ITV

Category: Cable TV

  • Siti Networks posts Rs 509 million operating EBITDA in Q2 FY22

    Siti Networks posts Rs 509 million operating EBITDA in Q2 FY22

    Mumbai: Multi-system operator (MSO) Siti Networks has released its consolidated audited financial results for Q2 FY22 ended on 30 September. The company has maintained operating EBITDA at Rs 509 million and its operating EBITDA margin expanded to 13.9 per cent.

    The company announced the launch of Siti Mitra mobile app for its 25000+ local cable operator partners. The app has a fully functional ‘Own Your Customer’ subscriber management system, allowing partners to have control of their business on their palms. The app is available on the Google Play store.

    Total revenue (excluding activation) increased to Rs 3672 million from Rs 3615 million in the previous quarter. The company’s subscription revenue remained essentially flat at Rs 2350 million. Siti Broadband, too, observed a base jump of 20 per cent year on year and seven per cent quarter on quarter to 2.19 lakh. Siti Broadband’s revenue increased 4.1 per cent over the previous quarter and 11 per cent YoY to Rs 288 million.

    “Siti’s continued focus on operational efficiencies and strict control over expenses has ensured that our operating EBITDA is Rs.509 million with 13.9 per cent operating EBITDA margins. Our total revenue also increased to Rs.3,672 million. Our push for SITI Broadband has ensured that our customer base and revenues are up 20 per cent and 11 per cent y-o-y, respectively,” said Siti Networks chief executive officer Anil Malhotra.

    He added, “We have always had our ears to the ground, and the launch of the Siti Mitra mobile app for our 25,000+ partners is a testament to that. The app has our fully functional ‘Own Your Customers’ subscriber management system, and now our partners will be able to manage their business from their mobile phones. The app is available on the Google Play Store.”

  • Nxtdigital launches 40 new Nxthubs across India

    Nxtdigital launches 40 new Nxthubs across India

    Mumbai: Integrated digital distribution company Nxtdigital Ltd (NDL) has launched 40 Nxthubs across India and unveiled a value-added app for its last-mile owner (LMO) on Thursday.

    Following the launch of its pilot in Ranchi, these Nxthubs were electronically launched at an event in Hyderabad across 13 states including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, amongst others.

    Each Nxthub is owned and operated by NDL and is equipped with the latest technology comprising an ADDS or advanced digital distribution system – to distribute over 650 digital TV services received via satellite to LMOs and their customers. The Nxthub plug-and-play model eliminates the need for LMOs to invest in head-end and related technology. Besides video and broadband, these Nxthubs are future-ready to offer a slew of additional digital services including OTT and WiFi.

    According to the company, each location has been strategically chosen to augment the company’s footprint across the country, which today stands at over 4,400 pin codes, as well as focus on markets where LMO growth is constrained by the ability to invest. For LMOs, this plug-and-play solution facilitates them to go ‘digital’ literally overnight, offering their customers over 650 digital television channels and other digital services including broadband.

    NDL has planned a total of 100 such Nxthubs for this financial year that will further strengthen the NDL footprint across the country.

    “One of the key principles of the Hinduja Group is ‘partnership for growth’. After 2.0 saw the launch of headend-in-the-sky (HITS) to connect LMOs in even the most remote locations through the only satellite-based cable TV platform in India; 3.0 focuses not just on strengthening the overall ecosystem we have built, but harnessing the convergence of technologies – to be delivered through a national network of Nxthubs,” said Nxtdigital Ltd MD and CEO Vynsley Fernandes. “Video and broadband are only the start of the digital highway of services that we have developed for roll-out, backed by a robust suite of innovative apps developed by service providers, exclusively for our LMOs and subscribers.”

    Nxtdigital regional head for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana SY Srikumar said the company is proud that 16 of the 40 Nxthubs are in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana alone. “This national launch from Hyderabad reflects our commitment to LMOs here and the subscribers who expect a high quality of service. We believe this unique model will help stimulate growth and we have already lined up not just new products but also many more Nxthubs across the region,” he added.

