ITV

Category: DTH Operator

  • Prasar Bharati invites applications for DD Free Dish MPEG -2 slots

    Prasar Bharati invites applications for DD Free Dish MPEG -2 slots

    Mumbai: Prasar Bharati has invited applications for allotment of vacant MPRG-2 slots of DD Free Dish for the period 11 July 2023, to 31 March 2024, through the 70th e-auction, to be tentatively held on 4 July 2023.

    The e-auction will be conducted in accordance with the online methodology for the allotment of DD Free Dish slots to private TV channels.

    The pubcaster has categorised TV channels in different buckets in accordance with the genre/ language of the channel.

    The reserve price for the bucket A+ which comprises GEC (Hindi) channels is priced at Rs 17.41 crore. Bucket A, which comprises – movie( Hindi) channels, teleshopping channels (all languages), has a reserve price of Rs 15.27 crore.

    Bucket B, which includes Music (Hindi) channels, sports (Hindi) channels and all channels of Bhojpuri language, has a reserve price of Rs 14.66 crore.

    Bucket C reserve price is Rs 14.37 crore which includes news and current affairs (Hindi) channels. Bucket D reserve price is Rs 11.58 crore which includes all other remaining genres of Hindi, devotional/ spiritual/ Ayush, all genres of Marathi, Punjabi, and Urdu channels, and news & current affairs (English) channels.

    Bucket R1, which includes all channels in the language genre, not covered in any other bucket is priced at Rs 2.20 crore.

  • DD Free Dish announces Sony Pal & Colors Rishtey to go live effective 1 December

    DD Free Dish announces Sony Pal & Colors Rishtey to go live effective 1 December

    Mumbai: Prasar Bharti’s free direct-to-home (DTH) platform announced the return of two general entertainment channels, Sony Pal and Colors Rishtey, effective from 1 December. The free-to-air platform has unveiled the comeback news of big media giants via a tweet shared on 21 November.

     

     

    Colors Rishtey and Sony Pal won the 63rd e-auction process, which was conducted on 18 November 2022.

    Recently, the public broadcaster has invited applications for allotment of vacant MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 slots of DD Free Dish platform on a pro-rata basis for the period from 1 December 2022 to 31 March 2023.

    In April 2022, four big broadcasters—Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Viacom18 Network, Sony Pictures Networks, and Disney Star India—withdrew their flagship channels from bouquets. The decision came in January 2020, when the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) announced NTO 2.0, which capped a bouquet channel price at Rs 12 instead of Rs 19 (as per the first NTO).

    In order to increase their advertising revenue and gross rating points (GRPs), the broadcasters decided to rejoin the DD Free Dish platform, as it has a lesser number (176+) of TV channels to compete with than private DTH (500+) services.

    Earlier, when the big players decided to quit the platform, they were completely aware that they had taken on the risk of losing subscribers and ad revenue through that move. Broadcasters knew that if they did not bring back their channels on the platform, then they may have to shut down these channels, as at present, free users are shifting to DD Free Dish for free entertainment and paid DTHs are moving towards OTT streaming apps.

  • Dish TV appoints Rakesh Mohan as non- executive independent director

    Dish TV appoints Rakesh Mohan as non- executive independent director

    Mumbai: DTH operator Dish TV has announced that the board of directors at their meeting held on Friday, i.e. 29 July, 2022 has inter-alia, upon receipt of requisite approval from the ministry of information and broadcasting and on the recommendation of the nomination and remuneration committee, approved the appointment of Rakesh Mohan as a non-executive independent director. The appointment has come into effect from 29 July, 2022 and is for a term of five consecutive years.

    The appointment is subject to the approval of the shareholders of the company.

    Mohan is a retired senior bureaucrat. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1978. He has held various positions in his long professional career. To mention a few, he worked as deputy collector in Goa; deputy commissioner and then secretary to the governor in Arunachal Pradesh; additional general manager in the erstwhile DESU, Government of Delhi; and principal secretary in the public works department in the government of Delhi. For five years, he was an additional commissioner in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and he worked for the government of India in the ministries of energy (department of power) and commerce. In addition, he was also a joint secretary in the government of India’s ministry of information and broadcasting. He was principal secretary (education) in the Delhi Administration. After his retirement, he devoted his time to serving as a volunteer at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi Branch.

  • Pay DTH operators lost 1.6 mn subscribers in quarter ended 31 March 2022: TRAI

    Pay DTH operators lost 1.6 mn subscribers in quarter ended 31 March 2022: TRAI

    Mumbai: The number of pay direct-to-home (DTH) subscribers decreased sharply from 68.52 million to 66.92 million in the quarter ended on 31 March 2022, as per latest Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) performance indicator report. It has lost a total of 1.6 million subscribers during the period.

