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Tag: AIDCF

  • Cable TV lobby urges tax cut to 5 per cent as sector reels under strain

    Cable TV lobby urges tax cut to 5 per cent as sector reels under strain

    NEW DELHI:The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), the apex body of cable operators, has petitioned information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and finance minister Ashwini Vaishnaw  to slash goods and services tax on cable television from 18 per cent to 5 per cent.

    The appeal rides on prime minister Narendra Modi’s push for “next-generation GST reforms” and a two-rate structure. The federation argues that cable remains the cheapest mass medium, reaching 64 million households and sustaining 10–12 lakh jobs, yet is under siege from rising costs and unregulated OTT rivals.

    Powered by 852 multi-system operators and 1.6 lakh local cable operators—mostly small entrepreneurs—the sector was even recognised as an “essential service” during the pandemic. But the economics are dire. Broadcaster fees have surged nearly 600 per cent, pushing up subscription costs by 35–40 per cent. With consumers balking at higher tariffs, margins are collapsing.

    “Market dynamics have become unfair for MSMEs in cable TV, as they are bound by tariff regulations while OTTs operate without comparable oversight,” AIDCF wrote.

    The lobby claims a GST cut would restore affordability for households, ease working capital pressures, enable fresh broadband investment under Digital India, and protect lakhs of jobs.

    AIDCF secretary general Manoj P Chhangani urged the government to table the matter at the next GST Council meet: “A reduction will safeguard the viability of MSOs and LCOs and preserve cable’s role in inclusive connectivity.”

    Industry watchers caution that while OTT is growing fast, cable still dominates in small towns and villages. A tax reprieve, they say, could decide whether it remains India’s broadcast backbone—or fades into obsolescence.

  • Cable TV lobby slams TRAI’s DTH licence fee waiver call

    Cable TV lobby slams TRAI’s DTH licence fee waiver call

    NEW DELHI – India’s top cable lobby has sounded the alarm over TRAI’s proposal to slash and eventually scrap licence fees for Direct-to-Home (DTH) operators, warning it could wreck the delicate balance in the country’s broadcast distribution ecosystem.

    In a strongly-worded representation to the information and broadcasting ministry, the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) – which represents over 880 multi-system operators (MSOs) and 1.6 lakh local cable operators (LCOs) – said the move would “deepen regulatory inequality” and “threaten over 10 lakh livelihoods” linked to the cable TV industry.

    The AIDCF accused TRAI of tilting the scales in favour of DTH players who already enjoy “cost-free, administratively allocated spectrum” while cable operators continue to bleed under high Right of Way (RoW) charges and hefty underground infrastructure investments.

    “A DTH licence fee waiver will distort competition and violate regulatory neutrality,” an AIDCF spokesperson said, adding that any cut would hasten subscriber churn from cable to satellite platforms. The body flagged other disruptors like Free Dish, OTTs, Fast TV and digital DPOs as further stress points for the struggling cable sector.

    Rather than easing licence costs for satellite platforms, AIDCF wants the government to implement a fair cost recovery mechanism across distribution platforms, reflecting the true commercial value of spectrum. It has urged the ministry to junk TRAI’s recommendation in favour of a level playing field that safeguards the sector’s long-term viability.

  • AIDCF elects new leadership: GTPL’s Anirudhsinh Jadeja takes the helm

    AIDCF elects new leadership: GTPL’s Anirudhsinh Jadeja takes the helm

    MUMBAI: The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), the apex lobby for digital cable operators in India, has named a new leadership team — with GTPL Hathway boss Anirudhsinh Jadeja stepping in as president, replacing outgoing DEN Networks chief executive S.N. Sharma.

    Joining Jadeja at the top are Sankaranarayana, vice chairman of Asianet Satellite Communications, as vice president, and Sanjay Goyal, group CFO at Fastway Transmissions, as treasurer.

    The outgoing Sharma said it was a “privilege” to lead the federation during a transformative phase. “I’m proud of the strides we’ve made in voicing the sector’s concerns with clarity and conviction,” he noted, while wishing the new team “continued success.”