    NDL also announced the launch of its new APIs or application programme interfaces for its Nxtdigital HITS service as well as a pre-integrated mobile app solution from ‘Mobiezy’ – under its VAAP program or ‘value-added apps for partners’. These APIs are designed to provide LMOs a way to develop or integrate their own subscriber mobile applications to automate activation/deactivation of subscriber packages directly into NDL’s systems, thereby enhancing the user experience it announced on Thursday.

    “This initiative will empower subscribers to pay online and subscribe to the channels they want to watch and get it activated on their TV sets in real-time without any delay. Without needing to undertake any software development, LMOs can approach Mobiezy for their pre-built and pre-integrated solution that uses Nxtdigital’s new APIs and can be up and running with their own mobile apps within just a few days,” said Nxtdigital group chief technology officer Ru Ediriwira.

    NDL has also been working on an infrastructure sharing model which will help other MSOs reduce operating costs, improve quality of service and extend services to hitherto unviable markets, especially rural; by riding on the HITS platform that covers all of India.

  • Trai issues new consultation paper to regulate monopoly in Cable TV services

    Trai issues new consultation paper to regulate monopoly in Cable TV services

    New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has released a new consultation paper to regulate the market structure/ competition in Cable TV services across the country.

    The issue was initially raised by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) in December 2012, when it sought the recommendation of the regulatory body. In its letter to Trai, the ministry highlighted how Cable TV distribution is virtually monopolised by a single entity in some states like Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Orissa, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

    According to MIB, it has become necessary to examine whether there is a need to bring in certain reasonable restrictions on Multi-System Operators (MSOs) and Local Cable operators (LCOs), including restricting their area of operation or restricting the subscriber base to prevent monopoly. The Cable TV Act and the Cable TV Rules also do not restrict the number of MSOs/LCOs operating in any specific area.  

    After following a due consultation process, Trai issued its recommendations on 26 November 2013. However, Trai has now received a backreference from MIB mentioning therein that a considerable time has passed since the recommendations were made and that the media and entertainment (M&E) landscape has changed drastically, particularly with the advent of new digital technologies in this sector. Technological developments especially IP technology and the increasing use of packet-switched digital communications have made converged services possible.

    Therefore, some of the issues need further consideration by the authority and it may provide a fresh set of recommendations in the matter looking at the subsequent developments/expansion in the M&E sector, stated MIB.

    The regulatory body has now invited comments from the stakeholders by 22 November. Counter comments, if any, may be submitted by 6 December.

    As of September 2021, there are 1733 registered MSOs in the country and approximately 1. 55 lakh cable operators as of March 2021.

  • NTO 2.0: MSOs asks Trai to reject new RIOs published by broadcasters

    NTO 2.0: MSOs asks Trai to reject new RIOs published by broadcasters

    Mumbai: The Tamil Nadu Digital Cable TV Operators Association has  sent a legal notice to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) asking it to reject the new reference interconnection offers (RIO) published by broadcasters. The Association has also sought Trai’s intervention in asking broadcasters to reduce channel prices as it “will cause irreparable loss to the entire industry”.

    Major broadcasters including Disney Star India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, Sony Pictures Networks India, and TV18 Broadcast Ltd, had published their new RIOs over the weekend starting from 15 October (Dussehra) with the new a-la-carte pay channel and bouquet pricing that adheres to Trai’s new tariff order (NTO) 2.0.

    The broadcasters had hiked the prices of their driver channels and pulled them from all their bouquets as Trai’s NTO 2.0 provisions mandated an MRP cap of Rs 12 for any pay channel to be included in a bouquet. The broadcasters are currently battling the Trai order in the Supreme Court stating that some of its provisions are arbitrary and outside the purview of the regulator. The final hearing is on 30 November.

    In its notice to Trai, the Association has stated that “major broadcasters have issued their RIOs where it can be calculated that majorly subscribed channels by the consumers will be inflated by 100 per cent to 200 per cent.”

    It added, “It is pertinent to mention here that during the situation when over-the-top service providers are trying to make their services more affordable to increase their subscriber base, the service providers of this industry will have to increase their rates substantially which will certainly cause loss of subscriber base of the local cable operators (LCOs) and multi-system operators (MSO).”

