, Chhattisgarh for the entire state, and for individual local cable operators in Karnataka and Kerala on the common plea that there was acute shortage in seeding of STBs.

     

    However, Ministry secretary Sunil Arora had told Indiantelevision.com earlier that the Centre would be moving the Supreme Court in this matter. Ministry sources said that the petition in the apex Court was likely to be an appeal against one High Court with an application that all other matters may also be heard simultaneously.