ITV

Category: Cable TV

  • Den Networks consolidated numbers grow in Q2-17; tests OTT platform

    Den Networks consolidated numbers grow in Q2-17; tests OTT platform

    BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Den Networks Ltd (Den) Cable business segment consolidated total revenue (pre-activation) increased 18 percent in in the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter) to Rs 258 crore from Rs231 crore in Q2-16. The company reported consolidated EBIDTA of Rs 34 crore in Q2-17 as compared to Rs 1 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Consolidated net loss in Q2-17 more than halved to Rs 48 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 99 crore in Q2-16.

    Twomain segments currently contribute to Den’s revenue: Cable distribution network segment (Cable, Cable business) and Broadband internet segment (Boomband). It has two other segments – TV Commerce and soccer. Den says that its OTT platform is undergoing tests and will be launched soon. The company says further that it has divested another 25 percent of its soccer business.

    Cable segment

    Cable subscription revenue increased 31 percent y-o-y to Rs140 crore in Q2-17 from Rs115 crore in Q2-16. Cable activation revenue increased 17 percent y-o-y to Rs 32 crore from Rs 27 crore. Placement revenue declined 13 percent y-o-y to Rs86 crore from Rs98 crore.

    The company reported 101 lakh DAS subscribers, of which 51 lakh were from DAS phases III and IV for Q2-17. The company had 76 lakh digital subscribers in Q2-16.Den has a cable subscriber base of 1.3 crore.

    Broadband segment

    Den’s Broadband segment revenue more than doubled (2.6 times) in Q2-17 to Rs 21 crore from Rs 8 crore in Q2-16. Please refer to the figure below for Den’s revenue break-up for Q2-17 and Q2-16.

    The company says that it has added about 25,000 subscribers in the current quarter, hence bringing its broadband internet subscriber base to 140,000.

    Broadband segment’s operating loss (EBIDTA) in Q2-17 was lower at Rs 2 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 11 crore in Q2-16 and an operating loss of Rs 9 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

    public://DEN.jpg

    Other numbers for Q2-17

    Den’s consolidated total expenditure in the current quarter declined 4 percent to Rs 244 crore from Rs 256 crore in Q2-16.

    Content costs are a major component of Den’s expenditure- Content costs in the current quarter declined 8 percent in the current quarter to Rs 118 crore from Rs 128 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Employee(Personnel) costs increased2 percent in the current quarter to Rs33 crore from Rs 34 crore in Q2-16. Other operating expenses in Q2-17 declined4 percent to Rs 84 crore from Rs88 crore.

    Note: (1.1) The above report is based on Den’s investor presentation for Q2-17.
    (1.2) All numbers mentioned are consolidated unless stated otherwise.
    (1.3)    The figures mentioned above have been rounded off and based on the numbers presented by Den in the public domain.
    (2) The numbers in this paper are as per Indian Accounting System. (Ind AS)
    (3) The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:
    (a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.
    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

     

  • Den Networks consolidated numbers grow in Q2-17; tests OTT platform

    Den Networks consolidated numbers grow in Q2-17; tests OTT platform

    BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Den Networks Ltd (Den) Cable business segment consolidated total revenue (pre-activation) increased 18 percent in in the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter) to Rs 258 crore from Rs231 crore in Q2-16. The company reported consolidated EBIDTA of Rs 34 crore in Q2-17 as compared to Rs 1 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Consolidated net loss in Q2-17 more than halved to Rs 48 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 99 crore in Q2-16.

    Twomain segments currently contribute to Den’s revenue: Cable distribution network segment (Cable, Cable business) and Broadband internet segment (Boomband). It has two other segments – TV Commerce and soccer. Den says that its OTT platform is undergoing tests and will be launched soon. The company says further that it has divested another 25 percent of its soccer business.

    Cable segment

    Cable subscription revenue increased 31 percent y-o-y to Rs140 crore in Q2-17 from Rs115 crore in Q2-16. Cable activation revenue increased 17 percent y-o-y to Rs 32 crore from Rs 27 crore. Placement revenue declined 13 percent y-o-y to Rs86 crore from Rs98 crore.

    The company reported 101 lakh DAS subscribers, of which 51 lakh were from DAS phases III and IV for Q2-17. The company had 76 lakh digital subscribers in Q2-16.Den has a cable subscriber base of 1.3 crore.