    AIDCF secretary general Manoj Chhangani echoed the sentiment, calling Jadeja and his colleagues a “dynamic and experienced team” poised to strengthen the Federation’s role as the industry’s collective voice.

    A first-generation entrepreneur, Jadeja has over three decades of experience and is credited with building India’s largest multi-system operator. Sankaranarayana, an IIT-IIM alumnus, has steered Asianet since 2006, bringing a blend of engineering prowess and business strategy to the table. Goyal, meanwhile, has worn multiple hats across Jio, Siti Networks and Vishal Retail, and is known for his sharp financial acumen and transformation playbook.

    With this new lineup, AIDCF appears ready to recalibrate its priorities and reassert its relevance in an increasingly streaming-dominated media landscape.

  • EY-AIDCF report: Indian cable TV faces dire times unless government and regulator step in with regulatory reforms

    EY-AIDCF report: Indian cable TV faces dire times unless government and regulator step in with regulatory reforms

    NEW DELHI: India’s cable TV industry is on the ropes, reeling from a perfect storm of digital disruption, regulatory overkill, and changing viewer habits. A blistering new report by EY and the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) reveals a 40 million plunge in pay TV homes since 2018—down from 151 million to just 111 million in 2024—and warns that the bleeding isn’t over yet.

    By 2030, the figure could drop to as low as 71 million, as Indians flock to OTT, Free Dish, and smart TVs offering slicker content, better tech, and zero monthly bills. The fallout? A staggering 31 per cent collapse in employment across the Local Cable Operator (LCO) network, with up to 1.95 lakh jobs on the chopping block.
    The pay TV playbook, once defined by “kam daam, zyada samaan,” is now buckling under rising channel rates, bundling woes, and what LCOs call a “regulatory regime rigged for broadcasters.”

    A whopping 93 per cent of LCOs surveyed reported a drop in take-home income, with 79 per cent saying their earnings have nosedived by over 20 per cent since 2018.

    * Revenue for major distribution platform operators (DPOs) has shrunk by over 16 per cent since 2018, while EBITDA margins have plunged by 29 per cent.

    * Cable TV subscriptions have halved to 60 million, while smart TVs connected to the internet hit 50 million monthly active sets in 2024.
    * Pay TV now makes up just 58 per cent of the TV pie, down from 81 per cent in 2018, even as India’s TV household base touched 190 million.

    Despite being the backbone of India’s broadcast reach—physically connecting over 500 million people—LCOs remain the industry’s ignored foot soldiers, calling out a “top-heavy system” that allegedly favours deep-pocketed broadcasters and digital players.

    AIDCF proposes radical surgery: from activating over 20 million inactive set-top boxes and offering subsidies in “TV dark” zones, to limiting near-simultaneous OTT releases of pay TV content, and ensuring a level playing field between cable, OTT, Free TV and FAST channels.

    But with TRAI’s piecemeal tariff reforms (NTO 1.0 to 4.0) fuelling more legal duels than industry stability, stakeholders are demanding a full-blown reset. As OTT juggernauts steam ahead and content increasingly lives in the cloud, the cable industry’s survival may hinge not just on policy support but on reinventing itself as a digital services hub, not just a pipe.

    As the report bluntly puts it: without immediate intervention, the sun may set on the 30-year reign of India’s cable TV kings.

  • SN Sharma gets AIDCF responsibilities once again

    SN Sharma gets AIDCF responsibilities once again

    MUMBAI: It’s back to being president of the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF). DEN Networks CEO S.N. Sharma who led the AIDCF from April 2019 to March 2021 as its president has once again been appointed to that post. His term will continue till March 2025 when a new head will hopefully be selected. 

    The AIDCF was set up in 2014 with VD Wadhwa, the then CEO of Siti Networks as its head.

    Sharma, a veteran and popular figure in the cable TV industry, succeeds Fastway CEO Peeush Mahajan, who stepped down from the position in May 2024 due to personal reasons (apparently, he’s migrated to Canada and won’t be coming back). Peeush took over as president in April 2023 and his term was supposed to end in March 2025.

