Category: Technology

MUMBAI: IPTV subscriptions worldwide will grow at 70 per cent from 2012 to 2017 with 100 per cent growth in the Asia-Pacific off a large base of 28.5 million subscribers.

Global pay-TV subscribers will reach 853.5 million at the end of 2012 with 116 million IPTV subscribers, according to ABI Research.

Worldwide, cable operators are investing heavily in the digitisation of their networks to compete with satellite and IPTV platforms.

“Satellite and IPTV networks have been able to deliver better channel selection and higher quality signals than analog TV platforms. When faced with technology changes – including digital terrestrial (DTT) transitions and cable digitisation requiring a set-top box, customers are likely to consider satellite and IPTV alternatives,” notes Sam Rosen, practice director, TV & video.

Asia-Pacific is the region with the highest potential of growth due to its market size and growing economy. The region will account for more than 60 per cent of total net additions in 2012. The growth will depend mainly on China, India, and other countries with low pay-TV penetration such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Currently, less than 15 per cent of pay-TV subscribers in the region subscribe to high-definition (HD) services.

HD service adoption is highest in North America, followed by Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Key markets of the Asia-Pacific region, such as China and India, are carrying out nationwide cable TV digitisation. Digitisation is expected to increase HD services and adoption in in the years to come. More than 18 per cent of total pay-TV subscribers in the Asia-Pacific will subscriber to HD services in 2012.

MUMBAI: Times Internet Ltd (TIL) has purchased a minority stake in logistics company Delhivery, a move that will help strengthen the last mile delivery system of its e-commerce portal Indiatimes Shopping.

Delhivery manages the entire E-Commerce supply chain – from procurement to warehousing to packaging to last mile delivery system – for its e-commerce partners.

The company with over 12,000 sq ft of warehouse space under management also offers third-party warehousing and transit warehousing services to e-commerce partners and co-ordinate across the supply chain.

Indiatimes Shopping currently works with Fedex, Bluedart, ASL and Aramex as its logistics partners.

MUMBAI: DigiCable Networks (India) has got the permission from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for operating as a multi-system operator (MSO) in the Digital Addressable System (Das) notified areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

DigiCable has got the permission for a period of 10 years, effective 12 June.

The MSO said it is the first one to get the licence from the Ministry.

In a letter, signed by the Under Secretary to the Government of India, DigiCable is notified that Ministry has examined the application of the MSO, dated 11 May 2012, and decided to grant the permission, under Rule 11(C) of the Cable Television Network (Amendment) Rules, 2012 for operating as a MSO in the DAS notified cities of national Capital Territory of Delhi, Municipal Council of Greater Mumbai, and Kolkata Metropolitan.

However, the permission is subject to adherence and compliance of the following terms and conditions:

• The MSO shall comply with all the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rule made there under, as amended.


• MSO shall abide by the rules/ regulations/ orders/ directions/ guidelines etc. issued by the regulatory authority or by the Ministry.


• MSO shall have the capacity to carry minimum number of television channels specified by the authority.


• MSO shall not carry programming services provided on the channel generated at the level of such MSO which is in violation of the Programme Code specified in Rule 6 and the Advertising Code specified in Rule 7 of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.


• The MSO shall comply with foreign investment guidelines and conditions thereon for Cable TV sector issued by the Central Government from time to time.

Additionally, the MSO will have to display the above terms in their office premises as well as in the premises of its affiliate cable operators.

MUMBAI: Pay TV service provider DirecTV and sports broadcaster ESPN have announced the first-ever 3D transmission of the Olympic Games in Latin America.

The broadcasts will be offered on the ESPN3D network exclusively to subscribers of DirectTV in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela who are signed up for DirecTV Plus HD and who have 3D compatible television sets and glasses.

The events that will be transmitted in 3D are the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games on 27 July; the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics on 2 August; the Track and Field Finals on 5 August; the Men’s Basketball Finals on 1 2 August and the closing ceremony on 12 August.

ESPN Latin America senior director of acquisitions and new media Federico Reyna said, “We are very pleased to be present for this historic three-dimensional coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games. ESPN continues to develop best practices for the use of technology in applications for broadcasting live sports.”

