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Tag: Apurba Bhattacharya

  • CTMA to organise Cable TV Show 2015 in Kolkata from 18 Feb

    CTMA to organise Cable TV Show 2015 in Kolkata from 18 Feb

    KOLKATA: Cable TV Equipments Traders & Manufacturers Association (CTMA) is organising its three-day annual satellite and cable television show 2015 from 18-20 February at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.

     

    Thousands of cable operators, traders, manufacturers, channel partners, distributors, and broadcasters from across the country, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh are expected to attend the show.

     

    “Cable TV Show 2015 would showcase and promote latest products, technology, emerging trends and value added services in the cable television (CATV) sector,” said convenor of the event Pawan Jajodia to Indiantelevision.com.

     

    In keeping with the digitisation plans in Bangladesh, the year will see many LCOs from the country participating in the show as well.  

     

    All the major national multi system operators (MSOs) along with the regional MSOs are also likely put up their pavilions to show-case their service potential and new services, said a city-based MSO.

     

    Apart from the MSOs operating in the state, companies like Abhishek Cables, Alliance Broadband Services, Cisco Video Technology India and Zee Electronics among others are also putting up stalls to showcase their product and services.

     

    Advance Multisystem Broadband Communication (AMBC) will be displaying its Headend in the Sky (HITS) technology at the event, informed AMBC MD Sujit Das. While Manthan Broadband director Sudip Ghosh said the company will launch Video on demand (VoD) services apart from illustrating other products during the three day event.

     

    The event will see discussions around tax related issues, upcoming technology and providing technical assistance to small players. “Discussions on 4G and 4K technology will also be the highlight of the show,” informed Cable Operators Sangram Committee general secretary Apurba Bhattacharya.

     

    Sangram Committee, which recently extended its support to the Patna LMOs will offer membership to LMOs, along with technical and legal assistance. “We will also offer useful software at a low cost,” concluded Bhattacharya.

  • Sangram Committee to support Patna LMOs

    Sangram Committee to support Patna LMOs

    KOLKATA: Kolkata-based Cable Operators Sangram Committee – has extended its helping hand to last mile owners (LMOs) in Patna. The city boasts of approximately 2.5 – 3 lakh digitised cable TV homes in the DAS II area. However, the LMOs are a ‘unhappy lot’ as they neither get proper bills and receipts nor full payment from customers.

     

    Going forward Sangram Committee, which currently is active in Kolkata, aims to spread its operation in the eastern region including Assam, Tripura and Jharkhand and plans to address the grievances of all the LMOs in the eastern region to the authorities jointly.

     

    More than 450 LMOs in Patna met with the Sangram Committee affiliated LMOs and discussed the ground problems faced by the LMOs while operating in their respective zones.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Cable Operators Sangram Committee general secretary Apurba Bhattacharya said, “We will place our demand to all the MSOs operating in Patna and request them to operate as per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) guidelines. LMOs are neither getting the bills nor the receipts.”

     

    It should be noted that Patna has around eight lakh cable TV homes, of which 2.5-3 lakh that fall under DAS II area are all digitised. While another five lakh homes are expected to be digitised in the later phases.

     

    Multi-system operators like Siti Cable, GTPL, Patna-based Darsh and DEN Networks mostly operate here.

     

    “Since customers are not getting the bills, they are not ready to do full payment. Apart from this we are also not getting any receipt from the MSO,” said Kumar Nilesh, a LMO affiliated to GTPL.

     

    While Rakesh Kumar Singh, a LMO affiliated to Siti Cable said, “Most cable operators have not yet signed revenue-sharing agreements with their MSOs.”

     

    Another LMO when asked about the popular package, said that people mostly go for packages below Rs 300 here.

     

    Explaining further, an LMO said that if a customer has chosen a package of Rs 240, he will have to pay Rs 240+Rs 15 (amusement tax) plus an additional 12.36 per cent service tax. “But some customers are just paying Rs 240, so do we pay their service tax and amusement tax?” he questioned.

     

    “Customers were expecting to get bills and now when they don’t get their bills, they are upset. Some are not willing to pay the monthly rental also,” he further added.

     

    On other hand, MSOs have a different picture to present.

     

    Darsh Digital Network director Sushil Kumar said that the MSOs can see that even after collecting payment from the consumers, LMOs are not paying the respective MSOs. “If there is a backlog of three to four months in payment, how can we survive?” Kumar avers.

     

    “Television has become an inseparable part of our lives. So not only MSOs and LMOs but consumers too have to think in a mature way and all other stakeholders should act as per the norms, for the smooth rollout of DAS,” concluded an expert.

  • CVNO Alert: Kolkata LMOs sign MoU with Meghbela

    CVNO Alert: Kolkata LMOs sign MoU with Meghbela

    KOLKATA: The Cable Virtual Network Operator (CVNO) in Kolkata is moving fast in order to meet its 15 December launch deadline. In the latest, more than 200 Kolkata based last mile owners (LMOs) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with city-based multi-system operator (MSO) Meghbela Cable & Broadband Services.

     

    The MoU, which will see Meghbela provide the infrastructure to the LMOs will be valid for 36 months.  

     

    “Yes, the MoU is signed and now based on this, we can initiate our work.  Around 205 LMOs have come together so far,” confirmed Cable Operators Sangram Committee general secretary Apurba Bhattacharya to indiantelevision.com.

     

    “Our brand name will be Meghbela, since the MSO is a DAS license holder. The watermarked logo of the MSO will also be displayed on the TV screen,” he further added.

