ITV

Category: Cable TV

  • Hathway Bhawani Cabletel & Datacom FY-2014 loss triples, EBIDTA down

    Hathway Bhawani Cabletel & Datacom FY-2014 loss triples, EBIDTA down

    BENGALURU: Hathway Bhawani Cabletel and Datacom Limited (HBC&DL) reported consolidated loss of Rs 4.05 crore in FY-2014, 3.19 times the loss of Rs 1.27 crore in FY-2013. The company’s EBIDTA (including other income) in FY-2014 at Rs 4.74 crore (28.9 per cent of Total Income of Tot Inc) was down 19.4 per cent from the Rs 5.89 crore (32.1 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2013.

     

    Note :  (1)100,00,000=100 lakh = 1 crore = 10 million.

    (2) Annual figures are on a consolidated basis, quarterly figures are standalone.

     

    HBC&DL reported consolidated Tot Inc of Rs16.38 crore in FY-2014, which was 10.6 per cent lower than the Rs 18.32 crore in FY-2013. Its Q4-2014 standalone Tot Inc at Rs 4.08 core was 18.8 per cent more than the Rs 3.43 crore in the immediate trailing quarter and 16.8 per cent more than the Rs 3.5 crore in the year ago quarter Q4-2013.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by HBC&DL for FY-2014 and Q4-2014

     

    The company’s consolidated Total Expense (Tot Exp) in FY-2014 at Rs 20.09 crore (123.4 per cent of Tot Inc) was 1.6 per cent more than the Rs19.78 crore (108.5 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2013.

     

    Standalone Q4-2014 Tot Exp at Rs 5.06 crore (124.9 per cent of Tot Inc) was 16.4 per cent more than the Rs 4.35 crore in Q3-2014 and 12.2 per cent more than the Rs 4.51 crore (129.3 per cent of Tot Inc) In Q4-2013.

     

    The company’s pay channel cost in FY-2014 at Rs 7.35 crore (54.2 per cent of Tot Inc) was 13 per cent less than the Rs 8.45 crore (46.3 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2013.  The company’s standalone and consolidated pay channel cost for the year and the quarters is the same. Pay channel cost in Q4-2014 at Rs 0.87 crore (21.4 per cent of Tot Inc) was 57.1 per cent less than the Rs 2.02 crore (59.1 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q3-2014 and 63.2 per cent lower than the Rs 2.35 crore (67.3 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    The company’s consolidated inventories in FY-2014 have dropped by 24.5 per cent to Rs 2.39 crore from Rs 4.35 crore in FY-2013.

     

    The company’s consolidated trade payables in FY-2014 has gone up by 47.3 per cent to Rs 6.66 crore from Rs 4.52 crore in FY-2013. HBC&DL’s trade receivables have also gone up in FY-2014 by 67.2 per cent to Rs 0.54 crore from Rs 0.32 crore in FY-2013.

     

    Standalone EBIDTA details for the three quarters: Q4-2014 Rs (-0.77) crore: Q3-2014 Rs (-0.72) crore: Q4-2013 Rs (-0.8) crore (all the three quarter have reported negative EBIDTA.)

     

    Results for the three quarters: Q4-2014 loss Rs 1 crore; Q3-2014 loss Rs 1.02 crore: Q4-2013 loss Rs 0.78 crore.

     

     

    Click here for the full report:

  • FY-2014: Sea TV reports loss of Rs 6.82 crore

    FY-2014: Sea TV reports loss of Rs 6.82 crore

    BENGALURU: Sea TV Network Ltd, (Sea TV) an MSO and a media and entertainment house of Uttar Pradesh & Uttrakhand reported loss of Rs 6.82 crore in FY-2014 as compared to a profit of Rs 1.29 crore in FY-2013. Though the company incurred a 35.3 per cent drop in EBIDTA as compared to last year, it was still EBIDTA positive at Rs 2.79 (14.3 per cent of Total Income or Tot Inc) crore in FY-2014 as compared to the Rs 4.32 crore (20.3 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2013

     

    Note:  (1)100,00,000=100 lakh = 1 crore = 10 million. 

     

    (2) Annual figures are on a consolidated basis, quarterly figures are standalone.

     

    The company reported 11.4 per cent lower Tot Inc in FY-2014 at Rs 18.82 crore as compared to the Rs 21.24 crore in FY-2013. Tot Inc in Q4-2014 at Rs 4.71 crore was 12.8 per cent more than the Rs 4.17 crore in the immediate trailing quarter and 15.5 per cent more than the Rs 4.05 crore in the year ago quarter Q4-2013.

