ITV

Category: Cable TV

  • FinMin defers decision on Hathway & Den’s proposals for increasing FDI

    FinMin defers decision on Hathway & Den’s proposals for increasing FDI

    NEW DELHI: The Finance Ministry has deferred any decision on proposals by two multi-system operators (MSOs), Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited and Den Networks, for increasing the foreign direct investment to 74 per cent.

     

    The action was taken on the advice of the Foreign Investments Promotion Board (FIPB).

     

    Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited had sought approval for increasing foreign investment limit for FIIs, FPIs, etc. under the Portfolio Investment Scheme from 49 per cent of its issued and fully paid up share capital to 74 per cent.

     

    The government had in 2012 relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in direct to home (DTH), cable TV industry and teleports from 49 per cent to 74 per cent.

     

    In January, Hathway Cable & Datacom, which became the first MSO to have crossed the $1 billion mark in terms of enterprise valuation, announced that its Board of Directors had approved and passed the resolution to increase the foreign investment limit from the current 49 per cent to 74 per cent, subject to approval from the FIPB of India, Ministry of Finance and/or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

     

    “Subject to receipt of approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board of India, Ministry of Finance and / or the Reserve Bank of India and all other applicable authorities, increasing the foreign investment limit only by Foreign Institutional Investors, Foreign Portfolio Investors, etc. under the Portfolio Investment Scheme in accordance with Schedules 2 and 2A of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000 in the Company from 49 per cent to 74 per cent of the issued arid fully paid-up share capital of the Company,” read the announcement.

     

    Meanwhile, Den had sought for increase in foreign investment limit beyond 49 per cent and up to 74 per cent by FIIs, NRIs, FPIs, and other eligible foreign investors through route of secondary market and / or open market purchase.

     

    A spokesperson for Den said that it would wait to hear from FIPB about the reasons for deferring the decision, before reacting.

     

    Earlier in March this year, the Board of Directors of Den Networks approved this proposal to increase foreign investment limit from the existing 49 per cent to 74 per cent of the issued and fully paid-up share capital of the company.

     

    The decision was subject to shareholder approval (through postal ballot), Foreign Investment Promotion Board nod and adherence to all other statutory requirements. Currently, FIIs hold 20.27 per cent stake in Den Networks. 

  • DAS Phase III: Status report

    DAS Phase III: Status report

    MUMBAI: It was in September 2014 when the then Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar extended the deadline for completion of phase III of cable TV digitization. Not only did Javadekar extend the deadline, but also set separate deadlines for phase III and IV, which initially were supposed to be completed in the same time frame.

     

    So, while the deadline for phase III was set to be December 2015, phase IV could be completed by December 2016.

     

    Notwithstanding these developments, it should be noted that interconnect agreements between multi system operators (MSOs) and last mile owners (LMOs) are not in place for phase I and II cities even now. Moreover, close to 700 MSOs interested in phase III areas have not yet been given the license to operate.

     

    With no announcement about the new Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman, the huge number of litigations between broadcasters, MSOs and LMOs pending in several High Courts and with the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT), there looms a big question mark on the timely completion of Digital Addressable System (DAS) for phase III.

     

    Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president Arvind Prabhoo says that not more than five per cent of the cable TV homes falling in the phase III universe would have been digitized.

     

    “The government will have to step in if they want the deadline to be met. The government needs to incentivize cable operators by coming up with a cable modernization fund, which could be set at Rs 500 per subscriber. This can be recovered by the government in the next two years through GST,” he said.

     

    Prabhoo also points out that close to nine crore cable TV households in the phase III areas need to be digitized. “If the government sets incentive of Rs 500 per subscriber, we are looking at a modernization fund of only Rs 4500 crore for the whole ‘Digital India’ campaign. I am sure it is not asking for much,” he added.

     

    MSO Hathway Cable & Datacom along with its various subsidiaries has already seeded 50 per cent of its universe. Speaking toIndiantelevision.com on the issues affecting the smooth rollout of digitization in phase III, Hathway MD & CEO Jagdish Kumar Pillai said, “The biggest issue is getting content agreements executed at reasonable costs. The government is doing excellent work in facilitating this process.”

     

    The government on its part has been taking steps like holding not just task force meetings, but also consumer outreach programmes to ensure that the deadline for phase III is met. “We should be thankful to the government for taking a pro-active role in organising task force meetings and also meeting with and between stakeholders. Now it is up to the industry to step up and make it happen,” added Pillai.