    Broadband segment

    Den’s Broadband segment revenue more than doubled (2.6 times) in Q2-17 to Rs 21 crore from Rs 8 crore in Q2-16. Please refer to the figure below for Den’s revenue break-up for Q2-17 and Q2-16.

    The company says that it has added about 25,000 subscribers in the current quarter, hence bringing its broadband internet subscriber base to 140,000.

    Broadband segment’s operating loss (EBIDTA) in Q2-17 was lower at Rs 2 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 11 crore in Q2-16 and an operating loss of Rs 9 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

    public://DEN.jpg

    Other numbers for Q2-17

    Den’s consolidated total expenditure in the current quarter declined 4 percent to Rs 244 crore from Rs 256 crore in Q2-16.

    Content costs are a major component of Den’s expenditure- Content costs in the current quarter declined 8 percent in the current quarter to Rs 118 crore from Rs 128 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Employee(Personnel) costs increased2 percent in the current quarter to Rs33 crore from Rs 34 crore in Q2-16. Other operating expenses in Q2-17 declined4 percent to Rs 84 crore from Rs88 crore.

    Note: (1.1) The above report is based on Den’s investor presentation for Q2-17.
    (1.2) All numbers mentioned are consolidated unless stated otherwise.
    (1.3)    The figures mentioned above have been rounded off and based on the numbers presented by Den in the public domain.
    (2) The numbers in this paper are as per Indian Accounting System. (Ind AS)
    (3) The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:
    (a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.
    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

     

  • Q2-17: Den Networks reports higher revenue, operating profits

    Q2-17: Den Networks reports higher revenue, operating profits

    BENGALURU: Multiple-systems operator Den Networks Limited (Den) reported 26.7 percent increase in Total Income from operations (TIO) for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter (Q2-16). The company also reported a consolidated operating profit (EBIDTA) of Rs 28.75 crore (10.6 percent margin) in the current quarter as opposed to an operating loss (negative EBIDTA) of Rs 39.80 crore. Den’s TIO for the current quarter was Rs 272.44 crore as compared to Rs 214.99 crore. EBIDTA including other income was Rs 36.24 crore (13.3 percent margin of IO) in Q2-17 as opposed to an operating loss (including other income) of Rs 27.14 crore in Q2-16.

    Further the company reported lower losses for the current quarter as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter. Net loss after tax (PAT) reduced to Rs 47.87 crore in Q2-17 as compared to a loss of Rs 83.11 crore in Q2-16. Total Comprehensive Income (TCI) improved to a negative Rs 48.43 crore in Q2-17 as compared a negative Rs 97.66 crore in Q2-16.

    Segment numbers

    The company has two operating segments that contribute to revenue for now– Cable Distribution Network (Cable) and Broadband (brand Boomband). Both segments reported improved operating numbers. Its third segment – the soccer segment has no revenue as of now, but is an expense head and had reported an operating loss of Rs 8.57 crore for Q2-16. The segment has neither income nor result for the current quarter,

    Cable segment reported 21.7 percent growth in operating revenue in Q2-17 at Rs 251.74 crore as compared to Rs 206.84 crore in Q2-16. The segment’s operating loss in the current quarter improved to Rs 31.22 crore as compared to higher operating loss of Rs 54.88 core in Q2-16.

    Broadband segment standalone revenue more than doubled (over 2.6 times) in the current quarter to Rs 20.70 crore as compared to Rs 8.05 crore in Q2-16. The segment reported lower standalone operating loss in Q2-17 of Rs 8 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 23.23 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    The company’s soccer segment reported a net loss of Rs

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Den

    Total Expenditure in the current quarter was 3.3 percent higher at Rs 311.66 crore (114.4 percent of TIO) as compared Rs 301.67 crore (140.3 percent of TIO) in Q2-16. As percentage of TIO, Total expenditure in the current quarter was lower as compared to Q2-16.

    A major cost head for Den is Content Costs which reduced by 7.7 percent to Rs 118.25 crore (43.4 percent of TIO) in Q2-17 from Rs 128.13 crore (59.6 percent of TIO).

    Other Expenses reduced 8 percent in the current quarter to Rs 78.62 crore (28.9 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 85.46 crore (39.8 percent of TIO) in Q2-16.