    DTH operators have seen a consistent decline in their subscribers since reporting an all-time high of 70.99 million subscribers in December 2022.

    Also read: DTH segment expands its subscriber base by 1.01 mn in 2020 | Indian Television Dot Com

    The number of private satellite TV channels permitted by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) for uplinking or downlinking also decreased from 909 to 898 channels. Broadcasters reported 345 pay channels down from 350 pay channels in the quarter ended on 31 December 2021. The number of free-to-air (FTA) channels also declined from 543 to 540 during the same period.

    Tata Play continued to be the leading DTH operator with 33.23 per cent market share down from 33.48 per cent in the previous quarter. Bharat Telemedia’s share stood at 26.24 per cent down from 26.37 per cent.

    Also Read: Geo-targeted campaigns ramp up as brands go hyperlocal

    Dish TV India increased its market share from 22.04 per cent to 22.10 per cent. Sun Direct also increased its market share from 18.11 per cent to 18.43 per cent.

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    As per the ministry, there are 1764 registered multi-system operators (MSOs) in the country.

    There are 12 MSOs and 1 headend-in-the-sky (HITS) operator whose subscriber base is more than one million, according to the TRAI data.

    GTPL Hathway widened its lead as the largest MSO in the January-February-March 2022 quarter with 8,232,240 subscribers followed by SITI Networks at 7,281,041, Hathway Digital at 5,455,919 and Hathway Digital 4,458,103 subscribers.

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    There were 20 internet protocol TV operators in the country as of 31 March 2022.

     

  • ‘Demand-driven’ communication satellite GSAT-24 launched; capacity leased to Tata Play

    ‘Demand-driven’ communication satellite GSAT-24 launched; capacity leased to Tata Play

    Mumbai: NewSpace India (NSIL) on Thursday successfully launched GSAT-24 in its first “demand-driven” communication satellite mission post space sector reforms, leasing the entire capacity on board to direct-to-home (DTH) service Tata Play, as per a news agency report.

    The 24 Ku-band communication satellite was built by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for NSIL. It will provide pan-India coverage to meet DTH application needs, stated the report.

    The satellite was launched by French company Arianespace in French Guiana (South America).

    As part of the space reforms announced by the government in June 2020, NSIL incorporated in March 2019, was mandated to undertake operational satellite missions on a “demand-driven” model, wherein it had the responsibility to build, launch, own and operate satellites and provide services to its committed customer.

    GSAT-24 is configured on ISRO’s proven I-3k Bus with a mission life of 15 years.

    “Demand-driven” mode basically means when a satellite is launched, one will know who the end customers are going to be and what’s the kind of utilisation and commitment so that you have very effective utilisation of this satellite capacity once it goes into orbit,” the news report said qouting an NSIL official.

    “Earlier the mode was supply driven, with capacity being leased after the launch with largely no firm commitment by customers beforehand,” the official added.

    “The entire mission including satellite, satellite launch, launch campaign, insurance, in-orbit maintenance, transformation and support is fully funded by NSIL. Once the satellite is in orbit it will be fully funded and owned by NSIL,” NSIL chairman & managing director Radhakrishnan Durairaj also opined in the report.

    Post the successful launch of GSAT-24, NSIL would own and operate 11 communication satellites in-orbit and meet the bulk of the communication needs of the country.

    NSIL is the commercial arm of ISRO and a public sector undertaking by the Government of India.

  • HITS launches on Airtel Digital TV

    HITS launches on Airtel Digital TV

    Mumbai: Airtel Digital TV is ready to enthrall its subscribers yet again with the launch of its new service – Airtel HITS HD.

    HITS brings the iconic series all set to launch on Airtel Digital TV on 20 May 2022.

    Featuring a selection of some of the most popular, iconic, and award-winning Hollywood television content from the 60s to the early 2000’s, the channel is sure to take you on a lovely trip down memory lane. Airtel digital TV subscribers can now enjoy a window to the best content ever produced for television in HD like Diff’rent Strokes, Bewitched, Charmed, Bonanza, The Lucy Show, Baywatch, The Bionic Woman, Sherlock Holmes, among many others. These award-winning titles are sure to appeal to both those who remember the Golden Age of Hollywood and modern audiences.