     

    A source in TRAI tells this website that there will be no extension in the deadline for phase III. “The government may help facilitate the process, but there is no question of any more extension,” the source said adding that the consumer today is prepared to pay, and the broadcaster is going all out to publicise its digitised platforms. “So if there is any delay from LCOs or MSOs, the consumer will find other ways of going digital, which could be moving to HITS or DTH platform,” the source said.

     

    Speaking about signing off interconnect agreements, the TRAI official informed, “In the last task force meeting, stakeholders were asked to enter into interconnection agreements by June, and if they do not do so, they will be the one to lose. However, if requested, the government may give some more time.”

     

    Concurring with the TRAI official, a broadcaster, on condition of anonymity said, “I agree that there has been a slow start, but it is now picking up pace. There is some amount of progress in signing of contracts.”

     

    The broadcaster is also of the opinion that while 100 per cent of the phase III universe will not be digitized in the given deadline, it doesn’t call for any extension. “Both MIB and the TRAI are closely monitoring the stakeholders through the task force meetings,” he said.

     

    According to the broadcaster, close to 20 million set top boxes (STB) in phase III would have been seeded so far. “Digitisation has been happening for long. Even in phase III, the MSOs were giving digital but non-addressable boxes and now they are switching to addressable boxes and simultaneously activating the addressable feature of the earlier boxes. So, in terms of seeding of addressable boxes, it could be only five – six per cent, but the actual number is much higher,” he added.

     

    With only six months left for completion of digitization of phase III, the MIB has decided to give provisional registration to those MSOs who had applied for the license for phase III. For the same, the Ministry asked applicants to file their applications in an affidavit, which wants MSOs to commit that they have no criminal cases pending against them, and that they will shut down if they are refused security clearance by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

     

    MIB additional secretary JS Mathur said, “There is no reason for any extension of dates for completion of phase III. Work is proceeding as per schedule.”

     

    While the regulators have been taking all steps possible to ensure timely completion of phase III, the stakeholders do not seem to have learnt their lesson from phase I and II. Now how much of the DAS phase III area will be digitized till December 2015, only time will tell.

  • Amritsar MSO files complaint against Taj TV, alleging TDSAT orders violation

    Amritsar MSO files complaint against Taj TV, alleging TDSAT orders violation

    NEW DELHI: Amritsar based multi-system operator (MSO) Godfather Communications has filed a complaint with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) alleging that Taj Television was denying it Zee TV signals despite an audit by Broadcast Engineering Company (India) Ltd (BECIL) as directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal.

     

    It was stated in the complaint that a representative of Taj TV in Chandigarh had raised a demand of Rs 3 lakh per month in a meeting yesterday. 

     

    The audit by the BECIL was conducted in compliance with the directions of TDSAT in a case filed by Godfather last year.  

     

    Accordingly, Indiacast executed the interconnection agreement for Amritsar Phase II city on 29 May this year with effect from 1 June, 2015 to 31 March, 2016 in compliance with the order dated 27 May, 2015.

     

    However Taj TV was not entering into any agreement. 

     

    When contacted, a TRAI source said that it would look into the complaint and then decide whether the matter should go back to TDSAT or it could take action directly.

     

    The source said that if it decides to proceed directly, then it can file a complaint in a Delhi Court. 

     

    Meanwhile, a Nashik Court recently issued an injunction to Den Networks restraining it from deactivating the set top boxes and cable services of the Nashik City Cable Network and its associates.

  • Comcast taps SEC’s Daniel C. Murdock as VP, corporate controller

    Comcast taps SEC’s Daniel C. Murdock as VP, corporate controller

    MUMBAI: Comcast Corporation has appointed Daniel C. Murdock as vice president, corporate controller.

     

    In this role, Murdock will serve as a senior leader within Comcast’s finance department and oversees accounting policies and procedures, reporting controls, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

     

    He reports to Comcast Corporation EVP and chief accounting officer Lawrence Salva.

     

    “Dan is highly experienced in corporate financial internal controls, financial accounting standards and auditing, and I am excited he has joined our team. Throughout his career, he has developed an impressive track record of ensuring the highest standards of transparency and accuracy in accounting, which Comcast strongly values and fits perfectly within our culture,” said Salva.

     

    Murdock joins Comcast from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) where he served as the deputy chief accountant in the agency’s office of the chief accountant since 2013. Prior to the SEC, he was Deloitte & Touche LLP’s Audit/Industry professional practice director for media and entertainment.

  • Hathway ropes in Sania Mirza as brand ambassador for broadband service

    Hathway ropes in Sania Mirza as brand ambassador for broadband service

    MUMBAI: It was in October 2013, when multi system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable & Datacom rolled out its Docsis 3.0 service, with ultra high speed internet connectivity of 50mbps. Now, in order to promote it, the MSO has roped in sports personality Sania Mirza as its brand ambassador.