     

    Sea TV incurred Total Expense (Tot Exp) of Rs 20.73 crore (110.2 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2014 which was 11.8 per cent more than the Rs 18.55 crore (87.3 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2013. During Q4-2014, the company’s Tot Exp at Rs 4.7 crore (99.8 per cent of Tot Inc) was 3.9 per cent more than the Rs 4.52 crore (108.3 per cent of Tot Inc) of Q3-2014 and 38.3 per cent more than the Rs 3.40 crore (83.4 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    A major portion of Sea TV’s expenditure is Pay Channel Charges (PCC). In FY-2014, PCC at Rs 5.56 crore (29.6 per cent of Tot Inc) was 28.6 per cent more than the Rs 43.3 crore (20.4 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2013. PCC in Q4-2014 at Rs 1.41 crore (30 per cent of Tot Inc) was 14.6 per cent lower than the Rs 1.65 crore (39.6 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q3-2014 and 1.5 per cent higher than the Rs 1.39 crore (34.1 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    EBIDTA for Q4-2014 at Rs 1.2 crore (25.5 per cent of Tot Inc) was 40.5 per cent more than the Rs 0.86 crore (20.5 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q3-2014 and 7.4 per cent more than the Rs 1.12 crore (27.5 per cent of Tot inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    The company’s interest cost increased by more than fivefold (5.78 times) to Rs 3.98 crore (21.1 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2014 from Rs 0.89 crore (3.2 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2013. Interest cost in Q4-2014 at Rs 1.44 crore (30.5 per cent of Tot Inc) was 13 per cent more than the Rs1.27  crore (30.4 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q3-2014 and almost seven times (6.8 times) the Rs 0.21 crore (5.2 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    The company’s result for the three quarters: Q4-2014 – loss of Rs 1.7 crore: Q3-2014 – loss of Rs 1.78 crore: Q4-2014 – Profit of Rs 0.32 crore.

     

    Sea TV claims to own a number of media establishments. Through its subsidiary Sea News Network, it runs a 24×7 news satellite channel SEA NEWS UP/UK, primarily having an eye over the happenings of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Through its another subsidiary Sea Print Media & Publications, it operates its first venture in print media, Hindi Daily ‘The Sea Express’. In addition to it, through its third subsidiary Jain Telemedia Services, the company operates another satellite channel focusing on Jainism – ‘Jinvani’. Besides, it says that it has been serving news and entertainment content to as many as 3.75 lakh households of Agra for past nine years through its MSO (Multi-System Operators) service.

     

    Click here for the full report

  • Den Network’s profit run continues in FY-2014; topline rises

    Den Network’s profit run continues in FY-2014; topline rises

    BENGALURU: At a time when most companies involved in carrying television signals from the broadcaster to the consumer via cable have reported losses and are complaining about poor collections, Den Networks Ltd  (Den Networks) has reported profits, albeit slightly lower by 3.6 per cent as compared to last fiscal’s.

     

    The company’s assets and liabilities show that its trade receivables in FY-2014 has gone up by 20.4 per cent to Rs 391.92 crore (35.1 per cent of Operating Revenue of Op Rev) as compared to the Rs 325.62 crore (35.6 per cent of Op Rev) in FY-2013 as is obvious, in terms of percentage of Operating revenue vis-a-vis the previous year, the percentage of trade receivables has dropped fractionally.

     

    Den Networks reported a PAT of Rs 75.14 crore (6.7 per cent of Op Rev) for FY-2014, as compared to the PAT of Rs 77.94 crore (8.5 per cent of Op Rev) in FY-2014. In Q4-2014, the company reported a PAT of Rs 15.21 crore (5.04 per cent of Op Rev), lower by 5.4 per cent than the Rs 16.08 crore (5.9 per cent of Op Rev) during the immediate trailing quarter and 41.7 per cent lower than the Rs 26.08 crore (9.61 per cent of Op Rev) in Q4-2014.

     

    On the topline front, Den Networks has crossed the Rs 1000 crore operating revenue mark in FY-2014. The company reported Op Rev of Rs 1116.69 crore which was 22.2 per cent more than the Rs 914.05 crore last fiscal. Op Rev for Q4-2014 at Rs 301.86 crore was 10 per cent more than the Rs 274.46 crore in Q3-2014 and 11.2 per cent more than the Rs 271.43 crore in the year ago quarter Q3-2013.

