ITV

Category: Regulators

  • Connected TV is the fusion of digital and linear television, which provides additional capabilities for brands to reach audiences more effectively, in a more hyper local personalised way: Atique Kazi

    Connected TV is the fusion of digital and linear television, which provides additional capabilities for brands to reach audiences more effectively, in a more hyper local personalised way: Atique Kazi

    Mumbai: CTV is becoming the preferred choice among audiences for television viewing, with the kind of convenience and flexibility the technology offers. It is one of the fastest-growing segments in India currently and with free streaming of IPL, the trend is predicted to see a spike.

    Indiantelevison.com spoke to XAxis president – data, performance and digital products, Atique Kazi  on the reach of connected TV’s, investing in it for the upcoming IPL and much more…..

    On Connected TV and its reach

    We are expecting the 22 million CTV connections to move to 30 million. And what it does is out of the 210 mn TV households that we have today; 30 million becomes a very substantial number. Some of our research is indicating that this 30 million now or 32 million then, it comprises of audiences, who are normally from the NCCS A and NGCS A & B ad categories. Also, some of the research indicates that the lifestyle choices and the premiumness preferences that the connected TV households have are quite strikingly different from the rest of the NCCS A and B TV households on linear television. 

    Somewhere down the line, I think the fragmentation of television is happening. That provides a good opportunity for brands to ensure that they look at this not as a siloed approach, but a connected approach with the television strategy. Because people are watching connected television content which is essentially the broadcast and linear TV content  So there’s a chip-off that we’re seeing happening on certain audience cuts on television. We are seeing that is relatable to the data we see on the connected TV audiences as well.  

    On the reach of smartphones 

    There are a lot of data points out there, and a lot of classifications, how we identify a connected TV household is a large screen and not a mobile screen, it is TV-to-TV comparable. Any household which has a smart television, which is powered by a broadband connection, and has access to two or more apps, which are OTT and streaming, broadcast-quality content that, for us is a connected TV household. 

    People who do chrome casting or mirroring etc., are not classified under that strain. Also, the research that we have done shows that content and ad engagement on mobile is very different from the ad engagement and content that you see in a laid-back experience in the living room. And over the years, we have seen that how TV has helped create brands, and scaled businesses, I think we need to look at connected TV also in that same lens, however, connected TV sets is the fusion of digital and linear television together. That provides additional capabilities for us to reach audiences more effectively, in a more hyper local personalised.

    On Jio being the game changer in streaming IPL free

    There are multiple demand sources for the connected television, and I kind of break that into the regular RnF that you do for advertisers, then you do a few impact properties and sports. So sports when it comes to connected TV is increasing. And some of the testimony was on FIFA where the report suggested that therr was around 12 million reach. I see that IPL on connected television offers an incredible and strong point of view, and audiences out there, which cannot be ignored. 

    Advertisers are now thinking about strategies as to whether they take a combination of CTV and television, or do they take a combination of linear television and mobile or do they go only with CTV.  Because they’re using scale across all three touch points, connected TV, mobile and linear TV. So interesting conversations and all depends upon which type of audiences the brands are reaching. What is their key goal? Is it like, being on top of the mind or is it bringing saliency or is it kind of looking at massive reach or reaches in certain audiences? Well, I think those are fundamental, primary key factors that will be considered and where then the investment should go across. 

    On Linear TV 

    I think the Power of linear TV for a sport is unparalleled, the distribution ecosystem, which we have seen in markets, like Australia, UK, and US have a very influential way because they actually control a certain percentage of the inventory, that the broadcasters run on through their networks to be sold by themselves. So when they look at this particular inventory, they are able to fuse the data, which is available on the setup boxes, the information that they know, and some of these players also have mobile services attached to it. So the moment they start fusing all these touch points together and when you’re able to kind of split the beams or run advertising on from initiative from the setup box, I think that will explode tremendously. 

    This will provide amazing options for brands to use linear TV more effectively. So big brands can actually go more hyper local with more units, and some of the new brands which wouldn’t ever be able to be present on television or  be able to come on television. So for example, a big sweet shop in Kohlapur can go ahead and be present on linear TV and that’s the promise of the whole addressable TV ecosystem. I personally feel that linear TV is not going to go away, it’s just going to become more digitised and more addressable nature in the future.