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: In an effort to win the battle over MSOs in the digital era, direct-to-home operator Dish TV has held out a unique offer: local cable operators (LCOs) will get to earn per set-top box for each consumer that they help migrate from cable to DTH.

For Dish TV, the move will open up a new frontier of attack. By offering an incentive to the LCOs who have historically earned their livelihood through cable networks, India’s largest DTH operator hopes to add subscribers more rapidly when consumers will have to choose either digital cable or DTH if they want to watch television in the digitised era.

Dish TV‘s subscriber growth slowed from its early year target of 3-3.5 million to 2.455 million in FY‘12. The DTH operator achieved 12.9 million gross and 9.6 million net subscribers till the end of 31 March 2012.

“This will give Dish TV a new distribution chain. It plans to lure LCOs who are already an aggrieved party with the Trai tariff order for DAS (Digital Addressable System) fixing their revenue share with MSOs at 45 per cent for free-to-air (FTA)channels and 35 per cent for pay channels. It will also help WWIL and Dish TV, both promoted by Essel Group, to fight together in a limited sense,” says a media analyst who did not want his name to be revealed.

Earlier this month, Wire and Wireless (India) Ltd had announced a scheme where it was willing to share 25 per cent of its carriage income from DAS markets with LCOs.

Interestingly, the meeting with the LCOs was addressed by Dish TV and later by WWIL.

Several multi-system operators (MSOs) have been saying that the tariff order for DAS laid out by sector regulator Trai is unfair as it does not address the cross-media ownership while fixing a varying rate for content from broadcasters. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has said that broadcasters can charge a maximum of 42 per cent of the analogue rates of their channels under the DAS regime.

Dish TV chief operating officer Salil Kapoor told indiantelevision.com that the offer only applies to the subscriber base that any cable operator has and not to those customers who are approached directly by the direct selling agents of the platform.

Kapoor said when any subscriber approaches his cable operator for installation of a digital STB, the latter can suggest a switch-over to Dish TV. Dish TV will give Rs 400 for each basic STB and Rs 600 for each HD box. These are for new acquisitions and the LCO will get an additional Rs 200 as installation charges on both.

On monthly recharge, the LCOs will earn a commission of Rs 100 per consumer on Super Platinum and Rs 125 for HD.

The local cable operator will also get to earn Rs 150 for every visit to the consumer’s venue for any repairs or solving other problems.

In a presentation held earlier, Dish TV COO (IT) V K Gupta told LCOs that Dish TV will not interact with the customers in any way and, therefore, there was no fear of any customers being taken away. The cable operators will only have to provide the ID number, the SAF number and the VC number on the software developed for the purpose, which can be used from a tablet or even an android phone.

However, the cable operator will have to keep a security deposit of Rs 400 for the standard STB and Rs 1000 for the HD STB with Dish TV.

Kapoor said the standard STB will cost around Rs 740 while the HD STB will cost Rs 1340. Customers will have to pay an advance of only 20 per cent for booking the boxes.

WWIL COO Anil Malhotra said Siticable was presently offering 400 standards and 30 HD TV channels and the number would go up as directed by Trai.

Malhotra told indiantelevision.com that it was wrong to say that DTH players were trying to scuttle the growth of the cable operators.

Kapoor said that Dish TV was leading in the DTH segment with a market share of 41 per cent. He said Dish TV was using three satellites: NSS6, Asiasat 5, and Insat-4B. Dish TV was also leading in more than 15 genres of programming.

He said that around 30 per cent of the cable TV market may move to DTH with digitisation, particularly because of HD channels and homes having more than one connection.

MUMBAI: US broadcasters ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, TeleFutura, Telemundo and Univision broadcast networks have announced a plan to provide additional ratings tools to give parents even greater decision-making power over their family‘s media consumption.

Parents will now be able use the TV ratings system when children access broadcast television programmes on the Internet. The networks are making the ratings information available for all full-length entertainment programs that stream on the websites that they control.