     

    Here’s what the company has to say in its investor update:

     

    The company’s income from operations in Q4-2014 at Rs 930.43 crore can be broken in to streams –Rs 281.69 crore from its cable business and Rs 648.65 crore from its distribution business. After cost of distribution rights of Rs 633.57 crore, net revenue from the segment along with other income is Rs 17.44 crore, while the net revenue from the cable including other income is Rs 308.23 crore. The cable business has shown a positive result before tax of Rs 11.78 crore, while its distribution business a negative result or loss of Rs 4.6 crore.

     

    Consolidated Full Year EBITDA for FY-2014 was Rs 367.71 crore, a 52 per cent jump from Rs 242.70 crore in FY-2013. The Company says that it has incurred expenses of Rs 15 crore (approx) towards broadband and DAS Phase III and IV cities in this year, which have been considered in the EBITDA.

     

    Full Year EBITDA for FY-2014 Rs 357.51 crore, a 54 per cent jump from Rs 231.72 crore in FY-2013 EBITDA margins stood at 32.1 per cent.

     

    Subscribers and Set Top Box Deployment

     

    In Q4-2014, Den Networks claims to have deployed 450,000 set top boxes.  It says that it now has digitised approximately 6.1 million homes of its total subscriber base of 13 million homes. The company says that it has an estimated analog base of 7 million homes in its Phase III and IV markets. It confirms that it is well capitalised to meet the deployment requirements of its existing analog subscriber base in these cities. 

     

    Click here to read the full report

    Click here for investor update

  • Jainhits strengthens its presence in Andhra Pradesh

    Jainhits strengthens its presence in Andhra Pradesh

    MUMBAI: The Headend In The Sky (HITS) platform Jainhits has announced the company’s strategy to spruce up its presence in Andhra Pradesh. The HITS operator has signed up with four big distribution partners in the state. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the three day industry event – Third Cable Net Expo Vision 2014.

     

    Jainhits national sales head Jeet Narayan Singh said, “Andhra Pradesh is a big market, with a presence of 12000 big and small cable operators. Our proposition of converting even the smallest LCO into an independent MSO is not only unique but virtually the only tangible solution which can fulfill the pan India digitisation goal of December 2014 set by government of India. In a short span of time, Jainhits has signed partnerships with over 200 cable operators spread across the country.”

     

    Further talking about the company’s profitable proposition, Jainhits head Rakesh Gupta added, “In our endeavor to enable 60,000 small and medium cable operators to become MSOs and go digital independently, we are offering an integrated end- to- end single window plug & play solution. Jainhits offerings are fully regulated and DAS compliant with a wider choice of channels that is cost effective and is the fastest way to offer digital cable services in any part of India. In addition, our broadband offering gives additional edge to Jainhits partners and helps them increase revenues by increasing ARPUs.”

     

    Currently, the HITS platform offers 250 plus channels including all major pay TV channels and will soon provide full HD and multi-screen offerings to consumers. Jainhits is all set to install over 2000 Mini Downlink Headends across 672 districts in India by end of 2014.

  • Hathway FY-2014 Operating Income up 40 per cent; reports loss of Rs 141 crore

    Hathway FY-2014 Operating Income up 40 per cent; reports loss of Rs 141 crore

    BENGALURU: Indian Multi System Operator (MSO) Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited (Hathway) reported a jump of 39.8 per cent in consolidated net Total Operating Income (Op Inc) to Rs 1583.25 crore in FY-2014 as compared to the Rs 1132.52 crore in FY-2013. The company reported a loss of Rs 140.69 crore in the current year as opposed to a PAT of Rs 37.59 crore in the previous fiscal.

     

     Note :  (1)100,00,000=100 lakh = 1 crore = 10 million.

     

    (2) Annual figures are on a consolidated basis.

     

    The company’s Operating EBIDTA (without other income) in FY-2014 at Rs 309.8 crore (19.57 per cent of Tot Inc) was 13.1 per cent more than the Rs 273.84 crore (24.3 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. Operating EBIDTA in Q4-2014 at Rs 40.70 crore (13.9 per cent of Op Inc) was 10.8 per cent more than the Rs 36.74 crore (15.65 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014 but less than half (46 per cent) of the year ago quarter’s EBIDTA of Rs 88.48 crore (38.3 per cent of Op Inc).

     

    For Q4-2014, Hathway reported Op Inc of Rs 292.72 crore which was 24.7 per cent higher than the Rs 234.78 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2013 and 26.6 per cent lower than the Rs 231.18 crore in the year ago quarter Q4-2013.