    On the vernacular reach of CTV for IPL

    Genre-based targeting has always been one of the key aspects of television advertising. And it will also play a similar role in the whole connected TV ecosystem as well. There is an explosion of content in the South, content coming across from foreign countries and then localization of content in the Hindi belt as well. 

    Wherever there are audiences, brands will look at really tapping into this. Also, the content that is propping in OTT in specific geographies, is allowing brands to kind of focus there because there are certain geographies where TV has been challenged due to the competition, or the number of players competing in that space. This offers options for the brands.

    On cord cutters, cord shavers and cord nevers

    India is actually a cord switching nation as we also have linear television access and OTT access and we keep switching between these so these are people who are cord switchers. Cord shavers are someone who are further moving away from cord switching and making much smarter choices. So if a consumer has a  base TV pack, which is coming in from a setup box, and probably now with the whole NTO, they are able to scrape off certain channels as they are available on the OTT platforms, consumers are paying the subscription and there is broadband connection. 

    Now people are making smarter choice they know which type of content they want to access and where and what to pay for that. However, in India, the cost of it considerably is low, and you don’t see a massive impact, but there is a certain point of discussion where this kind of affects the whole cord shaving and we’ve also seen cord Nevers, in the newer houses which are coming up.

    In India there has been a household increases of around 1.8 per cent year on year, the new homes that are coming, are not subscribing to cords because internet and broadband is essential and the big TV gets powered. A lot of new homes which are coming through don’t even have a whole concept of cords or setup boxes and antennas etc. Smart TV penetration, we see is that 90 per cent of the TVs sold are smart televisions, but not all of them are being seen online. So because of the cost factors and the entry points have become easy, even people who do not have broadband are actually buying Smart TV and then they’re connecting their mobile phones etc. But again, the expected increase in the broadband connections and the plans that Jio has and some of the other players that they have in there is quite promising for all of this old TV space to fill in, digitise and be more addressable in the future.

  • PIB appoints Rajesh Malhotra as principal director general

    Mumbai : Rajesh Malhotra took over as principal director general of the Press Information Bureau today (PIB).  Malhotra took over following the retirement of  Satyendra Prakash yesterday.

    Rajesh Malhotra, an Indian Information Service (IIS) Officer from 1989, had previously worked in the Ministry of Finance since January 2018.

    During the critical COVID-19 Pandemic, he effectively guided the Ministry of Finance’s media and communication policy in tandem with the various AatmaNirbhar Bharat Packages announced by the government of India over time to provide relief to people and maintain economic balance.

    Malhotra has over 32 years of operational experience in media and communication strategy planning and implementation for various central government ministries/departments such as finance, company affairs, agriculture, power, coal, mines, communications & IT, textiles, labour, new & renewable energy.

    Furthermore, he was associated with the election commission of India as in-charge of media and communication for 21 years (1996-2017), planning and implementing media and communication strategies during the election commission’s six general elections to the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament of India), as well as several State Assembly Polls and elections for the president and VP of India.  Malhotra has worked closely with 12 chief election commissioners during his tenure.

    Malhotra has a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from IMT in Ghaziabad, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Media Laws from NALSAR in Hyderabad. He has also participated in a short-term course on Public Policy Analysis at the University of California, Media Management & Strategies at the Thomson Foundation in the United Kingdom, and the Programme on ‘Marketing: The Winning Concepts & Practices’ at IIM Lucknow in New Delhi. He is also a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and has a law degree.

    Malhotra has experience as a spokesperson in successfully establishing “two-way” communication channels between the government and the media. Throughout his distinguished career, he has successfully managed crisis situations in various, ministries, ensuring that only the correct perspective/information is disseminated to the media. He also has extensive experience coordinating media coverage for international conferences and events, having been a member of various ministerial delegations from India throughout his career.