     

    Hathway MD & CEO Jagdish Kumar said, “We are extremely proud to associate with Sania Mirza, the Indian sports icon as she perfectly illustrates the attributes of the new Docsis 3.0 platform–speed, consistency and high- performance. Hathway has aligned with one of the major visions of the Indian government to develop digital infrastructure in the country that will boost productivity in all sectors. In a way to contribute towards this big vision and to provide better user experience, we at Hathway have launched the Docsis 3.0 service that will provide users – fast internet up to 50 mbps speed.”

     

    “With the impending data consumption explosion in India, Hathway’s high-speed internet service is a game changer in India. It is vital to have a disruption free service at affordable prices. Docsis 3.0 will create a revolution in the market. We shall continue to invest in expanding the high speed broadband network and deliver plans with lightning fast speeds that is crucial for superior consumer experiences,” he added.

     

    Speaking on the fast exploding internet consumption in the country, Hathway president Rajan Gupta said, “The digital change is not only sweeping across gen-next but also among the older generation. Today the internet has come a long way, to become a household product that is synonymous with utility, functionality, fun, entertainment, knowledge and much more. With multiple high-tech gadgets being connected to the internet, the time spent on the medium is increasing at a galloping rate. The bustling e-commerce phenomenon, online shopping, social networking, online surfing, audio & video streaming, gaming, cloud computing, all go on to emphasize the momentum and traffic internet has gathered in the recent years in India.”

     

    According to Gupta, the phenomenon of internet adoption is expected to leapfrog in the next five years. “In such a scenario speed and cost plan has always been the constant benchmarks for choosing broadband connection. With Hathway Docsis 3.0, that provides 10 times the internet speed, we aim to democratize broadband making it accessible to all at affordable price points. The benchmark we have set in terms of our 50 mbps speed is much comparable with the advanced broadband markets across the world. While we introduce the new network plan, we think this is the right time to establish our footprint in the internet broadband industry,” he concluded.

  • Canal+ Group and Technicolor partner on HD service

    Canal+ Group and Technicolor partner on HD service

    MUMBAI: Technicolor has entered into a collaboration with Canal+ Group to create next generation content experiences, beginning with the launch of the Cube S.

     

    Available immediately across France, the Cube S set-top box offers the complete portfolio of Canal+ content in a direct-to-consumer offering for the first time – all in HD.

     

    The Cube S is a hybrid terrestrial TV and internet set-top box that takes full advantage of over-the-top (OTT) delivery to give access to more than 150 channels, including French DTT, Canal+ and CanalSat, and on demand and catch-up TV services. For the first time, consumers can take their set-top box with them to watch all this content anywhere they can access the internet within France.

     

    Technicolor worked alongside Canal+ Group to pack the capabilities of the Cube S into a tiny design. Technicolor’s R&D teams in Rennes succeeded in the challenge to integrate a wide range of advanced video and wireless technologies into a small form-factor, supporting full HD alongside Wi-Fi to create a complete content experience. The Cube S is a powerful and minimalist expression of Canal+’s cube-themed product branding.

     

    The Cube S is the first deliverable from an ongoing partnership that will see Canal+ Group and Technicolor work together to deploy new consumer offerings in other countries.

     

    “The Cube S represents a totally new chapter in our vision for the Canal+ experience. For the first time, we can offer French audiences our complete range of content over the internet in one beautiful set-top box, a small cube. Our subscribers can consume TV content live or on demand or listen to more than 35M of music tracks or international radios proposed by our partners Deezer and Radioline. Technicolor’s engineering and design expertise has allowed us to create a truly innovative and stand-out product that offers all our content in HD,” said Canal+ Group EVP technology and information systems Frederic Vincent.

     

    “We have taken advantage of 100 years of expertise in content creation and delivery to bring an incredible array of channels together in a uniquely designed set-top box. This represents a future-proof collaboration and delivery. We’re proud to support Canal+ to make it easier than ever to access all of its premium content,” added Technicolor Connected Home segment SVP EMEA François Rossiensky.

  • Zee Group promotes Anil Jain as Siti Cable CFO

    Zee Group promotes Anil Jain as Siti Cable CFO

    MUMBAI: Even as Siti Cable CFO Sanjay Goyal put in his papers at the company, Zee Group has promoted Taj Television senior vice president finance Anil Jain to step into his shoes as CFO.

    As was reported earlier today by Indiantelevision.com, Zee Group was looking to internally promote one of its executives from its group companies to fill in the position left vacant at Siti Cable. 