    These “excessive prices” will undoubtedly hurt the subscriber base of cable operators whose subscribers come from the rural areas of the country where income levels are comparatively lower. The MSO mentioned that any regulation/direction/order implemented by Trai should lead to the growth and development of service providers and consumers.

    “It is the contention of the Tamil Nadu Digital Cable TV Operators Association that the RIO published by Disney Star India has an illegal clause that requires MSOs to “continue the channels on the old LCNs and they cannot change it”. If new RIO is being asked to be implemented, then all its terms are liable to be renegotiated and the broadcaster cannot favourably keep the clauses of the old RIOs,” it said.

  • GTPL Hathway ISP business grew by 50% YoY in Q2 FY22

    GTPL Hathway ISP business grew by 50% YoY in Q2 FY22

    Mumbai: Digital cable TV and broadband service provider GTPL Hathway’s internet service provider (ISP) business grew by 50 per cent YoY, according to its financial results for Q2 FY2022. The company reported consolidated revenues of Rs 605.2 crore up by four per cent YoY.

    The company’s paying subscribers stood at 7.35 million out of which 2,75,000 are FTTX subscribers at the end of H1 FY22. It added 1,00,000 net broadband subscribers in H1 FY22. The broadband average revenue per user (ARPU) for Q2 FY22 stood at Rs 440 which is up by two per cent YoY.

    “GTPL is in a sweet spot for converting its strong existing CATV subscriber base of 10+ million households into its broadband subscribers directly or through operators. Deployed the latest GPON technology for providing high-speed and high-volume Broadband services in Gujarat. GTPL plans penetrate to other regions by upgrading to FTTX Solutions,” the company said in a statement.

    The company reported H1 2021 revenue at Rs 1215.9 crore an increase of 12 per cent YoY. Its ISP business revenue stood at Rs 100.6 crore for the quarter ended 30 September. The EBIDTA for the quarter stood at Rs 144.8 crore up by four per cent and profit after tax at Rs 43.3 crore.

    “GTPL Hathway continues to deliver on key KPIs during H1 FY22. The highlight of H1 FY22 performance was robust subscriber additions and subscription revenues for the broadband business, coupled with strong balance sheet and return ratios,” said GTPL Hathway managing director Anirudhsinh Jadeja. “The balance sheet remains strong owing to ‘Net Debt Free’ status leading to impressive ROCE and ROE of 33 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively as of 30 September. With the economy getting back to normalcy led by aggressive vaccination drive, the company is geared to strengthen its presence in the existing and new markets.”

  • MCOF demands TRAI resolve pending grievances by 2 October

    MCOF demands TRAI resolve pending grievances by 2 October

    Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cable Operators’ Foundation (MCOF) has written to the chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and minister of information and broadcasting (I&B) Anurag Thakur to resolve pending grievances of local cable operators (LCOs) before 2 October.

    According to the association, the inaction of TRAI has resulted in a loss of Rs 600 crore per year for LCOs. “The LCO fraternity will take steps to protect itself no matter the consequences on the rest of the value chain,” the letter reads.

    The LCOs had sought TRAI intervention in the matter of unilateral imposition of inter-connect agreement by multi-system operators. It alleged that MSOs leveraged their portals to impose prepaid terms on LCOs while offering post-paid services to subscribers, and called for redefining the shareable revenues between broadcasters and cable operators, and asked TRAI to clear ambiguity in set-top-box ownership.

    “Our subscribers and we are wondering as to why TRAI has not taken any step to implement the NTO 2.0 after the SC verdict refusing interim relief to broadcasters’ pleadings,” said MCOF. “The broadcasters and MSOs continue to milk the disempowered customers through packaging tricks and also deny a level playing field for standalone broadcasters. On a conservative basis, the forced excess payment towards content that subscribers do not want is Rs 50 per month.”

    Model interconnection agreement (MIA) and standard interconnection agreement (SIA) are signed between MSOs and LCOs for the retransmission of TV signals. MIA ensures that there is a mutual agreement in the terms set between LCOs and MSOs in line with the regulatory framework, to avoid disputes and ensure a level playing field. SIA provides for standard terms and conditions prescribed by regulation that may be adopted by MSOs and LCOs if they fail to mutually agree on an MIA.