Each company will determine its own systems, and the networks have committed that the TV ratings will appear at the beginning of full-length video programs and also in the online programming descriptions. Network websites will also include or link to ratings system information.

This commitment is effective for rated programming televised beginning 1 December.

The Parents Television Council welcomed the decision by TV networks ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telefutura, Telemundo and Univision to expand their ratings to online content, a move PTC encouraged in a 2010 online video study. However, it cautioned that the decision rings hollow without reform to a system that lacks accuracy, consistency, transparency and accountability.

PTC president Tim Winter said, “We are pleased to see that the networks have finally expressed an intention to display ratings for their online content, which is something the PTC called for in our November 2010 study, ‘Untangling the Web of Internet Video.’ In that study, the PTC showed that four of the most popular online distributors, including Hulu, Fancast, /Slashcontrol, and AT&T, all failed to provide consistent and accurate content ratings for parents”.

The PTC does not want the online rating system to be similar to the current television rating system.

Said Winter, “The timing of this announcement on the eve of the Supreme Court’s broadcast decency decision in Fox v. FCC is dubious. Broadcasters have a unique publicly-granted privilege and it is past time for them to start providing real solutions to parents, rather than attempting half measures designed to sway the Court’s and the public’s opinion. This is too big an issue to continue playing games. We hope that the networks will allow more public involvement in designing a new system that will give parents the tools they need to protect children.”

NEW DELHI: The last mile cable operators of Delhi have presented a memorandum in the office of Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni protesting against the paltry share of just Rs 45 on the basic tier of Rs 100 for 100 free to air channels fixed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

Earlier, around 200 of these operators organised a rally from Jantar Mantar to Shastri Bhawan to protest against the Trai regulations and the ministry‘s diktat for mandatory digitisation, ignoring the concerns of thousands of small cable operators. They also carried placards and raised slogans outside Shastri Bhavan which houses the I&B ministry.

The memorandum listed various demands and asked for a fair share in the cable TV revenue and extension of deadlines for switching off analogue as the city does not have adequate number of set- top boxes to seed in subscriber homes. Many areas of Delhi do not even have digital signal from any MSO, the LCOs claimed.

The LCOs have also complained that none of the MSOs have declared the pay channel rates or packages, but the government still wants them to force subscribers to buy STBs. Consumers do not know what they will get in the digital regime and at what price. It has become difficult for the LCOs to answer inquiries from consumers.

Some of the cable operators at the spot told indiantelevision.com that none of the MSO call centers are operational and customers are contacting only the LCOs, whereas the regulations have reduced their status from the last mile owners to collection agents following the Trai regulations.

LCOs say that they were earlier getting Rs 82 per customer in Cas areas but this had been cut down to Rs 45 or less in DAS areas, the balance going to multi-system operators (MSOs). Their livelihood has been endangered by DAS regulations.

The protesting LCOs have shown their inability to implement DAS, performing tasks expected from them by the regulations like operating a call centre for complaint redress, 24×7 maintain the network of last mile to subscribers, attend to complaints within prescribed period, collect subscriptions on behalf of MSOs and pay channels, and collect taxes on behalf of Centre and state governments etc. out of a mere 45 per cent share in the basic service tier and 35 per cent share of pay channels.

They also pointed out that they needed protection as they would be the first to face the anger of consumers when television screens go blank from 1 July.

NEW DELHI: The last mile cable operators of Delhi have presented a memorandum in the office of Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni protesting against the paltry share of just Rs 45 on the basic tier of Rs 100 for 100 free to air channels fixed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

Earlier, around 200 of these operators organised a rally from Jantar Mantar to Shastri Bhawan to protest against the Trai regulations and the ministry‘s diktat for mandatory digitisation, ignoring the concerns of thousands of small cable operators. They also carried placards and raised slogans outside Shastri Bhavan which houses the I&B ministry.

The memorandum listed various demands and asked for a fair share in the cable TV revenue and extension of deadlines for switching off analogue as the city does not have adequate number of set- top boxes to seed in subscriber homes. Many areas of Delhi do not even have digital signal from any MSO, the LCOs claimed.