     

    Let us look at the other FY-2014 and Q4-2014 numbers reported by Hathway.

     

    Hathway reported consolidated Total expense (Tot Exp) in FY-2014 at Rs 1572.75 crore (99.3 per cent of Op Inc), 53.5 per cent higher than FY-2013 Tot Exp of Rs 1024.74 crore (90.5 per cent of Op Inc). Q4-2014 Tot Exp at Rs 313.53 crore (107.1 per cent of Op Inc) was 23.4 per cent more than the Rs 254.03 crore (108.2 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014 and 67.8 per cent more than the Rs 186.89 crore (80.8 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    A major expense for Hathway is Pay Channel Cost. The company paid Rs 666.42 crore (42.1 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2014 towards this head, which was 54.1 per cent more than the Rs 432.51 crore (38.19 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. Hathway paid Rs 115.41 crore (39.4 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2014 towards pay channel cost, which was 37.85 per cent more than the Rs 83.72 crore (35.7 per cent of Op Inc) in the immediate trailing quarter and more than double (2.33 times) the Rs 49.50 crore (21.41 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    Hathway’s Stock-in-trade purchase (Stock Pur) more than doubled in FY-2014 (went up by 2.23 times) to Rs 13.85 crore (0.87 per cent of Op Inc) from Rs 6.20 crore (0.55 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. Stock Pur in Q4-2014 at Rs 10.25 crore (3.5 per cent of Op Inc) was more than 8 times (8.36 times) the Rs 1.23 crore (0.52 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014 and 6.28 times the Rs 1.63 crore (0.71 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    The company’s results during the quarters were: Q4-2014 – Loss of Rs 49.27 crore; Q3-2014 – loss of Rs 36.86 crore: Q4-2013 – PAT of Rs 28.27 crore.

  • Digi-JPR Networks to offer Dolby Digital Plus in HD STBs

    Digi-JPR Networks to offer Dolby Digital Plus in HD STBs

    MUMBAI: Digi-JPR Networks, Mumbai based cable TV network operator has selected Dolby Digital Plus as the audio solution for its HD set-up boxes (STBs). With this move, Dig-JPR HD subscribers will experience the capability of up to 7.1 surround sound, designed to transform the way people experience their favourite sports, movies and television programmes.

     

    Digi-JPR Networks managing director Raja B. Nadar opined, “With digitisation, the broadcast industry in India is evolving at a fast pace by delivering better and more enhanced quality of services to consumers. We are excited to combine high-definition video with Dolby Digital Plus surround sound to bring the best television experience to our customers.”

     

    With Digi-JPR’s HD set-top boxes featuring Dolby Digital Plus, consumers will be able to enjoy Dolby surround sound by connecting their home theatre or sound bar to their HD set-top box.

     

    It will offer a complete entertainment experience across a bouquet of HD channels including the Star HD network, Colors HD, Movies Now HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic Channel HD, and many more.

     

    “At Dolby, we constantly strive to bring extraordinary entertainment experiences for the audiences through innovative technology. With Dolby Digital Plus, Digi-JPR will be able to deliver a cinematic entertainment experience to the living rooms of their consumers-from sports, drama, reality TV, and movies,” concluded Dolby Laboratories India country manager Pankaj Kedia.

  • Siti Cable reports 45 per cent jump in EBIDTA for FY-2014

    Siti Cable reports 45 per cent jump in EBIDTA for FY-2014

    BENGALURU: The Essel group’s Subhash Chandra-led Siti Cable Network Ltd (Siti Cable) has reported a 44.7 per cent jump in operating profit (EBIDTA) in FY-2014 to Rs 125.9 crore as compared to the Rs 87 crore in the previous fiscal. The company reported a 46.8 per cent jump in total revenue to Rs 710.3 crore in FY-2014 from the Rs 483.7 crore in FY-2013. Some of the digital dividend – courtesy the government mandated digitisation – seem to be accruing to its top line in terms of higher subsription revenues.

     

    Note :  Rs 100,00,000=100 lakh= 1 crore = 10 million.

     

    Siti Cable’s  operating revenue in FY-2014 at Rs 697.24 crore was 48.46 per cent more than the Rs 469.64 crore in FY-2014. Operating revenue in Q4-2014 at Rs 233.34 crore was 41.26 per cent more than the Rs 165.18 crore in the immediate trailing quarter and 65.15 per cent more than the Rs141.29 crore in the year ago quarter Q4-2013. Operating revenue in its case is derived mainly from subscriber related income, income from bandwidth charges, advertisements, and other operating revenues.