    Sharma had been acting president of the association since then. 

  • Broadcasters to withdraw petitions challenging Trai on NTO 2.0 in SC

    Broadcasters to withdraw petitions challenging Trai on NTO 2.0 in SC

    Mumbai: The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) and its members are likely to withdraw their petitions challenging the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0 in the Supreme Court, sources told indiantelevision.com. The apex court took up broadcasters’ applications for withdrawal of the petition while hearing the matter on Tuesday.

    Earlier this month, The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had extended the deadline for implementation of the new tariff order (NTO) 2.0 to 1 June. The previous deadline was 1 April.

    Trai had then also allowed broadcasters to revise their reference interconnect offers (RIO) by 28 February and publish the same on their websites. Distribution platform operators (DPOs) were directed to report the distributor retail price and composition of the bouquet of pay channels in compliance with the new regulatory framework by 31 March. Those who have already submitted can revise their RIOs by 31 March.

    In response to the earlier deadlines, broadcasters had come out with their new RIOs in October-November last year, preferring to pull their popular channels out of the bouquets instead of reducing the price to or below Rs 12. Though still above the cap, many of these prices were revised down later.

    Pertinent in this regard is Trai’s intention to form a committee with representation from leading pay-TV industry associations to ensure smooth implementation of the New Regulatory Framework 2020. In a letter dated 22 December 2021, the regulator has asked the IBDF, All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), and the DTH association to nominate a maximum of two representatives to be part of the implementation committee.

    Prior to this, Trai had in November 2021, notified stakeholders that NTO 2.0 implementation would be delayed until 1 April. Speculations regarding backroom parleys between the telecom regulator and broadcasters to end the impasse have also been in the news lately. 

    This copy will be updated.

  • AIDCF elects Anirudhsinh Jadeja as new president

    AIDCF elects Anirudhsinh Jadeja as new president

    KOLKATA: All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) has appointed GTPL Hathway MD Anirudhsinh Jadeja as the new president of the apex body of digital cable television players. The change has been made as the tenure of DEN Networks CEO SN Sharma as AIDCF president ended on 31 March 2021.

    Jadeja is a veteran in the cable industry and founded GTPL Hathway in 2006. His strategic vision and hands-on leadership shaped the cable business over decades.

    While giving his farewell address, Sharma welcomed Jadeja as the next AIDCF president and said, “Cable industry has witnessed many challenges in the last two years, including huge operational challenges from Covid2019 pandemic, however, due to its strong roots with the public at large, it managed to sail through. We hope the coming time will be interesting and conducive for the growth of the industry.”

    In his first statement as AIDCF president, Jadeja said the apex body will continue to focus on the inclusiveness of all industry players, growth of the cable industry and its stakeholders, and representing the relevant issues and requirements of the industry in different forums. “The broadcasting and cable industry is witnessing the transformation in technology and delivery and we, at AIDCF, will continue to work towards benefitting the end consumers through technological advancements,” he added.

    Noting that the next two years will be a period of technological upheaval in the cable industry, AIDCF secretary general Manoj P Chhangani said the federation and its members under Jadeja’s leadership will chalk out a robust path in providing advanced services to the end consumers.

    All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) is India’s apex body for digital Multi System Operators (MSOs). The federation works towards the overall growth of the sector and creates an environment for not only complete digitisation of cable TV under regulatory guidelines but also delivers the benefits of digital services including broadband and other value added services to the people of India thus fulfilling the dream of ‘True Digital India.’

  • AIDCF informs TRAI it will provide detailed submission for NTO 2.0 soon

    AIDCF informs TRAI it will provide detailed submission for NTO 2.0 soon

    MUMBAI: The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) has submitted a letter to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), as per the judgement of the Kerala High Court, stating that it is collating information from member companies to make a detailed submission on the amended new tariff order (NTO 2.0), requesting TRAI not to take any further action.

    AIDCF secretary general Manoj Chhangani said it has informed TRAI that the federation would be sending the detailed representation in the next two weeks.