    Airtel Digital TV CEO Manu Sood said, “At Airtel we are always looking at serving the discerning content needs of our subscribers. With Airtel HITS HD we are giving our subscribers a platform to indulge in their favourite Hollywood shows from the 60s to the early 2000’s. The diverse assortment of English shows from the good old days fulfills a need gap for our evolving viewers who are constantly looking for unique entertainment destinations that are not available elsewhere be it TV or OTT.”

    Rewind Networks CEO Avi Himatsinghani said, “We are thrilled to associate with Airtel Digital TV to bring Airtel HITS HD to their subscribers in India. Airtel viewers can now tune in to enjoy the finest curation of the most popular, iconic, and award-winning Hollywood television content from the past in high definition! I am certain our hand-picked selection will make the viewers reminisce over their favourite TV shows, making Airtel HITS HD a perfect destination for family viewing and entertainment. We look forward to the partnership!”

    HITS features a carefully curated collection of top TV dramas and sitcoms from Hollywood and UK majors such as The Walt Disney Company, ITV Studios, Paramount, NBCUniversal, Fremantle and Sony Pictures, and will progressively introduce more titles from other studios.

    The channel shall be available free for the first 10 days followed by Rs 75 per month. Airtel HITS HD will be available on Channel 167 on Airtel Digital TV and will be aired in high definition (HD) with English subtitles.

  • DTH players seek removal of eight per cent licence fee to stay competitive

    DTH players seek removal of eight per cent licence fee to stay competitive

    Mumbai: Direct-to-home (DTH) players have approached the government to waive the eight per cent license fee imposed on them that is in line with a similar proposal for broadband services so that they remain competitive in the market.

    According to a PTI report, the industry body DTH association has approached the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) following a proposal under consideration of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to waive the licence fee for broadband services.

    In a letter dated 11 May sent to the I&B ministry, the industry body said the DTH volumes have been declining quarter on quarter for a while now and has put thousands of crores of investments and employment of over a lakh direct and indirect employees of the sector at risk.

    The number of active subscribers with pay DTH operators decreased from 69.86 million at the end of June to 68.89 million by the end of September, according to latest Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) data.

    It added that broadband is expanding very fast and is being used for content distribution as well.

    The industry body welcomed the proposal to remove licence fees to help the consumers but requested that “the same policy may be applicable to DTH, and therefore seek a waiver of licence fees in line with DoT proposed decision.”

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended the DoT to waive license fees on broadband services for five years.

    “Now with the licence fee being waived for broadband, hence IPTV, OTT will become an even more formidable force and DTH will remain the only distribution platform paying an eight per cent content license fee while distributing just as cable, HITS, FreeDish, and IPTV do, making DTH the most uncompetitive in comparison to every other content distribution platform,” the association said.

  • DTH sector lost 0.37 mn subs in the quarter ended 31 Dec’21: Trai

    DTH sector lost 0.37 mn subs in the quarter ended 31 Dec’21: Trai

    Mumbai: The total active subscriber base of the pay direct-to-home (DTH) sector declined from 68.89 million at the end of September 2021 to 68.52 million at the end of December 2021, as per data provided by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). This is in addition to the subscribers of DD Free Dish, the free DTH service offered by Doordarshan.

    Tata Play maintained its position as the leading DTH player increasing its market share from 33.34 per cent to 33.48 per cent. It was followed by Bharti Telemedia that also increased its market share from 26.11 per cent to 26.37 per cent. Dish TV India ceded market share from 22.65 per cent to 22.04 per cent. Sun TV Direct gained market share from 17.91 per cent to 18.11 per cent.

    Trai reported the subscriber base of 12 major multi-system operators (MSO) and one headend-in-the-sky (HITS) operator who have a subscriber base of more than one million. GTPL Hathway continued to be the leading MSO followed by Siti Networks, Hathway Digital, Den Networks and Thamizhaga Cable TV Communication. While most MSOs lost subscribers during the quarter, Thamizhaga, Kerala Communicators Cable, Nxt Digital (HITS), V K Digital Network and Nxt Digital (Cable TV) gained subscribers. Notably, Nxt Digital (HITS and Cable TV) gained the highest number of subscribers at 436,990.

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    There were 909 private satellite TV channels at the end of December 2021 compared to 906 channels at the end of September 2021. Additionally, there were 350 pay channels out of which 253 were SD channels and 97 were HD channels.

    The number of internet subscribers decreased from 834.29 million to 829.30 million during the quarter. There were 792.08 million broadband subscribers and 37.21 million narrowband subscribers. The number of wired internet subscribers increased from 24.47 million to 26.58 million with a quarterly growth rate of 8.62 per cent. The number of wireless internet subscribers decreased from 809.82 million to 802.72 million.

