ITV

Category: Cable TV

  • Analogue equipment may be seized, warns MIB

    Analogue equipment may be seized, warns MIB

    NEW DELHI: Stressing that the law permits seizure of equipment of defaulting cable operators. all state-level administrators have been asked to direct district magistrates (DMs) to take action against those operators who were still distributing analogue signals.

    In its letter to all states, the Ministry said that Section 11 of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1005 gives powers to act against the defaulters. The letter wanted the administrators to allot about half an hour time to the Ministry, in any one of the meetings held by them with DMs in near future to highlight their role/powers.

    The Ministry also said it wanted to get the issue monitored by senior officers like Divisional Commissioner, Revenue Secretary or inspectors general. At the outset, the Ministry also said “hardly any compliance reports are being received” despite instructions given earlier.

    At the outset, the Ministry said that it had been mandated that only digital encrypted signals can be carried on the cable television networks in the country from 1 April.

    “However for its successful implementation, it is important that regular monitoring is carried out by the authorised officers {DM, SDM and CP as per Section 2 of the Cable Act to ensure that cable operators carry only digital encrypted signals, follow the provisions in the  Act and the Rules framed thereunder, and prompt action is taken against the defaulters.”

    The Ministry has prepared a Check List for inspection of MSOs by the Authorised Officers. Copy of the checklist is available at the MIB website.

    Also Read:

    Analogue signals: MIB to take action against defaulters 

    37 new MSOs in 45 days takes total to 1421, seven among 59 cases sub-judice

    LCOs to get unique TRAI number to ensure fair deals, says advisor Gupta

  • Hathway’s outgoing exec Panesar yet to firm up future plan

    MUMBAI: In a dramatic development, Hathway video business CEO TS Panesar has quit following the move where Hathway Cable and Datacom chose to opt out of its cable TV business to a wholly-owned subsidiary retaining the broadband operations in the parent company. Confirming the news, Panesar communicated to indiantelevision.com that he was yet to firm up his new plan and future course of action.

    The reformist Panesar, having a multifaceted 20 years of experience in the broadcasting sector, decided to call it off after spending two and half years in the cable TV distribution entity. The executive, who had moved in from Star India, played a pivotal role in reforming the TV and cable operations unveiling a battery of value-added services (VAS).

    The CEO also launched ‘Hathway Connect’, an online portal for local cable operators (LCOs) which helped them maintain their expenditures, revenues, reduce operational costs, to raise the profits and make transactions more transparent. Among other things, the former CEO contributed to the growth of Hathway in DAS Phase III areas and led the company’s foray into VAS. Panesar was responsible for the launch of an ad-free value added services (VAS) titled ‘Hathway Special’ for subscribers who wanted quality content. 

    Panesar’s exit comes after Hathway Cable & Datacom MD and CEO Jagdish Kumar quit in November 2016. Following Kumar’s exit, Hathway had reshuffled its top management team.

    Also Read:

    Hathway builds brand Special, adds two service categories 

    We believe the new cable TV tariff order will benefit everyone – Hathway Cable video CEO TS Panesar

  • Public authorities can deny cable laying permission to MSOs & LCOs

    NEW DELHI: Stressing that multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) are required to lay and establish cables and erect posts from  time to time under, over, along, across, in or upon any immovable property  under the control or  management of a public authority, the operator can be directed to remove it or  shift it or alter its position, as the case may be, at  its own  cost in  the  time frame indicated by the  authority.

    In new Guidelines to enable the State Governments to put in place an appropriate mechanism for speedy clearances of requests by operators for Right of Way, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has said that operators can be asked by the public authority in public interest to remove or shift or alter the position.

    In a letter sent to Chief Secretaries of all states, the Ministry said Cable Operators sometimes are required to lay and establish cables and erect posts from time to time under, over, along, across, in or upon any immovable property ever vested in or under the control or management of a public authority, after due permission.                                                            

    Section 48(5) of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 specifies that the Central Government may lay down appropriate guidelines to enable the State Governments to put in place an appropriate mechanism for speedy clearance of requests from cable operators for laying cables or erecting posts in properties with a public authority.

    The Ministry has laid the basic guidelines for this purpose which covers the procedure and the obligations of both the operators and the public authority in this regard.