    Placement fees more than doubled (increased 59.2 percent) in the current quarter to Rs 13.8 crore (5.1 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 8.67 crore (4 percent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Employee benefits expense in Q2-17 declined 1.5 percent to Rs 33.02 crore (12.1 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 32.53 crore (15.1 percent of TIO) in Q2-16.

    Finance costs in the current quarter declined 36.2 percent to Rs 12.92 crore (4.7 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 20.25 crore (9.4 percent of TIO) in Q2-16.

    Other Income in Q2-17 was less than half (declined 58.5 percent) to Rs 7.49 crore as compared to Rs 18.06 crore in Q2-16.

    Note: (1) All numbers mentioned in this report are standalone unless stated otherwiserigh.

    (2)The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

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

    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

     

  • Q2-17: Den Networks reports higher revenue, operating profits

    Q2-17: Den Networks reports higher revenue, operating profits

    BENGALURU: Multiple-systems operator Den Networks Limited (Den) reported 26.7 percent increase in Total Income from operations (TIO) for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter (Q2-16). The company also reported a consolidated operating profit (EBIDTA) of Rs 28.75 crore (10.6 percent margin) in the current quarter as opposed to an operating loss (negative EBIDTA) of Rs 39.80 crore. Den’s TIO for the current quarter was Rs 272.44 crore as compared to Rs 214.99 crore. EBIDTA including other income was Rs 36.24 crore (13.3 percent margin of IO) in Q2-17 as opposed to an operating loss (including other income) of Rs 27.14 crore in Q2-16.

    Further the company reported lower losses for the current quarter as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter. Net loss after tax (PAT) reduced to Rs 47.87 crore in Q2-17 as compared to a loss of Rs 83.11 crore in Q2-16. Total Comprehensive Income (TCI) improved to a negative Rs 48.43 crore in Q2-17 as compared a negative Rs 97.66 crore in Q2-16.

    Segment numbers

    The company has two operating segments that contribute to revenue for now– Cable Distribution Network (Cable) and Broadband (brand Boomband). Both segments reported improved operating numbers. Its third segment – the soccer segment has no revenue as of now, but is an expense head and had reported an operating loss of Rs 8.57 crore for Q2-16. The segment has neither income nor result for the current quarter,

    Cable segment reported 21.7 percent growth in operating revenue in Q2-17 at Rs 251.74 crore as compared to Rs 206.84 crore in Q2-16. The segment’s operating loss in the current quarter improved to Rs 31.22 crore as compared to higher operating loss of Rs 54.88 core in Q2-16.

    Broadband segment standalone revenue more than doubled (over 2.6 times) in the current quarter to Rs 20.70 crore as compared to Rs 8.05 crore in Q2-16. The segment reported lower standalone operating loss in Q2-17 of Rs 8 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 23.23 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    The company’s soccer segment reported a net loss of Rs

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Den

    Total Expenditure in the current quarter was 3.3 percent higher at Rs 311.66 crore (114.4 percent of TIO) as compared Rs 301.67 crore (140.3 percent of TIO) in Q2-16. As percentage of TIO, Total expenditure in the current quarter was lower as compared to Q2-16.

    A major cost head for Den is Content Costs which reduced by 7.7 percent to Rs 118.25 crore (43.4 percent of TIO) in Q2-17 from Rs 128.13 crore (59.6 percent of TIO).

    Other Expenses reduced 8 percent in the current quarter to Rs 78.62 crore (28.9 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 85.46 crore (39.8 percent of TIO) in Q2-16.

    Placement fees more than doubled (increased 59.2 percent) in the current quarter to Rs 13.8 crore (5.1 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 8.67 crore (4 percent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Employee benefits expense in Q2-17 declined 1.5 percent to Rs 33.02 crore (12.1 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 32.53 crore (15.1 percent of TIO) in Q2-16.

    Finance costs in the current quarter declined 36.2 percent to Rs 12.92 crore (4.7 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 20.25 crore (9.4 percent of TIO) in Q2-16.

    Other Income in Q2-17 was less than half (declined 58.5 percent) to Rs 7.49 crore as compared to Rs 18.06 crore in Q2-16.

    Note: (1) All numbers mentioned in this report are standalone unless stated otherwiserigh.