    Jain started his new role from today (9 June, 2015) and will be reporting to Siti Cable CEO VD Wadhwa. 

    Confirming the development to Indaintelevision.com, jain says, “In the past with media pro, I was taking care of the distribution aspect and now I will endeavor more in the fianance part.”

    He further adds, “I am very excited to join Siti Cable as CFO and looking forward to working closely with the senior management and serve the company with my finance expertise.”

    Prior to the new role as CFO, Jain was with Media Pro Enterprise India Private Limited for four years (now Taj Television). Before that he headed the finance and accounts at Zee Turner Limited for more than three years. He also served one year stint with Neo Sports as GM – affiliate accounts. He started his career with Zee Telefilms as an internal auditor for two years.

  • Siti Cable CFO Sanjay Goyal resigns

    Siti Cable CFO Sanjay Goyal resigns

    MUMBAI: Siti Cable Network chief financial officer (CFO), Sanjay Goyal has called it a day at the company. Goyal resigned with effect from 8 June, 2015.

     

    An B.SC.ICAI,ICSI,ICWAI an LLB, he joined Siti Cable as VP – finance and accounts in 2009 and later got promoted as CFO in 2012.  

     

    When contacted by Indiantelevision.com, a senior official from Siti Cable informed, “It was a mutually decided procedure between Goyal and the company and there were no unusual circumstances that forced the resignation. Goyal probably took the decision to explore something new which the company is not aware of yet. The CFO’s position will be taken care of by someone from the group itself. However, for the time being someone from the group will take care of the position.”

     

    With over 17 years experience including entrepreneurship, Goyal served as VP – F&A/CFO at Vishal Retail Limited prior to joining Siti Cable. He started his career with Dharampal Satyapal Limited where he was the head F&A for more than nine years.

  • DEN JV partners on warpath over differential treatment, form separate association

    DEN JV partners on warpath over differential treatment, form separate association

    NEW DELHI: Even as Indian multi system operator (MSO) DEN Networks is looking at doing away with joint venture partnerships in Phase III and IV of digitization by taking the direct distribution route, its existing joint venture partners across the country are up in arms.

     

    In a meeting of DEN’s JV partners held in Delhi, they alleged that DEN indulges in different financial and other arrangements with partners all over the country.

     

    According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, the grievance of Den’s JV partners is that while for some JVs the agreement was on a 50:50 basis, for others it was 51:49 or 60:40.

     

    The JV partners, who also formed the DEN India JV Partners Association in their meeting here, said that there was no transparency in the deals with different JV partners.

     

    Speaking to this website, Association spokesperson and Mumbai-based DEN Satellite Network JV partner Ravi Singh said that the comfort level with DEN was missing and the Association wanted DEN to deal with all partners on an equal footing.

     

    DEN has a presence across the country in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand through multiple JV deals.

     

    At the meeting held in Delhi, around twenty JV shareholders from all over the country were present.

     

    Repeated attempts to get reactions from the DEN Network management were futile.

  • Comcast snaps up ad tech company Visible World

    Comcast snaps up ad tech company Visible World

    NEW DELHI: As predicted by several media experts almost a decade earlier, the era of mergers and acquisitions has picked up pace with the big fish often either eating the small fish or letting it co-exist in partnership.

     

    An interesting aspect of this is that large players in the information technology and broadcasting field who can develop technologies of their own find it cheaper to enter into agreements with other companies for this. And this trend is not just confined to India, but globally.

     

    Visible World, a specialist in the addressable and programmatic advertising business, has been bought over by Comcast Cable.

     

    Visible World will operate as an independent company and will continue to develop new services for existing companies and grow its customer base.

     

    “For more than a decade, we have been focused on developing a portfolio of solutions that offer a wide variety of services to a wide range of customers. Comcast’s investment in our business will accelerate our ability to deliver on our vision and provide more open and efficient systems that will encourage more valuable and collaborative relationships across the TV ecosystem,” said Visible World CEO Seth Haberman.

     

    “Visible World is a dynamic company and a real complement to our existing advanced advertising initiatives. Visible World offers a diverse spectrum of services that serve a variety of needs across the television advertising landscape,” added Comcast Cable Executive vice president and chief network officer John Schanz. 

     

    “This partnership reflects the business and technology trends we are seeing in the television industry today. We look forward to helping the talented Visible World team expand and accelerate their business and create more value for distributors, advertisers, agencies, programmers and affiliates,” Schanz added.

     

    The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Earlier this year, Comcast acquired Freewheel, a company that personalizes and inserts video ads for a number of media companies, for $360 million.