    It has also made it clear that no application by an operator can be rejected unless has been given an opportunity of being heard on the reasons for such rejection. The permission will be deemed to have been granted if the public authority fails to either grant permission or reject the applicationwithin 65 days of the receipt of the application.

    Where the  public  authority  accepts  the  undertaking  by  the licensee to discharge the  responsibility to  restore any damage that be cause, it may   seek a bank guarantee for  an amount in  lieu   of expenses for   restoration  of  such  damage, as  security for   performance  in   the discharge of the  responsibility.

    Any application to a public authority will be accompanied by a copy of the  registration granted by the  Government – by the Head Post Master for LCOs under Rule 5, and Central Government for MSOs under Rule 11C of  the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994;

    The extent of land required for establishment of the overground cable infrastructure will also have to be indicated.

    Also Read:

    LCOs to get unique TRAI number to ensure fair deals, says advisor Gupta

  • CAS market may reach $ 4.7 bn by ’22, highest growth in A-Pac

    CAS market may reach $ 4.7 bn by ’22, highest growth in A-Pac

    MUMBAI: Conditional access systems (CAS) refer to content security solutions used to restrict unauthorized subscribers from accessing paid digital broadcast services. The Conditional Access Systems (CAS) market is expected to reach US$ 4.73 billion by 2022, a TMR study found.

    Content security using CAS is achieved by encrypting/scrambling digital signals while broadcasting and then decrypting them at the user’s (authorized) end. Conditional access systems, also referred to as revenue security solutions, are mounted on set-top boxes or other receiving devices at the subscribers’ end. Conditional access systems are the most significant components used by service providers for protection against revenue loss.

    The most significant factor responsible for conditional access systems market growth is the rising penetration of digital/pay television, globally. Apart from pay televisions, CAS are also used for content protection in digital radio broadcast, internet protocol television (IPTV), and other internet-based subscription services.

    The market for conditional access systems is segmented, based on the type of solutions, into smartcard-based CAS and card-less CAS. Smartcard-based CAS are the traditional systems that include additional hardware such as chip/smartcard with embedded conditional access software. This hardware is mounted on the set-top box in order to enable content security by providing access to authorized users. Due to the prolonged existence of smartcard-based CAS, this type of CAS currently has the highest penetration in global conditional access systems market. Card-less CAS, also called as software-based conditional access system, requires no hardware and the software is embedded directly onto the set-top box. The most significant advantage of card-less CAS is their low operating and upgrading costs as compared to smartcard-based CAS. In addition, software-based CAS offer better security against hacking than smartcard-based CAS.

    The global conditional access systems market is also driven by the growing penetration of internet-based services such as internet protocol television (IPTV), on-demand video and others in different geographic regions. The demand for conditional access solutions in these applications is mainly fueled from the developed regions having large penetration of IPTV and on-demand video services. Further, the global conditional access systems market is predicted to witness strong growth due to various advancements in the conditional access solutions. Most of the companies are now focusing on development of advanced solutions such as cloud-based conditional access systems, multi-screen CAS and others.

    The global conditional access systems market is segmented into type of solutions, application and geographic regions. On the basis of solution type, the market is segmented into smartcard-based CAS and card-less CAS. In 2014, the smartcard-based CAS segment accounted for the largest share, in terms of revenue and adoption, in the global conditional access systems market. This was majorly due to the prolonged existence of these solutions in the market. However, the card-less CAS segment is estimated to witness the highest demand during the forecast period.

    This is attributed to high advantages such as low costs, easy upgrading and maintenance offered by these solutions over smartcard-based CAS. Another factor driving the growth of card-less CAS segment is its less susceptibility towards hacking. Furthermore, on the basis of applications, the global conditional access systems market is segmented into television, internet services and digital radio. The global market for conditional access systems was dominated by the television segment in 2014. The highest market share of television segment is attributed to the rapidly growing penetration of digital television worldwide. In addition, the television segment is predicted to hold its dominant position throughout the forecast period due to ongoing digital television transition in countries such as China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and others.