    During NTO 2.0 litigation, LCOs claimed that TRAI has incorrectly portrayed them as a conduit between MSOs and subscribers undermining the role they have played as last-mile owners bringing connectivity to lakhs of homes. LCOs fear that subscriber ownership may be transferred to the MSOs and will lead to broadcasters and MSOs benefitting disproportionately at the cost of LCOs.

    LCOs have adopted a prepaid billing model for cable TV subscriptions to bring transparency and plug leakage of revenues. However, LCOs claim that while MSOs impose prepaid terms on the LCOs, they continue to offer post-paid services to TV subscribers by leveraging their portals. This has impacted their revenue collection.

    “The payout of pay-TV channels to cable operators for retransmission of TV signals is much lower than the amount billed to the customer,” said MCOF. “This fact is visible at a glance at the P&L statement of MSOs who disclose Netted Content Costs,”, said the letter.

    LCOs have asked TRAI to clear ambiguity on set-top-box ownership resulting in unilateral pricing without invoicing or service level agreement (SLA) to the subscribers.

    The LCOs service 10 crore homes and employ five lakh semi-skilled personnel. The letter states that the sector is at a make-or-break point with thousands of crores invested in fibre infrastructure at risk of disuse and economical infotainment to 40 crore viewers. It said that LCOs’ long list of grievances has been brushed aside by TRAI without any justification.  

  • SITI Networks’ Q1FY22 Operating EBITDA jumps 33.1% to Rs 537 Mn

    SITI Networks’ Q1FY22 Operating EBITDA jumps 33.1% to Rs 537 Mn

    New Delhi: SITI Networks, an Essel Group company and multi-system operator (MSO), has released its consolidated audited financial results for Q1FY22 ending June 30.

    In line with its profitable growth strategy, SITI has maintained persistent elevation in operating EBITDA reporting 33.1 per cent growth over Q4FY21. The company reported operating EBITDA of Rs 537 million in Q1FY22 as against Rs 403 million q-o-q basis.

    The company’s operating EBITDA margin expanded to 14.8 per cent in FY22 against 10.4 per cent in the previous quarter. This was achieved through building up operating efficiencies and strict control over costs.

    Total revenue (excluding activation) stood at Rs 3,619 million in Q1FY22. The company earned a subscription revenue of Rs 2,378 million in Q1FY22.

    SITI Broadband’s net base increased 22 per cent y-o-y to Rs 2.06 lakh at the end of Q1FY22. SITI Broadband’s Q1FY22 revenue also surged 25.2 per cent y-o-y to Rs 276 million.

    SITI Networks CEO Anil Malhotra said, “SITI had a good quarter on the back of our focus on operational efficiencies, and strict control over expenses. Our operating EBITDA surged 33.1 per cent q-o-q to Rs 537 million and operating EBITDA margins expanded to 14.8 per cent in Q1FY22. SITI Broadband’s base increased 22 per cent y-o-y to Rs 2.06 lakh while its revenue surged 25.2 per cent y-o-y to Rs 276 million in Q1FY22.”

    “This quarter provided us with the necessary momentum to further drive our efficiency focus throughout FY22. We intend to focus on it along with solid EBITDA and margins growth, in line with our core strategy of profitable and sustainable growth,” he added.
     

  • NXTDigital revenue up 13.5% in Q1FY22

    NXTDigital revenue up 13.5% in Q1FY22

    Mumbai: NXTDigital Ltd, the media vertical of the global Hinduja Group and an integrated digital distribution platform delivering services through digital cable television, HITS (Headend-In-The-Sky) and broadband, continued to leverage innovation and strategy to combat the challenges of the second wave to post strong results for the quarter ending 30 June.

    On a consolidated basis, the company’s revenues grew by 13.5 per cent in the first quarter of the current financial year 2021-22 to Rs 266.6 crore against revenues of Rs 234.8 crore during the same period in the previous year. The broadband business continued to grow touching 6.7 lakh subscribers which amounts to 93 per cent growth over Q1 FY21.  