     

  • Social Media Platform ‘GotChosen’ Introduces ads monetization program

    Mumbai: GotChosen, a social media platform, introduced the monetization program for influencers – GotChosen Ads Program. Under this unique program, creators will be allowed to monetize their short videos on the GotChosen App. Through this innovative earning model, creators can earn a guaranteed compensation of 60 per cent of the advertising revenue generated.

    The GotChosen Ads Program will guarantee monetization of all videos with no time limits on the date of the post creation.  Users will have access to the complete analytics. The ads format available for monetization are display, native and interstitial ads. Creators will also have the option of monetizing video ads on GotChosen’s web platform.

    For creators, GotChosen has introduced a number of monetizing avenues, like the CPM advertising model. This model ensures that for every 1K views on a video, creators get a guarantee earning Rs 15, with increases based on continued growth in traction. Creators can also earn royalty rights to referral ad monetization. In addition, The GotChosen Ads Program is also linked with the company’s referral program that pays a 5 per cent bonus. Once a user brings in their friend or acquaintance to the platform, the referral and the user both stand to earn through the ads program. It is available for all users that have more than 10k followers on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube or Facebook.

    Commenting on the GotChosen Ads Program, GotChosen founder & CEO Oz Silva said, “At GotChosen, we are committed to democratising the monetization of content on social media platforms.  We are constantly looking at creating opportunities for our creators to maximise traction of their content, while providing an uninterrupted and unhindered user experience. The GotChosen Ads Program is a result of this objective.”

    As a digital nation, we are witnessing the rise of a new wave of content creators in India. The GotChosen Ads Program allows all our influencers, whether celebrity or nano-influencers, to access opportunities to monetize their content regularly, creating a powerful and sustainable revenue stream.” he added.

    GotChosen is offering a partnership opportunity for influencers and content creators, as the one platform that is adopting total transparency and sharing the revenues with the influencers and content creators. In the ever-chaotic social media space, and among social media platforms, GotChosen is set to raise the bar for all the players in this segment.

  • Innovations in Advertising & Marketing Space, Outlook for 2023

    MUMBAI: Introduction

    The modern advertising and marketing environment has accelerated the use and development of new-age technologies in the jewellery businesses. Jewellers are advertising on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Whatsapp to reach the target audience extensively and successfully. This sector has seen immense change in terms of customizing their offerings based on customers’ evolving preferences/choices using Artificial Intelligence and data analytics retrieving data to analyse customer behaviour, and aligning advertisement and marketing campaigns based on those data readings. This has also led the jewellers to increasingly use an omnichannel approach to extend their services to a larger audience.

    Understanding who the consumer is and how to target them is critical to successful marketing in any jewellery business.

    With the rise in popularity of online jewellery buying over the last decade, most jewellery brands have an online presence to address the need to market the brand to new-age customers. But that’s merely the beginning. Jewellery marketing online is now a must-do for all jewellery stores. In recent years, consumers have been purchasing jewellery based on their market position. This implies that jewellery firms require marketing support to have a robust online presence, increase customer engagement, and maximise sales.

    So, what are the most recent trends in the jewellery industry? What can jewellers do to stay ahead of the game? Jewellers should comprehend specific technologies and marketing strategies increasingly used in the industry to remain relevant.

    Hyper-Personalization

    In an age of mass manufacturing and marketing, personalized products are more appealing. People want products and information tailored particularly for them, which is why more firms in the jewellery sector are adopting a hyper-personalized approach. It satisfies consumers’ wishes and needs by moving away from a one-size-fits-all strategy towards providing a personalized experience for each consumer. It is helping jewellery stores offer a more relevant and accurate consumer experience by delivering personalized products and services.

    Social Media Marketing

    Social media marketing these days can cast a successful spell on any brand campaign, ensuring reaching the maximum target audience and converting real-time business goals. Influencer marketing is the other wing which has been explored widely to maximize customer traction through social posts/ reels/ videos that influencers share on their social page. By generating more customers, influencer marketing can do wonders for companies. The “trust factor” & “reliability” that come with each influencer, by endorsing and marketing any services/ products to their follower base, encourage decision-making and help in the evolved buying patterns among today’s customers. When customers receive recommendations from someone they trust, they are more inclined to buy or purchase the product or service. These factors are directly related to the growth of a brand and reaching customers from all corners, hence deepening a targeted market approach.

