News Broadcasting

The broadcasters’ viewpoint

Published

24 years ago

May 8, 2002

The enabling provision giving the government powers to modify the The Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 to incorporate CAS raises questions which beg answers. Legislators and politicians will do well to take a closer look at some of these issues before moving on CAS. Many of these issues will affect broadcasters, some of them will have an impact on consumers, some on cable TV operators.

What will constitute the basic cable TV tier? Will set top boxes be acceptable to viewers?Who will pick up the tab for educating consumers about CAS? What should the price of the set top box (STB) be? Will they become available early within the set timeframe and in substantial quantity? What technology should be followed? Will CAS encourage or curtail piracy?

On the basic cable package, one view is that will finally end up consisting of Doordarshan channels (except DD Sports), MTV, Sahara TV, SABe TV, BBC, Aaj Tak and regional language channels like Sun TV and Enaadu TV. Mass entertainment channels will be left out of the basic tier because they have gone pay in recent times.

Points out Rakesh Dutta, an independent cable operator in Delhi and an office bearer of Cable Networks Association, The basic service will exclude the mass-based entertainment channels like Star Plus, Zee TV and Sony which are all pay channels.

Adds Vicky Choudhary, another independent cable operator and a vocal member of a newly-formed National Cable & Telecom Association, Either these channels like Star Plus will have to revert to being free-to-air or they will stand to lose a substantial chunk of their advertising revenues, where ad sales is done on the basis of the fact that they reach maximum number of (38 million-odd ) cable TV homes in he country.

Moreover, CAS will also mean that broadcasters will face problems bundling and selling comparatively weaker channels like Animal Planet, some Alpha channels and the National Geographic Channel to advertisers.

Who will pick up the tab for educating consumers about CAS and will broadcasters face an ad squeeze? While Choudhry feels that broadcasters and cable operators can still sit across the table and thrash out various issues like educating viewers on premium services through set-top boxes, a fellow player from the cable industry and a senior executive of the Rajan Raheja-controlled Hathaway says, It may not be so gloomy for broadcasters either. If the big broadcasters like Star, Zee-Turner and Sony (all overseeing pay channels) can digest the slight slump in ad revenues for a couple of months (subsequent to implementation of CAS), the viewing public will realise the importance of popular serials on mass-based channels and force the cable and broadcasting fraternity to come to a compromise which will benefit all.

One issue that could really impact the progress of CAS is the cash that will be needed by the cable TV trade and consumers to toe the government line on addressability. According to figures available, about 70 per cent of TV homes still have black & white sets which cost anywhere between Rs 2,500- 3,500. The remaining have colour TV sets which cost anywhere between Rs 8,000 and RS 21,000.

According to rough and ready estimates, the cost of an analogue STB is between Rs 3,500 and 4000 – though the government has been talking of a Rs 1,500 STB – while the cost of a digital STB is likely to be, even if subsidised, between Rs 9,000 and Rs 18,000.

According to estimates an affordable CAS will cost cable TV ops about Rs 10,00,000 (Rs 1 million) per headend, considering that decoding and encoding equipment and subscriber management systems will have to be installed. Some networks will also have to upgrade their distribution equipment. Additionally, cable TV ops will have to change in the way they manage their networks and subscribers. CATV will become more of a service business calling for retraining of employees.

The total amount that will have to be spent by consumers nationally to buy STBs at today’s CATV penetration levels of 38 million homes to comply with CAS is an obscene (Rs 15,200 crore or Rs 152 billion – 38 million x Rs 4,000 per box). The total investment that cable TV ops will have to pump into in their headends to provide addressability is estimated at around RS (Rs 1,500 crore or Rs 15 billion – considering that there are 15,000 headends which will have to be upgraded at Rs 10 lakh per headend).

But wait let’s get answers to a basic question: who will pay for the STBs? The Rakesh Mohan committee feels that a subscriber will pay for it. The cable industry is still not fully organized to mobilise such big investments needed for CAS and broadcasters will not jump in with the moolah as they do not have direct `relationships with cable households.

So, who will foot the bill for CAS? Certainly not the government, which is pushing for it.

Given such huge numbers it is quite a large part of the populace – a majority of the population has low purchasing power – will be deprived of quality entertainment and information if CAS is implemented.

Even more basic questions need to be answered on the availability of the STBs. Though Delhi-based HFCL has said it is negotiating with the government to manufacture cheaper STBs and the likes of Philips, the BPL group and Videocon have the capability to manufacture STBs, at present there is no or very little manufacturing capacity or indigeneous technology available in India.

Therefore it would be safe to conclude that the time span of six months (as per the Rakesh Mohan task force’s recommendations) is too short for manufacturing capacity to service the 38 million cable TV homes and it may take four years to supply STBs to each C&S home by which time it is quite likely the technology will have changed.

A problem that could arise if the government mandates and industry goes in for a low cost CAS system is that of security – even expensive systems have been hacked, rudimentary low cost systems will be broken into easily. This could lead to an increase in piracy as cable TV ops may chose to install STBs for each encrypted channel and make a mini control room to illegally transmit encrypted signals to those households which may find the STB sticker price too high.

It is also quite likely that cable TV ops will continue to fudge subscriber figures – despite SMS – to stay out of the tax and broadcasters nets. If this happens, it is quite likely that the government will lose out on revenue, as will broadcasters.

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News Broadcasting

Barc forensic audit in TRP row awaits as Twenty-Four probe gathers pace

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KERALA: A forensic audit commissioned by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has emerged as the centrepiece of the government’s response to fresh allegations of television rating point manipulation involving a regional news channel in Kerala, with both the audit findings and a parallel police investigation still awaited.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Barc had appointed an independent agency to conduct a forensic probe into the conduct of senior personnel allegedly linked to the case.