    The federation filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court against certain provisions of NTO 2.0 regarding logical channel number, network capacity fee (NCF), multi-TV home connection.  The high court has stayed the clause relating to placing of channels on Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) in NTO  2.0. In the amended order, the authority had mandated that the channel of a language in a genre will be kept together while placing channels on EPG. Such EPG layout is to be mandatorily reported to the TRAI and no change in this can be done without prior approval of the authority.

    “In the above view of the matter, the amended provision in Regulation 18(4) of the Principal Regulation 2017 shall stand stayed. With regard to the other impugned provisions, the petitioners are permitted to file a detailed representation before the TRAI pointing out the objections to the  amendments producing all relevant data which will be duly considered by the TRAI and appropriate remedial steps shall be taken after due consultation with all stakeholders as required by law. Till such time, the provisions  except  the  provision  with  regard  to  freezing of the placement of channels in perpetuity  shall  be permitted  to  be operated,” the judgement said.

    Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) requested TRAI yesterday to defer the implementation of the amended tariff order (NTO 2.0) in view of the crisis created by Coronavirus. MCOF president Arvind Prabhu said that they are awaiting response from the regulatory body.

  • Kerala High Court passes interim order on the placement and LCN clause of NTO 2.0

    Kerala High Court passes interim order on the placement and LCN clause of NTO 2.0

    MUMBAI: The Kerala High Court has passed an interim order on the placement and LCN clause in the case of The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)’s tariff order amendment. However, other provisions will be operational.

    All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) members moved the Kerala High Court challenging certain provisions of TRAI’s amended tariff order and interconnection regulation earlier. While refusing to issue any interim order on any of the other provisions, the single judge asked AIDCF to file representation before TRAI pointing out objections to amendments. A proper consultative process from TRAI shall follow this step.  Till then impugned provisions except the provisions with regards to freezing of placement of channels in perpetuity shall be permitted to be operated.

    TRAI said in the amendment: 

    The channel number once assigned to a particular television channel shall not be altered by the distributor for a period of at least one year from the date of such assignment:

    Provided that this sub-regulation shall not apply in case the channel becomes unavailable on the distribution network:

    Provided further that if a broadcaster changes the genre of a channel then the channel number assigned to that particular television channel shall be changed to place such channel together with the channels of new genre in the electronic programme guide.

  • NTO 2.0: Ambiguity persists as arguments continue in Bombay, Kerala High Courts

    NTO 2.0: Ambiguity persists as arguments continue in Bombay, Kerala High Courts

    MUMBAI: Ambiguity continues in the ecosystem with just one day left for the implementation of new tariff order amendments (NTO 2.0).

    On Friday’s hearing in Bombay high Court, no conclusion was reached regarding interim relief. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will continue its argument on Monday.

    According to sources close to the development, TRAI has been directed not to take any coercive step. Although there is no any conclusion yet, a decision will mostly be taken on Monday.

    Earlier, broadcasters’ argument was that the entire regime is set to kick in from 1 March. Since it is around the corner, they have moved the court seeking a stay. If they implement it before hearing, the entire petition becomes infructuous.

    In response to the argument, TRAI counsel said on Thursday that it’s not the entire amended interim regime that is kicking off from 1 March. The TRAI counsel added that broadcasters’ obligation to declare new prices became effective from 15 January, but they did not make any progress on it without any stay order. If they declare prices, then only other stakeholders in the industry will be able to comply with the regime, as TRAI noted.

    The Bombay High Court also asked TRAI to take instructions on deferment of NTO 2.0 as they did for the 2017 regime before the Madras High Court on Wednesday. After TRAI expressed its unwillingness to defer NTO 2.0, the hearing on interim stay started on Thursday.

    In another case, the Kerala High Court has passed an interim order directing the TRAI not to take steps that are detrimental to the interest of the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) members. Although on Friday’s hearing no judgement was passed for interim relief, the decision of interim protection has been reserved.

    In another development, Discovery has moved its petition to Delhi High Court which was heard today. The next hearing for the petition has been scheduled for 19 March.