     

    Siti Cable chairman Subhash Chandra said, “The cable television industry in India is rapidly changing with the visible signs of progression towards the complete digitalization. Television viewers are getting familiar with inherent advantages of digitization through cable, digital cable is playing an instrumental role in digitization. Digital cable television is a major engine of growth for Siti Cable across all geographies. Our sustained investment in this segment will further enhance the customer television viewing experience.”

     

    Let us look at the other FY-2014 and Q4-2014 numbers reported by Siti Cable:

     

    The company’s total expense (Tot Exp) in FY-2014 was 47.5 per cent more at Rs 668.20 crore (95.83 per cent of operating revenue or Op Inc)  as compared to the Rs 453.01 crore (96.46 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. Tot Exp in Q4-2014 at Rs 233.07 crore (99.88 per cent of Op Inc) was 41.04 per cent more than the Rs165.25 crore (100.04 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014 and 59.99 per cent more than the Rs145.68 crore (103.11 per cent of Op Inc)  in Q4-2013.

     

    A major component of the Tot Exp are channel carriage, pay channel and related costs (CPRC). Siti Cable paid 42.5 per cent more towards CPRC in FY-2014 at Rs 333.95 crore (47.9 per cent of Op Inc) as compared to the Rs 234.35 crore (49.9 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. In Q4-2014, CPRC cost at Rs 124.16 crore (53.21 per cent of Op Inc) was 44.96 per cent more than the Rs  85.65 crore (51.85 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014 and 42.39 per cent more than the Rs 87.20 crore (61.72 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    Siti Cable’s finance cost in FY-2014 at Rs119.11 crore (17.08 per cent of Op Inc) was 37.88 per cent more than the Rs 86.39 crore (18.39 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. Finance cost in Q4-2014 at Rs 31.24 crore (13.39 per cent of Op Inc) was a mere 0.06 per cent more than the Rs 31.22 crore (18.9 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2013 and 21.2 per cent more than the Rs 25.77 crore (18.24 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    Clearly, the MSO -which has 56 analogue and 14 digital headend, a network of 12,000 km of coaxial and fibre optic cable, in 80 cities and reaching 10 million viewers – has more or less completed its investment in phase I and phase II towns and has hence gone easy on borrowings in the last quarter, leading to lower interest costs. With the mandate to complete phase III and phase IV of digitisation, it’s possible that its finance costs may rise again. Unless, of course, the fruits of digitisation in phase I and phase II in terms of higher subscriber revenue negate that need in the coming quarters.

     

    Other Expense in FY-2014 at Rs 202.64 crore (29.06 per cent of Op Inc) was 60.35 per cent more than the Rs126.37 crore (26.91 per cent of Op Inc)) in FY-2013. This expense head in Q4-2014 at Rs 75.39 crore (32.31 per cent of Op Inc) was 68.93 per cent more than the Rs 44.63 crore (27.02 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014 and more than double (2.22 times) the Rs 33.92 crores (24.01 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    The company’s loss in FY-2014 at Rs 94.06 crore was 46.8 per cent more than the Rs 64.07 crore in FY-2013. Siti Cable’s Q4-2014 loss at Rs 22.81 crore widened by 26.97 per cent as compared to the Rs 17.97 crore in Q3-2014, but was 17.98 per cent lower than the Rs 27.81 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    Here are some Q4-2014 highlights from the Siti Cable press release.

     

    Total revenue for the fourth quarter ended 31 March 2014 was Rs 243.4 crore as compared to Rs 147.4 crore during corresponding quarter of the last fiscal.

     

    The consolidated operating profit (EBITDA) for the fourth quarter ended 31 March 2014 was Rs 27.9 crores as compared to operating profit (EBITDA) of Rs 26 crore during corresponding quarter of the last fiscal. Gross Billing started in Delhi , Kolkata (DAS Ph-1 cities).

     

    Siti Cable CEO V D Wadhwa said, “Our continuous efforts towards expanding the subscriber base, faster implementation of gross billing in Delhi and Kolkata , high focus on adherence to regulatory compliances and cost controls measure has helped us in delivering the healthy performance on a quarter on quarter basis. During the year, we have set the benchmark in being the pioneer company to monetize the business by collecting higher subscription on per subscriber basis, best backend infrastructure, fair and transparent commercial policies in dealing with all our associates”.