The move followed media reports claiming that a Barc employee had accepted bribes to manipulate viewership data in favour of a regional television news channel.

“The report from BARC is still awaited,” Murugan told Parliament, signalling that the forensic exercise remains ongoing.

Industry specialists say forensic audits are crucial in alleged TRP fraud cases, as they examine internal controls, data access trails, panel household integrity, staff communications and financial transactions. The outcome could determine whether the alleged manipulation was an isolated breach or a deeper systemic weakness in India’s television measurement framework.

Running alongside the audit, the Kerala Police has formed a special investigation team to probe the allegations. The ministry has sought a preliminary report from the state’s director general of police, including details of action taken on the first information report. That report, too, is yet to be submitted.

The episode has revived long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of India’s TRP system, particularly in regional news markets where competition for ratings is fierce and advertising revenues hinge on weekly viewership rankings.

India’s sole television audience measurement body Barc, has faced scrutiny before, most notably during the nationwide TRP controversy involving news channels in 2020. While tighter compliance norms were introduced in the aftermath, the latest allegations suggest enforcement challenges may persist.

On regulatory consequences, the government said any punitive action against television channels, including suspension or cancellation of uplinking and downlinking permissions, would be governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels issued in November 2022, and would depend on investigation outcomes and due process.

The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts to overhaul the ratings ecosystem. Television measurement continues to be regulated under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014. Draft amendments were released for public consultation in July 2025, followed by a revised version in November 2025, aimed at tightening audit mechanisms and improving transparency and representativeness.

In November 2025, Barc said it had taken note of allegations aired by Malayalam news channel Twenty-Four, which linked an internal employee to irregularities in audience measurement. The council said it had engaged a “reputed independent agency” to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.

The ratings system sits at the heart of India’s broadcast advertising economy, shaping billions of rupees in annual ad spends. With trust in audience data once again under strain, advertisers, broadcasters and regulators are closely watching the outcome of the investigations.

Barc has urged industry stakeholders and media organisations to exercise restraint while the probe is underway, calling for an end to “unverified or speculatory claims” and reiterating its commitment to integrity and accountability.

Until the forensic audit and police findings are submitted and reviewed, the government said it would refrain from drawing conclusions.

News Broadcasting

Rajat Sharma defamation row: Delhi court summons Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered the summoning of senior Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal case filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, sharpening a legal battle over alleged defamation and doctored digital content.

The order was passed on Monday by Devanshi Janmeja, judicial magistrate first class at Saket Courts, after the court found prima facie grounds to proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, creation of false electronic records and defamation.

Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, had approached the court over allegations made in June 2024 that he had used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. He denied the charge, claiming it was fuelled by a manipulated video circulated online.

According to the complaint, a clipped version of the broadcast carrying superimposed captions, which were not part of the original programme, was first shared on social media platform X by Nayak and later amplified through retweets and public statements by Khera and Ramesh. Sharma said the viral spread caused serious reputational harm and personal distress.

The court took note of forensic science laboratory findings that pointed to visible post-production alterations in the video, including added titles and captions. It also cited witness testimonies from those present during the live broadcast, who stated that no abusive or objectionable language had been used.

In a related civil matter, the Delhi High Court had earlier observed a prima facie absence of abusive remarks and directed the removal of the disputed social media posts.

With criminal proceedings now set in motion, the case adds to mounting scrutiny around political messaging, digital manipulation and accountability on social media platforms.

News Broadcasting

Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive

Reliance and BlackRock chiefs map the future of investing as global capital eyes India

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s capital story takes centre stage today as Mukesh Ambani and Larry Fink sit down for a rare joint television conversation, bringing together two of the most powerful voices in global business at a moment of economic churn and opportunity.

The Reliance Industries chief and the BlackRock boss will speak with Shereen Bhan, managing editor of CNBC-TV18, in an exclusive interaction airing from 3:00 pm on February 4. The timing is deliberate. Geopolitics are tense, technology is disruptive and capital is choosier. India, meanwhile, is pitching itself as a long-term bet.

The pairing is symbolic. Reliance straddles energy transition, digital infrastructure and consumer growth in the world’s fastest-expanding major economy. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, oversees more than $14 tn in assets and sits at the nerve centre of global capital flows. When the two talk, markets tend to listen.

Fink’s appearance marks his third India visit, a signal of the country’s rising strategic weight for the Wall Street-listed firm, which carries a market value above $177 bn. His earlier 2023 trips included an October stop in New Delhi, where he met both Ambani and Narendra Modi.

India is now central to BlackRock’s expansion plans, notably through its joint venture with Jio Financial Services. Announced in July 2023, the 50:50 venture, JioBlackRock, commits up to $150 mn each from the partners to build a digital-first asset-management platform aimed at India’s swelling investor class.

The backdrop is robust. BlackRock ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 tn, helped by $698 bn in net inflows, including $342 bn in the fourth quarter alone. Scale gives Fink both heft and a long lens on where money is moving.

He has been openly bullish on India. At the Saudi-US Investment Summit in Riyadh last year, Fink argued that the “fog of global uncertainty is lifting”, with capital returning to dynamic markets such as India, drawn by reforms, demographics and durable return potential.

Expect the conversation to range beyond balance sheets, into technology’s role in finance, access to capital and the mechanics of sustainable growth in a fracturing world order. For investors and policymakers alike, it is a snapshot of how big money is thinking about India.

At a time when capital is cautious and growth is contested, India wants to be the exception. When Ambani and Fink share a stage, it is less a chat and more a signal. The world’s money is still looking for its next big story, and India intends to be it.