    (2)The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

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

    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

     

  • Hathway promotes senior VP Rajaraman. S as COO of video business

    Hathway promotes senior VP Rajaraman. S as COO of video business

    MUMBAI: Hathway Cable and Datacom has elevated Rajaraman. S as COO of the video business. Rajaraman was the senior VP of business operations, and played an important role in streamlining the business operations of the company including the Phase-III expansion.

    With an experience of 18 years in the media & broadcasting space, Rajaraman had a long tenure with Star India’s south business as head of finance prior to joining Hathway.

    In wake of the recent changes in its management structure, the company is looking to build greater focus on its Video business to keep pace with the fast changing dynamics of the digitization regime and to grow the business in the new regulatory environment proposed by TRAI in the coming months.

    Commenting on the development, Hathway Cable & Datacom CEO Tavinderjit Panesar said, “The cable industry is set for a transformational shift in light of the new regulations. At Hathway, we are encouraged and excited to look at this as a big growth opportunity. Rajaraman has been an integral part of the change in the video business that Hathway has witnessed over the last couple of years by strengthening our processes and operations and setting the business for new challenges ahead. In his new role, we are confident that he will be able to contribute immensely in achieving our business objectives.”

  • Hathway promotes senior VP Rajaraman. S as COO of video business

    Hathway promotes senior VP Rajaraman. S as COO of video business

    MUMBAI: Hathway Cable and Datacom has elevated Rajaraman. S as COO of the video business. Rajaraman was the senior VP of business operations, and played an important role in streamlining the business operations of the company including the Phase-III expansion.

    With an experience of 18 years in the media & broadcasting space, Rajaraman had a long tenure with Star India’s south business as head of finance prior to joining Hathway.

    In wake of the recent changes in its management structure, the company is looking to build greater focus on its Video business to keep pace with the fast changing dynamics of the digitization regime and to grow the business in the new regulatory environment proposed by TRAI in the coming months.

    Commenting on the development, Hathway Cable & Datacom CEO Tavinderjit Panesar said, “The cable industry is set for a transformational shift in light of the new regulations. At Hathway, we are encouraged and excited to look at this as a big growth opportunity. Rajaraman has been an integral part of the change in the video business that Hathway has witnessed over the last couple of years by strengthening our processes and operations and setting the business for new challenges ahead. In his new role, we are confident that he will be able to contribute immensely in achieving our business objectives.”

  • MSO’s net worth should be positive for registration: Govt.

    MSO’s net worth should be positive for registration: Govt.

    NEW DELHI: An inter-ministerial committee (IMC) of the government, grappling with the issue of differentiating between serious and non-serious players, has recommended that net worth of an MSO must be positive for grant of registration, but shied away from stipulating a minimum monetary ceiling.

    The IMC, which met earlier this month, came to the conclusion after feedback from various other ministries, including finance, information and broadcasting and commerce, that in case an existing registered MSO applied for registration for additional areas, the net worth of the company must be positive for those areas too for a green signal from the government.

    For an expenditure of about 25 lakh (Rs. 25,00,000) by a company to establish an MSO business, a loan can be availed of by a new applicant through banks, the IMC said.

    Justifying its stand on the MSO company’s net worth being positive, IMC said it should be so as the government was providing loans without collaterals to small entrepreneurs for starting a business. “Hence the net worth of the entity applying for MSO registration has to be positive,” the government panel observed.

    For the purposes of net worth evaluation, IMC reiterated that immovable/movable assets, generally included in the net worth certificates submitted by the applicants, could continue to be taken into account as per previous practice.

    The panel took into consideration, among other issues, whether for registration purpose an entry level threshold net worth be specified and whether an MSO, already registered for certain areas, may be considered as eligible for registration in extended areas if its net worth was presently negative.

  • MSO’s net worth should be positive for registration: Govt.

    MSO’s net worth should be positive for registration: Govt.

    NEW DELHI: An inter-ministerial committee (IMC) of the government, grappling with the issue of differentiating between serious and non-serious players, has recommended that net worth of an MSO must be positive for grant of registration, but shied away from stipulating a minimum monetary ceiling.

    The IMC, which met earlier this month, came to the conclusion after feedback from various other ministries, including finance, information and broadcasting and commerce, that in case an existing registered MSO applied for registration for additional areas, the net worth of the company must be positive for those areas too for a green signal from the government.