     

    He further added, “We are well placed to benefit from the ongoing digitization implementation and fully geared up to grow revenue and profitability at a faster pace.”

  • TRAI to hold MSO-MCOF meet in Mumbai

    TRAI to hold MSO-MCOF meet in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) that had recently approached the Bombay High Court challenging the payment of entertainment tax, billing and the carriage fee has now approached the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to seek answers on the constitution of revenue share.

     

    “While the TRAI says that there should be a revenue share between the multi system operators (MSOs) and last mile owners (LMOs) on the subscription fee the LMO collects from the consumer, is that the only revenue in this cable TV universe?” questions MCOF president Arvind Prabhoo.

     

    According to Prabhoo, there should be clear definition of constitutes revenue. “Apart from subscription revenue, there is carriage fee revenue, advertising revenue and even activation revenue. So why it that these revenues are not shared amongst all the stakeholders of the cable TV system?” he asks.

     

    “Who decides what revenue is?” questions Prabhoo.

     

    With regards to this, a meeting has been called between the MSOs and MCOF by TRAI. “I had met N Parameswaran earlier this month and had discussed these issues with him. With regards to this, TRAI has decided to hold a meeting in Mumbai between MCOF and MSOs,” informs Prabhoo.

     

    When Indiantelevision.com contacted TRAI principal advisor N Parameswaran he confirmed the meeting, but said that no particular date was yet decided. “We will be holding a meeting between the two in order to address issues of billing,” concludes Parameswaran.  

  • LMOs unite to form pan-India platform

    LMOs unite to form pan-India platform

    MUMBAI: The last mile owners (LMOs) will no longer be a fragmented body. This arm of the cable TV chain has decided to finally form a pan-India platform. The move comes after the national multi-system operators (MSO) formed the MSO Alliance, the direct to home (DTH) players got together to form DTH Operators Association of India and the broadcasters formed the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF).

     

    No formal name has still been shortlisted; however, it will be during the upcoming cable TV exhibition in Hyderabad that the LMO association from across the country will meet to decide the name and the board members of the pan-India platform.

     

    The name would be kept under wraps until the body gets a confirmation from society registrar.

     

    Currently, six state cable TV associations from West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have come together to be a part of this pan-India platform. More state associations are expected to join the platform in the upcoming exhibition, which will be attended by LMO associations from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra amongst others.

     

    “LMOs at the grass root level have never been taken into consideration. A pan-India platform will give us proper representation and power. It will also help us take our views to the government,” says Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) president Arvind Prabhoo.

     

    “It is in Hyderabad that we will decide on the functional constitution body of this platform,” he adds.

     

    So why come up with this association now? Answers Prabhoo, “We learn from our mistakes. In the past 20 years we have never had one voice. While even the domestic servants have an association, LMOs have never had a strong pan-India association, but individual voices. With digitisation, operators have understood what is in store for them, and so also understood that an united voice was much needed.”

  • TDSAT directs Manthan Broadband to pay dues to IndiaCast

    TDSAT directs Manthan Broadband to pay dues to IndiaCast

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed Kolkata based multi system operator (MSO) Manthan Broadband Services to cough up dues worth Rs 2.3 crore to IndiaCast. The order comes after the content aggregator threatened to disconnect its signals failing payment from the petitioner’s (Manthan) side of its monthly subscription fees.

     

    Manthan had admitted to dues of Rs 2.18 crore while IndiaCast claimed it to be Rs 5.07 crore. Adjusting the placement fees, TDSAT has settled it at Rs 2.3 crore. Manthan has been ordered to pay Rs 80 lakh by 30 May while the balance of the Rs 2.3 crore has to be given in two parts on 20 June and 15 July. It will also have to keep paying its monthly fees apart from its dues.

     

    Until further orders come, the monthly subscription fee shall be given after adjusting the placement fees. However, the Tribunal states that by adjusting this, it is not endorsing Manthan’s demand for placement fees or any such in the fresh agreement as well.

     

    Apart from this, Manthan has been directed to carry ETV News Bangla channel apart from the other channels in the agreement. ETV News Bangla was launched recently in March 2014.

     

    However, if Manthan defaults in the payment of dues or subscription fees, IndiaCast is free to disconnect its signals to the former without any notice or order from TDSAT.

     

    The next date of hearing has been set to 21 July and the parties have been asked to negotiate and come up with a fresh agreement starting from 1 April.