    Several contracts in the video and broadband segments of business which got delayed due to the second wave were signed by the company.

    “The Q1 performance exhibits the company’s agility and reflexes – being able to innovate and maintain its momentum through a quarter impacted by the second wave,” said NXTDigital Ltd, MD & CEO, Vynsley Fernandes. “With the situation easing up, we are confident that implementation of our PaaS platform and the roll-out of our 100 NXTHUB project will see traction. Whilst we look to commence our infra sharing model with Siti Networks and then extend it to other MSOs, our 100 NXTHUB launch later this month from Ranchi and then on to other geographies, will continue to keep us well on the growth track.”

  • GTPL Hathway records standalone net profit of Rs 30.5 cr in Q1 FY22

    GTPL Hathway records standalone net profit of Rs 30.5 cr in Q1 FY22

    New Delhi: Cable TV and broadband service provider GTPL Hathway Limited (GTPL) has clocked a standalone net profit of Rs 30.5 crore for the quarter ended 30 June.

    The net sales reached Rs 391.5 crore, improving from Rs 347.6 crore recorded in the same quarter last year. The consolidated net profit for the quarter stood at Rs 53 crore, up from Rs 46.4 crore in the corresponding quarter a year ago, while the consolidated revenues stood at Rs 602 crore. The overall revenues improved on the back of improvement in the EBITDA (including EPC) levels at Rs 138 crore, which was seven per cent higher year-on-year. The Q1 FY22 PAT stood at Rs 47.5 crore, up 16 per cent y-o-y.

    The company also reduced its debt burden by Rs 16.8 crore during the quarter. The finance cost was down 78 per cent y-o-y.

    GTPL added 55,000 net broadband subscribers in Q1 FY22 and the broadband revenue crossed Rs 91. 8 crore, up by 74 per cent YoY. The total number of subscribers as on 30 June were 6. 90 lakh of which 2.50 lakh are FTTX subscribers.

    Meanwhile, the company continues to widen its footprint in its existing markets and penetrate into new markets through inorganic routes. As on Q1 FY22, paying subscribers stood at 0.73 crore.

    GTPL Hathway, managing director, Anirudhsinh Jadeja said, “GTPL Hathway continued to deliver on key KPIs during Q1 FY22. The highlight of the quarter was robust subscriber additions & subscription revenues for Broadband business, strong profitability and debt repayment. GTPL has further reduced its debt by Rs 16.8 crore in Q1 FY22.”

    Jadeja said GTPL will continue to march forward on its stated strategic roadmap by coming up with interesting new products and services, enhancing customer experience, strengthening its digital infrastructure capabilities, and accelerating its footprint in the existing and new markets. 

  • TCCL implements ATEME’s Titan Live solution for its cable TV platform

    Mumbai: ATEME on Tuesday announced that Thamizhaga Cable TV Communication Pvt Ltd (TCCL), one of the largest cable distribution companies in India, has chosen to implement its TITAN Live solution for their cable TV platform.

    The Tamil Nadu-based multi-system operator has recently upgraded its headend platform to complement its existing cable service offering. ATEME’s TITAN Live is being used to deliver a high-quality cable-TV offering to TCCL customers. “TITAN Live enables TCCL to improve its subscribers’ viewing experience while reducing operational costs by providing exceptional video quality at low bitrates. Its full software approach also attempts to simplify deployments and operations, and profile reconfigurations, automatic switchovers, and fast updates also become much easier,” said the company in a statement.

    Speaking on the collaboration with ATEME, TCCL managing director Sakilan said, “We have always had a strong emphasis on quality of service and content. ATEME’s TITAN Live met our need for the best quality of image coupled with the most efficient bandwidth saving – better than any other vendor. We are very pleased with our choice – both in terms of the product and the unparalleled support we received from the ATEME team, which understands our priorities and our need to provide content of the best quality to our current and future audiences.”

    ATEME’s vice president, APAC – sales, Gautier Vandomme said, “We are very excited to be on this journey with TCCL. Viewers in India have such a rich variety of content to choose from; it is a great satisfaction to be helping them view this content at the best quality.”