    Augmented reality and Artificial intelligence

    Augmented Reality & Artificial Intelligence have stepped up the game for the industry with newer innovations and features that allow customers to use tools and applications like virtual ‘Try-ons’ to get a close look at the desired jewellery piece from the comfort of their homes. These features are crucial to a company’s growth since it provides a one-of-a-kind sensory experience to an individual. Artificial intelligence develops a dependable method of creating jewellery and recognises gemstone shapes and hues. Because of these distinct technological developments, the jewellery business has significantly advanced.

    Omnichannel Presence

    With the intervention of digitization and the transformation it brings in (across sectors), daily transactions have become more accessible. Catering to a broader and larger audience, the brands are making the most of their presence both in online and offline space. The target audience of a particular age bracket might wish to shop for jewellery items online. Having an internet presence will assist the jewellery retail business greatly. Increasing the brand’s online presence broadens the company’s reach, helps overall marketing efforts and boosts revenues. At the same time, the other section of the audience might want to visit the physical outlet to make a purchase. To address this challenging space gap, two parallel universes operate these days to make the most of the prospects rendered by both online & offline channels in reaching maximum customers.

    Personalized Website Design

    Jewellers demonstrate their services and offerings by creating a visually appealing website that is also easy to navigate. The user-friendly interface can attract maximum traction, allowing the audience to experience the brand’s personalized tools and unique proposition. Customers feel more connected to a company if the website has a personalized touch addressing every individual concern and query.

    Performance Marketing

    Performance marketing is a digital marketing approach that focuses on results. It is ideal for jewellery firms looking to reach a broad audience. It enables organizations to engage and create connections with their users, which leaves a positive impression. Performance marketing is a powerful tool for assisting jewellers in expanding their reach, engagement, conversions, and sales at a lesser cost, with substantially less risk and significantly larger ROIs. This marketing method allows one’s business to reach a larger audience and target specific demographics.

    Conclusion

    The introduction of technology, social media, and marketing has altered the jewellery business. The market is expanding rapidly and is brimming with opportunities, particularly for those willing to take risks and embrace innovation. The advancements in the advertising and marketing environment have enabled the jewellery industry to improve the customer experience by promoting trust, privacy, and visibility.

    The author of this article is Candere by Kalyan Jewellers founder & CEO Rupesh Jain.

  • Demand for usage fee by telecom operators is fair : COAI

    Mumbai: Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Monday defended the telcos’ demand for a reasonable “use charge” from OTT providers after the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) criticised it for boosting the “revenue sharing” demand for telecom service providers (TSPs).

    The COAI restated its stance that telecom operators should seek a fair “user fee” from OTT communication service providers in exchange for using their networks to offer profitable services. This would help to build the nation’s digital infrastructure and boost the economy.

    “Certain entities with vested interests are misdirecting the issue of the need for a regulatory framework for the communication OTTs and the need of usage charge to be paid by OTTs to the TSPs, by bringing in the aspect of net neutrality in a misleading manner, to make it a populist issue,” said  COAI,  Director General Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar

    According to the COAI, there doesn’t seem to be enough understanding of how net neutrality relates to the non-discriminatory handling of material, which has nothing to do with the usage fee issue.

    “Telecom service providers are committed to following the net neutrality principles, as per their license conditions, as also all other regulatory and security compliances which the TSPs undertake to safeguard consumer interest and security — which OTTs presently do not,” it argued.

    The sending party network pays (SPNP) model is one that the COAI has been promoting since it would enable telecom service providers to take advantage of internet enterprises by formalising rent-seeking.

    “The SPNP model would be a death knell for the digital economy and the creative ecosystem which it sustains,” IAMAI had said last week.

    Calls for an SPNP mechanism have re-emerged even though the demand for telecom services is entirely dependent on the ability of OTT services to attract users.

    The COAI said that OTT platforms take a free ride on TSP-funded networks “without contributing to the setting up, operating and maintenance costs either directly or indirectly or for the expansion of networks.”