    In 2014, North America accounted for the largest share of over 31 per cent, in terms of revenue, in the global conditional access systems market. This is due to the high penetration of advanced digital television services such as high definition (HD) television and substantially growing adoption of Ultra HD (UHD) television. However, the global conditional access systems market is estimated to witness the highest growth in Asia Pacific during the forecast period. This is due to the rapidly increasing adoption of digital television in China and South Asia.

    The major companies in the global conditional access systems market include Cisco Systems, Inc., Nagravision SA (Kudelski Group), China Digital TV Co., Ltd., Verimatrix, Inc., Irdeto, Inc., Austrian Broadcasting Services GmbH & Co. KG (ORS Group), Viaccess-Orca (Orange Group), Coretrust, Inc., Latens Systems Ltd., Wellav Technologies Ltd. and Alticast Corporation. The global conditional access systems market is highly consolidated in nature with top three players namely Nagravision SA, Cisco Systems, Inc. and China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd. accounting for over 70% of the market share. Other important players in this market include Irdeto, Inc., Viaccess-Orca and Verimatrix, Inc.

  • 37 new MSOs in 45 days takes total to 1421, seven among 59 cases sub-judice

    NEW DELHI: In an attempt to give a spurt to digitisation, as many as 37 multi-system operators were registered during May and the first fortnight of June to take the total number to 1421.

    Following the decision of the government to deem all provisional multi-system operators as having regular licence and giving a provisional licence to the Tamil Nadu Arasu TV Corporation, there is a composite list instead of separate lists for provisional or permanent (ten year) licencees.

    In addition, the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has released a list of 59 MSOs, of which seven are pending in courts and the others have been treated as closed. Faced with just less than a month before the switch-off of analogue signals, the government had, on 6 March 2017, decided to treat all MSOs as permanent but with the condition that the period of 10 years commences from the date they got registered as provisional MSOs.

    However, if the continuation of registration of any MSO is at any time found to be or considered detrimental to the security of the state, then the registration so granted is liable to be cancelled/suspended, the order placed on the ministry’s website specified. All other terms and conditions stated in the provisional registration letter(s) will continue to apply.

    Earlier, on 27 January 2017, it was decided that all registered MSOs are free to operate in any part of the country, irrespective of registration for specified DAS notified areas. However, they have to submit the details of Headend, SMS, subscribers list and a self-certificate that they are carrying all the mandatory TV Channels, within six months from date of issuance of MSO registration, to the ministry, failing which the MSO registration is liable to cancelled/suspended.

    Hence, all deemed regular registered MSOs also are required to submit the details to the ministry within six months.

    The Tamil Nadu-Government-run TACTV was granted provisional licence on 18 April 2017 to operate as a MSO in the state on the condition that it switches off analogue signals in the state within three months which has now been extended to 17 August 2017.

    The MIB had then told indiantelevision.com that it had been made clear that the provisional licence was subject to the Centre taking a final decision on the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that no government-owned body should be permitted in the field of running or distributing television channels. TRAI had, in 2008, 2012 and 2014, held that state governments and political parties should not be permitted to own TV channels or distribution channels.

    In Tamil Nadu where there is a court stay in operation since Phase I, TACTV had warned MSOs and LCOs against switching off analogue signals anywhere in the state after 31 March 2017.

    Arasu had been granted provisional licence in 2006 at the time of the Conditional Access System on certain conditions based on the TRAI report but this had not been renewed when Digital Addressable System came into force.

    Also read

    Including Arasu, total number of MSOs goes up to 1376, to ensure DAS implementation

  • Arasu gets a month’s extension to go digital

    NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation, which had been granted a provisional licence with the condition to digitise completely within three months, has now got an additional months time following a request by the state government.

    The original grant period was scheduled to expire on 17 July 2017, and it is understood that TACTV had already commenced work to acquire digital STBs. However, the principal secretary of the Tamil Nadu government had, in a letter dated 6 June 2017, sought three more months.

    However, in a letter sent to TACTV dated 21 June, the ministry of information and broadcasting ministry has said that the request was considered but it was decided to grant only a month’s extension.

    Consequently, TACTV has been asked to complete the digitisation process by 17 August 2017 failing which the provisional the “registration may be suspended/revoked.”