    For an expenditure of about 25 lakh (Rs. 25,00,000) by a company to establish an MSO business, a loan can be availed of by a new applicant through banks, the IMC said.

    Justifying its stand on the MSO company’s net worth being positive, IMC said it should be so as the government was providing loans without collaterals to small entrepreneurs for starting a business. “Hence the net worth of the entity applying for MSO registration has to be positive,” the government panel observed.

    For the purposes of net worth evaluation, IMC reiterated that immovable/movable assets, generally included in the net worth certificates submitted by the applicants, could continue to be taken into account as per previous practice.

    The panel took into consideration, among other issues, whether for registration purpose an entry level threshold net worth be specified and whether an MSO, already registered for certain areas, may be considered as eligible for registration in extended areas if its net worth was presently negative.

  • Delhi HC removes legal hurdles to implement DAS IV by 1 Jan 2017

    Delhi HC removes legal hurdles to implement DAS IV by 1 Jan 2017

    NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI: The Delhi High Court has vacated all interim orders giving extension of deadline in Phase III of digitisation, thus clearing legal hurdles for complete digitisation by the stipulated deadline of 31 December 2016 when the last and Phase IV is supposed to get completed.

    The court, disposing of pending petitions, directed all petitioners to run a scroll on their networks about digitisation and analog switch-off in two weeks, apart from informing their subscribers in advance about the change-over to digital signals that will require a set-top-box (STB).

    Last month, the court overruled orders passed by various other courts in the country and, in eight other cases, vacated the stay where petitioners had sought an extension of deadline for implementing digital addressable system (DAS) in Phase III areas.

    While originally the date for implementation of DAS Phase III was 30 September 2014, it was extended to 31 December 2015 by a notification issued by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB). The country, as per the original plan, is supposed to be fully digitised with the completion of Phase IV by the last day of 2016.

    With the latest court directive, now it’s up to the various industry stakeholders, the government and the regulator to ensure that Phase IV is completed on schedule or as early as possible. Complete digitisation of TV services in the country is expected to bring about more transparency in the system that would benefit all.

    Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) president and Zee MD Punit Goenka said, “We welcome all stakeholders into the dawn of a new era and hope that the digitisation bandwagon continues unabated in Phase IV as well, which is to be implemented from 1 January 2017.”

    IBF, an apex body of broadcasting companies, has been involved in the cases filed in various courts that were finally transferred to the Delhi High Court under the direction of the Supreme Court. “We were hit by a flurry of litigations, all filed within a space of 15 days beginning with 30 December 2015, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Stays were obtained on implementation for periods of up to two months. Soon, the fire spread to 18 other high courts with over 50 petitions being filed,” said IBF secretary-general Girish Srivastava.

    Welcoming the judgement, Siti Networks Limited ED & CEO and president of All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) VD Wadhwa said, “This is a landmark moment in the Digital India journey as it will clear the passage for timely implementation of DAS Phase IV. It is now obligatory on part of broadcasters and other players to disconnect analog signals within two weeks. This will also pave the way for digital revenues to flow in from these areas.” AIDCF is an industry body representing digital MSOs.

    According to Hinduja Group CEO-Media Tony DSilva, “It’s a positive step in the direction of digitisation. I would appreciate if MIB comes out with a clarification on final cut-off date for digitisation and be more realistic in the dates for Phase IV.”

    DEN CEO S N Sharma, terming the court direction as positive, said that the demand (for STBs) would increase as the legal question marks over DAS have been cleared.

    Background To Legal Cases Relating to Digitisation

    A total of 62 cases had been filed in different courts and 29 cases had been transferred by various courts to Delhi by July-end. Of the 62 cases, 12 had been disposed off by respective courts and three cases had been withdrawn by the petitioners.

    While the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court had given orders extending the deadline of 31 December 2015 for Phase III, the Bombay High Court, while referring to a judgement, had said that if similar situation prevails in all states, then the stay can be pan-India. This was because the plea taken by petitioners in high courts was shortage of STBs.
     Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had admitted that the Law Ministry had observed the order passed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court staying Phase III “appears to have all-lndia applicability”.

    Indiantelevision.com had reported in January this year that MIB had told the Punjab and Haryana High Court it had “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 high courts”.