    In fact, many OTT communication players are considering or have already begun to charge users a hefty cost for verified accounts, which will increase their revenue streams.

    “It is ironic that representatives of entities profiting themselves by levying charges on subscribers while riding free on the telcos’ network are stating that paying for usage would effectively raise costs for users,” commented Kochhar.

  • Trai extends date for comments and counter-comments on “Regulating converged digital technologies and services’ consultation paper

    Mumbai : The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has extended deadline for receiving written comments on a consultation paper “Regulating Converged Digital Technologies and Services – Enabling Convergence of Carriage of Broadcasting and Telecommunication Services” issued on 30 January , 2023.

    The deadline for receiving written comments from stakeholders on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper has been set for 27 February, 2023, and the deadline for counter comments has been set for March 13th, 2023.

    In response to stakeholder requests for an extension of time to submit comments, it has been decided to extend the deadlines for submitting written comments and counter-comments until 27 March and  10 April, 2023, respectively.

     

  • SAMCO Securities appoints Mrinal Nidhi as head of digital

    Mumbai: SAMCO Securities, India’s leading flat-fee brokerage and wealth-tech platform, is bolstering its leadership with the appointment of Mrinal Nidhi as the new Head of Digital. He will be leading Performance Marketing, MarTech, and Analytics. Nidhi’s appointment is part of the company’s strategy to grow the brand’s market presence and enhance its customer-centric offerings to help the audience excel in trading and investing.

    In his new role, Nidhi will spearhead the initiatives aimed at strengthening the company’s digital growth and improving the customer experience through seamless and personalized digital experiences based on data insights.

    Speaking on the appointment, SAMCO Group founder and CEO Jimeet Modi said, “We are proud to welcome Mrinal as a new addition to our team. With his expertise in MarTech and Analytics, we are confident that he will drive measurable results and contribute to the continued success of our organization. We look forward to leveraging his skills to take our marketing efforts to the next level.”

    “I am excited to join SAMCO Securities and be part of an organisation that is committed to innovation and customer-centricity,” said Nidhi. “I look forward to working with the talented team at SAMCO Securities to develop and execute effective marketing strategies that will drive growth and enhance our customer’s experience.”

    Earlier this month, SAMCO Securities embarked on its growth trajectory through partnerships with India’s leading marketing and communication agencies -Dentsu Creative, Adfactors PR and Womb.

  • Audiences are looking for context, perspective, and a little more analysis of the news: Zakka Jacob

    Mumbai: Today the broadcasting business is seeing a change and digital is seeing a surge and news viewers are split. There are a set of audiences who still prefer watching news on TV and a new set of audiences both domestically and internationally who watch news on the go. 

    During the last six months, CNN-News18 has been No.1 as per Data Beings and Google Analytics. In January 2023, CNN-News18’s YouTube channel witnessed a record 173 million views, while the Facebook handle crossed 135 million views. In fact, during weeks 6 and 7 our platform has clocked 21 million YouTube views as per Data being higher than the cumulative numbers of the No.2 and No.3 channels.

    Indiantelevision.com in a telephonic conversation with Zakka Jacob – Managing Editor – CNN-News18 speaking on their recent foray into digital news and how in a short time they are the No 1 there and much more….

    On being No1 on YouTube

    The story is very simple. We started this YouTube journey about six months ago. To be very honest we were a little late to the YouTube game. But once we entered in August 2022, the then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and we just started our live stream saying she’s coming to Taiwan. We had a camera outside the airport and suddenly there was this viewer interest. More than one lac people were watching it concurrently the entire stream from the time the plane landed. That entire stream got some three or four million views and suddenly it made all of us sit up and take notice. We realised that something was going on there. I mean it’s not normal that for one stream 3- 4 million people suddenly turn up and watch it. So we then started experimenting with content on our CNN News 18 YouTube page, and we added in a lot of international content. 

    On September 22, when the Queen of England passed away we streamed the funeral and the streaming crossed 100 mn views which was more than the BBC’s YouTube channel. This was a little difficult to understand why anybody would come to an India-based channel to watch a global news event. 