    Copies of the letter have been sent to the principal secretary of the Tamil Nadu IT Department, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, and the Commissioner/Superintendent of Police in Chennai.

    A TACTV official, who did not want to be named, told indiantelevision.com that Arasu had already put up most of the digital head-ends and would be ready to transmit signals by mid-August.

    However, the official said that the real problem lay in the availability and seeding of seven million digital set top boxes, which may take some more time.

  • Probe Punjab ‘cable mafia,’ demands minister, Fastway refutes charges

    MUMBAI: Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has alleged that the private TV cable company Fastway Transmission Private Limited, under the “patronage” of the previous Akali government, had caused a loss of around Rs 6840 million to the state exchequer. Because of the political patronage, only Fastway monopolised the cable TV business in Punjab, he said, PTI reported.

    The state government last Friday ordered a tax evasion notice to be slapped on the Fastway Cable which is said to be Punjab’s biggest TV transmission multi-system operator (MSO). FastWay, however, rejecting the charges, said that the company had permissions from all the departments concerned such as PWD, forest department, canal department, and railways etc. :The company is regular in payment of entertainment tax and there are no outstanding taxes due to tax theft by the company, Fastway CEO Peeush Mahajan said in a statement.

    Sidhu meanwhile demanded a separate investigation into the alleged under-reporting of TV connections and cable operators engaged by Fastway. Of over 8,000 cable operators in the state, 6,500 were working for Fastway, he alleged. He demanded vigilance inquiry from the chief minister Amarinder Singh against what he called the “cable mafia”.

    The local bodies minister said Fastway started with a paid-up capital of Rs 25 lakh, but earned a whopping Rs 30 crore profit in the first year itself. He alleged that only 1.25 lakh cable connections were shown in Punjab state as against the actual figure of 80 lakh — this was done to evade taxes, PTI added.

    For 10 years, the state exchequer did not get even a penny in taxes, he said. No fee or tax was paid to the civic authorities, no entertainment tax was paid to the state or the Central government, he alleged. It is a unique case where the ruling family violated all government rules, he said in the state assembly.

    Fastway MD Gurdeep Singh Kohli said the allegations of tax dues or under-reporting subscriber base were false. Most of the cable operators fall in the income bracket of less than Rs one million, and so were are exempt from paying service tax, he added. “The entertainment tax at the rate of Rs 15,000 that the government alleged we did not pay, is payable by cable operators, and not by MSOs like us,” Kohli said.

  • GTPL Hathway allots Rs. 1450 mn to anchor investors, IPO opens today

    MUMBAI: GTPL Hathway has finalised the allocation of 8,555,294 Equity Shares at Rs. 170 per Equity Share (upper end of the Price Band) aggregating to Rs. 145.43 crore (Rs 1450 million) to anchor investors.

    Anchor investors include: Acacia Banyan Partners – 30.94%; Government Pension Fund Global – 18.56%; BNP Paribas Equity Fund – 5.03%; BNP Paribas Long Term Equity Fund – 2.92%; BNP Paribas MidCap Fund – 5.85%; BNP Paribas Dividend Yield Fund – 2.34%; BNP Paribas Balanced Fund – 1.05%; HTCL-HDFC Prudence Fund – 15.13%; DB International Asia Limited – 10.62%; Vittoria Fund SR LP – Asia Portfolio – 7.56%.

    The Company proposes to open on Wednesday, 21 June, the initial public offering of equity shares of face value of Rs. 10 each (“Equity Shares”) for cash (including a share premium) (the “Offer”) comprising a fresh issue of Equity Shares aggregating up to Rs. 2,400 million (“Fresh Issue”) and an offer for sale of up to 14,400,000 Equity Shares – comprising up to 1,136,000 Equity Shares by Aniruddhasinhji Jadeja, up to 440,000 Equity Shares by Kanaksinh Rana, up to 5,480,000 Equity Shares by Gujarat Digi Com Private Limited, up to 7,200,000 Equity Shares by Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited and up to 144,000 Equity Shares by Amit Shah (collectively the “Selling Shareholders”) (“Offer For Sale”).

    The Bid/ Offer will close on Friday, 23 June.