    Sensing the wildfire effect the DAS Phase III cases could have, MIB approached Supreme Court with a plea to transfer all similar cases to one high court and the apex court asked Delhi High Court in April 2016 to handle these cases and directed notices to be sent to all other high courts to forward relevant files to Delhi HC.

    Also Read:

    DAS cases put off to 23 Nov as legal processes incomplete

    Siti Networks CEO V.D. Wadhwa hails dismissal of DAS III cases by Delhi HC

     

  • Delhi HC removes legal hurdles to implement DAS IV by 1 Jan 2017

    Delhi HC removes legal hurdles to implement DAS IV by 1 Jan 2017

    NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI: The Delhi High Court has vacated all interim orders giving extension of deadline in Phase III of digitisation, thus clearing legal hurdles for complete digitisation by the stipulated deadline of 31 December 2016 when the last and Phase IV is supposed to get completed.

    The court, disposing of pending petitions, directed all petitioners to run a scroll on their networks about digitisation and analog switch-off in two weeks, apart from informing their subscribers in advance about the change-over to digital signals that will require a set-top-box (STB).

    Last month, the court overruled orders passed by various other courts in the country and, in eight other cases, vacated the stay where petitioners had sought an extension of deadline for implementing digital addressable system (DAS) in Phase III areas.

    While originally the date for implementation of DAS Phase III was 30 September 2014, it was extended to 31 December 2015 by a notification issued by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB). The country, as per the original plan, is supposed to be fully digitised with the completion of Phase IV by the last day of 2016.

    With the latest court directive, now it’s up to the various industry stakeholders, the government and the regulator to ensure that Phase IV is completed on schedule or as early as possible. Complete digitisation of TV services in the country is expected to bring about more transparency in the system that would benefit all.

    Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) president and Zee MD Punit Goenka said, “We welcome all stakeholders into the dawn of a new era and hope that the digitisation bandwagon continues unabated in Phase IV as well, which is to be implemented from 1 January 2017.”

    IBF, an apex body of broadcasting companies, has been involved in the cases filed in various courts that were finally transferred to the Delhi High Court under the direction of the Supreme Court. “We were hit by a flurry of litigations, all filed within a space of 15 days beginning with 30 December 2015, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Stays were obtained on implementation for periods of up to two months. Soon, the fire spread to 18 other high courts with over 50 petitions being filed,” said IBF secretary-general Girish Srivastava.

    Welcoming the judgement, Siti Networks Limited ED & CEO and president of All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) VD Wadhwa said, “This is a landmark moment in the Digital India journey as it will clear the passage for timely implementation of DAS Phase IV. It is now obligatory on part of broadcasters and other players to disconnect analog signals within two weeks. This will also pave the way for digital revenues to flow in from these areas.” AIDCF is an industry body representing digital MSOs.

    According to Hinduja Group CEO-Media Tony DSilva, “It’s a positive step in the direction of digitisation. I would appreciate if MIB comes out with a clarification on final cut-off date for digitisation and be more realistic in the dates for Phase IV.”

    DEN CEO S N Sharma, terming the court direction as positive, said that the demand (for STBs) would increase as the legal question marks over DAS have been cleared.

    Background To Legal Cases Relating to Digitisation

    A total of 62 cases had been filed in different courts and 29 cases had been transferred by various courts to Delhi by July-end. Of the 62 cases, 12 had been disposed off by respective courts and three cases had been withdrawn by the petitioners.

    While the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court had given orders extending the deadline of 31 December 2015 for Phase III, the Bombay High Court, while referring to a judgement, had said that if similar situation prevails in all states, then the stay can be pan-India. This was because the plea taken by petitioners in high courts was shortage of STBs.
     Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had admitted that the Law Ministry had observed the order passed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court staying Phase III “appears to have all-lndia applicability”.

    Indiantelevision.com had reported in January this year that MIB had told the Punjab and Haryana High Court it had “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 high courts”.

    Sensing the wildfire effect the DAS Phase III cases could have, MIB approached Supreme Court with a plea to transfer all similar cases to one high court and the apex court asked Delhi High Court in April 2016 to handle these cases and directed notices to be sent to all other high courts to forward relevant files to Delhi HC.

    Also Read:

    DAS cases put off to 23 Nov as legal processes incomplete

    Siti Networks CEO V.D. Wadhwa hails dismissal of DAS III cases by Delhi HC