The LCOs have also complained that none of the MSOs have declared the pay channel rates or packages, but the government still wants them to force subscribers to buy STBs. Consumers do not know what they will get in the digital regime and at what price. It has become difficult for the LCOs to answer inquiries from consumers.

Some of the cable operators at the spot told indiantelevision.com that none of the MSO call centers are operational and customers are contacting only the LCOs, whereas the regulations have reduced their status from the last mile owners to collection agents following the Trai regulations.

LCOs say that they were earlier getting Rs 82 per customer in Cas areas but this had been cut down to Rs 45 or less in DAS areas, the balance going to multi-system operators (MSOs). Their livelihood has been endangered by DAS regulations.

The protesting LCOs have shown their inability to implement DAS, performing tasks expected from them by the regulations like operating a call centre for complaint redress, 24×7 maintain the network of last mile to subscribers, attend to complaints within prescribed period, collect subscriptions on behalf of MSOs and pay channels, and collect taxes on behalf of Centre and state governments etc. out of a mere 45 per cent share in the basic service tier and 35 per cent share of pay channels.

They also pointed out that they needed protection as they would be the first to face the anger of consumers when television screens go blank from 1 July.

MUMBAI: Tivo is providing its users with the ability to purchase products featured in interactive advertisements on its user interface through PayPal.

This integration creates a new opportunity for advertisers and brands to connect with Tio users and to turn their
30-second spots and interactive TiVo ad placements into actionable purchasing opportunities through a one-time account link.

Tivo senior VP, GM content, media sales Tara Maitra said, “In today‘s fragmented TV viewing world it is harder than ever before for advertisers to reach their audiences, and it‘s important to find creative ways to get in front of viewers. Tivo‘s interactive ads allow advertisers to grab the attention of viewers in unobtrusive ways and on the viewer‘s terms. By teaming with PayPal consumers will be able to instantly purchase products with just a few clicks of the remote after an easy, one-time account setup.”

PayPal has expertise in online payments, customer service, and working directly with merchants and sellers. “This makes the entire payment process easy and trustworthy and will create a valuable experience for TiVo users and advertisers,” said Maitra.

PayPal VP of emerging opportunities, new ventures Scott Dunlap said, “At PayPal we have been redefining commerce from online to mobile to offline and we see television as the newest channel in commerce. Teaming up with TiVo will help us connect merchants and consumers via the TV set in the fastest and safest way possible. We are excited about the prospect of delivering a more complete and seamless couch commerce experience.”

Tivo‘s other interactive ad solutions are currently being used by various leading brands in a host of industries as they allow advertisers to target consumers in a time-shifted world without unwelcomed interruption and offer them the option of exploring products that interest them.

Tivo will be working with its advertisers and agency partners to develop PayPal-enabled Tivo ads and Showcase campaigns beginning with the fall 2012 television season. This solution will also be available to TiVo‘s MSO customers such as RCN and Suddenlink.

Products purchased through PayPal will be charged to the TiVo user‘s PayPal account through a secure transaction and shipped to the address the user has registered with PayPal for deliveries. Orders will be fulfilled either by the advertiser or a trusted merchant that accepts PayPal for payment.

MUMBAI: Online retail major Amazon.com has announced a licensing agreement with MGM adding hundreds of classic movies and hit TV episodes throughout 2012 to the Prime Instant Video catalog.

Prime Instant Video now features more than 18,000 movies and TV episodes to instantly stream and enjoy at no additional cost. To start watching Prime Instant Video now, visit www.amazon.com/PIV. Customers who are not Prime members can enjoy a free one month trial of Prime.

Amazon director of digital video content acquisition Brad Beale said, “Our customers tell us they love having tons of movies and TV shows to choose from, which is why we are focused on adding even more titles to our already extensive Prime Instant Video library. MGM offers one of the most distinguished catalogs in all of Hollywood, and this deal will bring Prime Instant Video customers hundreds of new titles to enjoy on their Kindle Fire or any device compatible with Amazon Instant Video.”

Prime customers can access Prime Instant Video on Kindle Fire or any of the hundreds of compatible Amazon Instant Video devices, including the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gaming console.