    The Price Band for the Offer is fixed at Rs. 167 to Rs. 170 per Equity Share. Bids can be made for a minimum of 88 Equity Shares and in multiples of 88 Equity Shares thereafter.

    The Book Running Lead Managers (“BRLMs”) to the Offer are JM Financial Institutional Securities Limited, BNP Paribas, Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited and Yes Securities (India) Limited.

    The Equity Shares offered through the RHP are proposed to be listed on BSE Limited (“BSE”) and National Stock Exchange of India Limited (“NSE”).

  • Hathway builds brand Special, adds two service categories

    MUMBAI: Hathway Digital, a leading MSO, has announced the introduction of ‘Play My Play’ – an exclusive and first-ever kind of service on television featuring full-length plays for Hathway’s theatre-loving patrons, and ‘Hare Krsna’ focused on eternal well-being by bringing out the deep learnings associated with ISKCON.

    Hare Krsna will be available initially only in Maharashtra with a subsequent rollout across India. Available under the Hathway Special brand, subscribers can view Hare Krsna and Play My Play at no additional cost for the first month starting 15 June. Later, a nominal price of Rs. 40 for Play My Play and Rs. 25 for Hare Krsna will be charged on a monthly basis. Hathway Special was launched earlier in February which made Hathway the first among MSOs to launch VAS.

    Play My Play will bring to Indian homes the leisure of watching over 350 of the best and never before seen plays produced and dramatised for Indian theatre. The 24×7 service will screen plays in English, Hindi, across a range of genres and will feature plays by renowned writers like Premchand, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Shakesphere, Manto in addition to popular Bollywood writers like Piyush Mishra, D P Sinha, Danish Iqbal, Badal Sarkar and many more. Khidki, Perfect Wedding, Roop Aroop, Aik Machine Kabadi Ki, Aurangzeb, and Gang of Girls are a few plays available on Play My Play.

    Hare Krsna on the other hand will be catering to the spiritually inclined and focus on transformation and wellbeing of its followers. This service will feature International music festivals, documentaries, human interest stories on how ISKCON has transformed lives, the most vivid and assorted Rath-Yatras from around the world, complete recitals of the Bhagavad Gita, lessons on SATVIK cooking, Kirtans, etc. It will also have a special section dedicated to kids with animated stories on Lord Krsna.

    Hathway Video Business CEO T.S. Panesar said, “The success and continued positive response we have been receiving for Hathway Special reiterates the fact that we are living up to our promise of delivering unique v-added service. With the two launches, we will be adding two categories of services under the brand. We will continue to expand our service categories.”

  • GTPL Hathway IPO proceeds may help increase subs base & penetration, hike stake in JVs

    MUMBAI: GTPL Hathway, India’s leading cable TV distribution company reaching an estimated eight million households in 10 states, proposes to open on 21 June an initial public offering of equity shares of face value of Rs. 10 each for cash (including a share premium) comprising a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs. 2,400 million and an offer for sale of up to 14,400,000 equity shares – comprising up to 1,136,000 equity shares by Aniruddhasinhji Jadeja, up to 440,000 equity shares by Kanaksinh Rana, up to 5,480,000 equity shares by Gujarat Digi Com Private Limited, up to 7,200,000 equity shares by Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited and up to 144,000 equity shares by Amit Shah (collectively the “selling shareholders”). 

    The bid will close on 23 June, 2017. The price band of the IPO has been fixed at Rs 167 to Rs 170 per share. 

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, GTPL Hathway head – investor relations Piyush Pankaj said that they planned to increase its cable television subscriber base as well as penetration into the markets. “There are joint venture (JV) companies where we are considering to increase our stake — (it is a) pipeline where we would need the board’s approval,” Pankaj said. On stake dilution, Pankaj said that it was a strategic decision by the promoters to dilute only around 25 per cent stake, and not up to 30 per cent. As stated in the official parlance, GTPL Hathway would use the proceeds for debt reduction and general corporate purposes.

    The book-running lead managers to the offer are: JM Financial Institutional Securities Limited, BNP Paribas, Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited and Yes Securities (India) Limited.

    Also Read:

    GTPL Hathway gets SEBI nod for Rs 600-cr June IPO, to repay loans, expand cable & b’band with new tech

    GTPL Hathway files listing prospectus