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    In the wired internet segment, Reliance Jio Infocomm held 17.18 per cent market share with 4.57 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel at 4.20 million subscribers. In the wireless internet segment, Reliance Jio held 51.79 per cent market share with 415.72 million subscribers followed by Bharti Airtel with 28.21 per cent with 226.45 million subscribers at the end of the quarter.

    The total number of VSAT subscribers decreased from 289,557 to 288,848 during the quarter. Hughes Communications is the market leader with 135,374 subscribers and market share of 46.87 per cent, followed by Nelco at 76,166 subscribers and market share of 26.37 per cent at the end of the quarter.

    The average revenue per user (ARPU) per month of wireless services customers increased from Rs 108.16 to Rs 114.16 over the quarter. The average data usage per month for a wireless subscriber was 14.97 Gb.

  • DD Free Dish announces new channel numbers effective 1 April

    DD Free Dish announces new channel numbers effective 1 April

    Mumbai: Prasar Bharati’s free direct-to-home (DTH) platform DD Free Dish has announced the new channel numbers for 167 TV channels and 48 radio channels that will come into effect from 1 April. The TV channels comprise 91 Doordarshan channels including 51 cobranded educational channels and 76 private TV channels.

    The private TV channels bouquet comprises eight Hindi general entertainment channels, 15 Hindi movie channels, six music channels, 22 news channels, 9 Bhojpuri channels, four devotional channels and two foreign channels.

    “The new channel lineup has rendered the DD Free Dish bouquet more diverse and engaging than ever,” said the statement.  

    Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s dedicated food channel ‘Food Food’ has been added along with a new sports channel ‘MyCam.’

    In the latest e-auction for allotment of MPEG-2 slots of DD Free Dish, 63 channels were successfully allocated slots in various genres. The number of channels on DD Free Dish has also increased under multiple buckets this year. In the news and current affairs category, the number of channels has increased from 11 to 14, while the bucket of Hindi music, Hindi sports, Hindi teleshopping channels, Bhojpuri movies and Bhojpuri GEC has registered growth from 13 to 16.

    “With improved auction processes leading to addition of better quality and quantity of channels in various genres, between 2017 and 2022 alone, the free DTH service of Doordarshan clocked a stellar growth of almost 100 per cent from 22 million in 2017 to 43 million in 2022,” said the statement.

    “DD Free Dish has become the largest DTH platform with a reach of more than 43 million households,” said the statement.

    This year’s FICCI-EY report found that free television continued to grow its base to reach an estimated 43 million subscribers on the back of less expensive TV sets, economic issues, and the addition of new channels to the platform. The report also quoted Free Dish distributors mentioning the year-on-year growth in sales of DD Free Dish set-top-boxes.

    “In stark comparison to 22 million subscribers in 13 years between 2004 and 2017, DD Free Dish’s growth over the last five years stands out,” said the statement. “In just five years between 2017 and 2022, Free Dish has added another 21 million subscribers, taking the total to 43 million.”  

    The DD Free Dish set-top-box can be purchased for a one-time fee of Rs 2000 where the viewer does not have to pay any monthly subscription fee.

  • Dish TV India reappoints Jawahar Goel as MD

    Dish TV India reappoints Jawahar Goel as MD

    Mumbai: Dish TV India has reappointed Jawahar Lal Goel as its managing director (MD) till 25 March 2025, the company said in a regulatory filing late Friday night. The DTH service company also reappointed Anil Kumar Dua as the whole-time director for the same period as Goel.

    Goel who is also the chairman of the company’s board shall continue to remain the same. “Goel has been actively involved in the creation and expansion of the company and has been a pioneer of the direct-to-home (DTH) services in India,” the company said in its filing.

    Goel led the initiatives of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) as its president from September 2006 to September 2010. He has also been on the board of various committees and task forces set up by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) and continues to address several critical matters related to the industry.

    He is a prime architect in establishing India’s most modern and advanced technological infrastructure for the implementation of conditional access system (CAS) and direct-to-home (DTH) services.

    Dua has worked in several well-known entities such as Hindustan Unilever, Gillette and Hero MotoCorp. Prior to joining Dish TV India Limited, he was the OTE Group MD. He has experience in various facets of business management such as brand building, marketing, customer experience, supply chain, and strategy.

    He has also been an active participant in different forums like CII, Siam, Fada, and Ficci, and has also been the chairman of the Retail Council of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). He was also on the board of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC).

    Dua is an engineer from IIT Delhi and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.