    That is when we realized that there is an audience out there, a global audience which wants to consume content not necessarily from the western media point of view or western media perspective but is open to consuming the same content at different angles in the same content from other non-western media. And from then on, month on month some news event or the other made us reach more viewers. 

    On November, 22 there was FIFA, and then there were the US midterm elections, all of this got us 173 bn views. So if you were to ask me as a news person what is driving this? I think there is an audience. There is an audience in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and globally who want to consume news. I don’t know who these audiences are, maybe they don’t see this in the mainstream media there or they don’t trust this news to be there in the mainstream media. So they are coming to alternate sources and we are happy that they are coming to alternate sources.

    On the audience which prefers watching the news on YouTube

    I think it’s just convenience, for example, the Union Budget was on 1st Feb, a Wednesday and a weekday when people were at work, at 11:00 in the morning, people were not tuning into their TV as they didn’t have access to their TVs, but they had access to their phones. So the budget speech stream of the Finance Minister’s speech which was live on our YouTube page, at one point had about 65 – 70,000 people watching concurrently. At the end of that speech, that converted into a few million views. So I keep telling my team here that, look, ultimately we are content creators. 

    We are producing this news. How the consumer consumes it, whether it is on television, through cable TV, or on mobile phones, and it is now through connected TV, that’s the choice that the viewer is making. That’s not a choice that we can dictate. What we have to do is to adapt to the consumer’s preferences and take the news to the audience. We have to create the content and take it to the audience, to where the audience is. And if that audience is moving away from television to handheld devices or connected TV, then we have to move in that direction. The onus is on us. So I think that’s really what is driving the change. I think the pandemic played a very important role in that. 

    We saw that in the entertainment genre, which had a lot of people getting into OTT and Netflix and Amazon Prime and all that. Now we’re seeing that in news as well. A lot more people are consuming news on their mobile phones. 

    On the core characteristics of a news viewer on TV as compared to a viewer watching on YouTube? 

    I think one of the differences that we notice in terms of the content that works on YouTube visually, and the content that works on television, in YouTube people are coming for a little more perspective, a little more context. What we call explainer videos. I think anything that you can explain in five to ten minutes. Let’s say, for example, this week, the US President suddenly made a surprise visit to Ukraine. What is the significance, what is the signalling that he’s trying to send? If someone can quickly explain why this visit is important, what is the signalling, and what is the messaging of this visit? Why has he done this now and how does it fit in the overall context of the world? 

    I think that is something that people are searching for people, and looking for context, for perspective, for a little more analysis.

    I don’t want to make TV news stereotypical, but on TV news you do see opposing points of view and debates. I don’t think that’s the content that is working on YouTube, it’s a little more exploratory, and of course live events, irrespective of what the media is if there is a war happening or any live event irrespective of what the medium is, whether it’s on YouTube, on mobile phone, or TV, cable TV, of course, there is no substitute for that. Any live event which is breaking at that moment will get consumed. 

    On YouTube being a snack-in, snack-out kind of attitude? 

    So it depends, honestly, it depends on the time of day that they are consuming it. If they are in their office and they come out for a lunch break, they want to quickly see what has happened. That is one kind of consumer or that’s one behaviour of a consumer. Whereas on that same medium, on that same platform, we have seen people consume long, lengthy explainer videos at 8 PM or Post 9 PM, when they’re at home, when they have finished dinner and they are just browsing through their phones, people are consuming much longer content. So if you look at the average view durations, you can see videos that get up to eight and nine minutes, sometimes even over ten minutes of average view duration. 

    I think in this day and age when we talk about dwindling attention spans and short videos are less than 60-sec reel, to see that there are a good number of people who are watching longer videos, average view duration of more than ten minutes; I think that’s also heartening. I think the consumer is very smart that way. I don’t think there’s any point for us as content creators trying to second guess what he or she will want to watch or how long they will watch. I think the attempt is to try and give everything. It’s like the thali give them everything and then some people will consume something and other people will consume the other things. 

    On the strategy of what news you put on television and what you put on digital? 

    If you go to our YouTube page right now, there are probably about 20 live streams on different independent topics. There could be a piece on the Turkey earthquake, there could be something on the Russia-Ukraine war, there could be something happening in domestic US politics and then of course, whatever is happening here in the Supreme Court of India, it’s like running 20 different channels. Digital also allows us to share multiple feeds simultaneously. 

    Whereas on traditional broadcast, you’re running one channel at one point in time, which is focusing on one story, you’re focused on here and now. This allows us to expand our horizons a lot more. 

    As I said, the nature of the audience especially on the YouTube is an international audience. They’re consuming you wherever in the world they are and consuming your news on YouTube, whereas broadcasting; it’s largely a domestic audience and   the domestic consumer. A lot of the content on broadcast television would be domestic content on politics, crime and stuff that’s happening domestically in India. So the skew would be much more in favour of domestic news on television, whereas on YouTube the skew will be a little more and the flavour will be international.

  • Kerala HC grants AIDCF one week to submit a rejoinder

    Mumbai : As per reports in the media, the Kerala High Court has ordered the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) to submit a rebuttal in the NTO 3.0 case within a week.

    The next hearing, according to the court, will take place on 3 March.

    According to sources, the IBDF attorney objected to the AIDCF’s request for two weeks to file a response.

    After the cable operators agreed to sign the new Reference Interconnection Offer, both parties reached an agreement late on Wednesday (RIO).

    Also read : Fight between broadcasters &  AIDCF members to end ?

    According to our previous report, AIDCF and the cable operators agreed that the interconnection agreement could be revised based on a court order.

  • Trai releases draft Regulation on ‘Review of The Quality of Service (Code of Practice for Metering and Billing Accuracy) Regulations, 2023’

    Mumbai : The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ( trai ) has released a draft regulation on ‘Review of The Quality of Service (Code of Practice for Metering and Billing Accuracy) Regulations, 2023’ and draft guidelines for this regulation.

    Accuracy of metering and billing of telecom services has been a prime focus of the Regulator to protect the interest of consumers. In this regard, TRAI had notified the Quality of Service (Code of Practice for Metering and Billing Accuracy) Regulations, 2006, on 21 March 2006.

     These regulations contain a Code of Practice for Metering and Billing Accuracy which is to be complied by all Basic Service Providers, Unified Access Service Providers and Cellular Mobile Telephone Service Providers. The amendment to the Quality of Service (Code of Practice for Metering and Billing Accuracy) Regulation, 2006, was issued on 25 March 2013.

    “Over the time, the telecom networks have undergone significant changes, and many new services are offered by the telecom service providers. Additionally, tariffs against the services offered have also undergone significant changes specially after introduction of unlimited data or voice plans with fixed tariffs on daily/monthly/yearly basis. All these new tariff offerings provide unlimited usage with certain limits under Fair Usage Policy(FUP), thereby shifting focus from itemized billing to committed volume of data or voice or SMS on daily basis or till the expiry of validity of the subscribed tariff offering.” said note released by Trai.

    It further added, “New IP based networks such as LTE/5G technologies, carrying voice over data have now shifted billing from per second/minute based billing to data volume based billing. Accordingly, service providers are expected to have advanced, robust and scalable IT products for accurate billing of various services being offered to consumers.”

    The authority had release  Consultation Paper on “Review of The Quality of Service (Code of Practice for Metering and Billing Accuracy) Regulations, 2006′ on 1 September 2020 seeking comments and counter comments of stakeholders by 27 October 2020 and 10 November 2020 respectively.

    the Authority had received written comments from 13 stakeholders and 1 counter comment, held Open House Discussions (OHD)and subsequent discussions with the stakeholders and empaneled auditors. All inputs/ comments received have been considered by the Authority while finalizing these draft Regulations and Guidelines.

    However, before issuing final regulations by repealing previous regulations and their amendments on the subject, Authority decided to put forward draft regulations and guidelines in the public domain for consideration of the stakeholders and offer further comments, if any.

    Written comments on draft regulations and guidelines are invited from the stakeholders by 17 March 2023.

    https://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Draft_Regulation_24022023_0.pdf