     

    The nature of agreement is based on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) regulations as well as on the demand and requirements of both the parties.

     

    The CVNO model, according to the LMOs will operate in all areas of Kolkata. “The MSO will levy a minimum price against every set top box (STB),” informed a LMO, who is part of the business model. 

     

    Talking on the cable TV tariff, Bhattacharya said, “While the package rates will be the same but the LMOs will have the freedom to allow discounts from their pocket to subscribers.”

     

    Meghbela Cable has already installed around 1.26 lakh STBs in Kolkata DAS I areas. While in places which fall under DAS III and IV like Haldia, Bankura, Arambagh and Hooghly, the MSO offers 9-10 lakh cable TV connections, majority of which is analogue.

     

    The CVNO model is set to empower LMOs to give their subscribers the choice of channels according to affordability.

  • Kolkata LMOs CVNO project likely to rollout from 15 December

    Kolkata LMOs CVNO project likely to rollout from 15 December

    KOLKATA: The year seems to be ending on a good note for the Kolkata based last mile owners (LMOs), who post digitisation, have been wondering if they would still have ownership of their customers. The LMOs can now breathe a sigh of relief as the cable virtual network operator (CVNO) is taking shape and should be up and running by 15 December 2014.

    As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the LMOs apart from uniting to set up their own control room and headend have also tied-up with existing DAS license holders. This apart, in order to speed up the launch, the LMOs are now also talking to the Set Top Box (STB) and headend suppliers and other vendors in India and abroad.

    The LMOs have already signed an agreement with a DAS license holder, who will levy a minimum price against every STB. If sources are to be believed, more than 150 LMOs have signed and given consent with an entry fee.

    Not revealing much on the operation model Cable Operators Sangram Committee general secretary Apurba Bhattacharya says, “It would be affordable to subscribers.”

    Tying up with existing license holders ensures LMOs the power of billing subscribers, distribution of package according to the choice of viewers, share of carriage fee and ownership of STBs, further explains Bhattacharya.

    There are some DAS license holders who might go ahead and increase their topline and bottomline by strengthening their presence in the market.

    When asked if the LMOs are setting up the headends, other LMOs, who are part of this initiative inform, “The concept is very clear, to either set up our own headend or to partner with MSOs. The investment for every LMO will be according to how much they can afford. In fact some financiers are also ready to invest.”

    He further explains that the investment would be based on the size of the LMO’s network and requirement of STBs.

    LMOs are the founder of this business. “It can be assured that the quality as well as performance will be competitive with the existing MSOs,” he points out.

     

  • Kolkata LMOs in talks with STB and headend vendors

    Kolkata LMOs in talks with STB and headend vendors

    KOLKATA: The last mile owners (LMOs) in Kolkata are gearing up to stake claim on their subscribers. Apart from uniting and setting up their own control room and tie-ups with existing DAS license holders, the LMOs have initiated talks with the STB and headend suppliers and other vendors in India and as well as abroad.

     

    The LMOs have already made an agreement with a DAS license holder, who will levy a minimum price against every set top box (STB). “Recently, more than 150 LMOs signed the deal. And thousands of LMOs from different MSOs are also showing interest to join in this mission,” says a LMO on the condition of anonymity.

     

    “The LMOs have already formed a company as they intend to counter the MSO business. We are also trying to take control over our business,” informs Cable Operators Sangram Committee general secretary Apurba Bhattacharya.

     

    He adds, “It is a survival battle; either we set up our own headend or partner with MSOs. As for the investment, every LMO will put in the amount according to their pockets. In fact, some financiers are also ready to invest in it.” He further explained that the investment would be based on the size of LMO’s network.

     

    Tying up with existing license holders ensures LMOs power of billing to subscribers, distribution of package according to the choice of subscribers, share of carriage fee and ownership of STBs.

     

    There are some DAS license holders who might go ahead and increase their topline and bottomline by strengthening their presence.

     

  • Kolkata LCOs appeal to TRAI’s Khullar to air local TV channels

    Kolkata LCOs appeal to TRAI’s Khullar to air local TV channels

    KOLKATA: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Rahul Khullar met 150 local cable operators in the city where they told him their grievances.

     

    The cable operators raised the issue of the regulations of the local video channels floated by the body or in other words popularly known as platform services (PS).

     

    “We have appealed to TRAI to allow us to run our local channels as we did during the analogue times,” said Cable Operators’ Sangram Committee secretary Apurba Bhattacharya and added, “The cable TV operators have no intention to violate the rules and regulations set up by the most competent authority concerning local channel.”

     

    “Technology is evolving rapidly and hence, transmission of local content cannot be restricted by selection of type of content. It is advisable that the authority may come out with a guideline with restricted content given the current conditions,” said Cable & Broadband Operators’ Welfare Association general secretary Swapan Chowdhury.

     

    Khullar answering to some of the LCOs query said that the regulator would like to monitor all the content aired on the local channels. “The LCOs will not be able to telecast news and related events,” he said.

     

    The chairman also assured that he will keep the view of LCOs in mind while formulating directives on PS. Other LCOs present at the venue said that the local video channel is the foundation pillar of cable television network.

     

    The TRAI had, a few months ago, come up with a consultation paper to regulate platform services in which it said that due to digitisation, LCOs wont’ be able to transmit a local channel and will have to take it from an MSO.

  • LCOs in Kolkata to submit interconnection agreement to MSOs soon

    LCOs in Kolkata to submit interconnection agreement to MSOs soon

    KOLKATA: Local cable operators (LCOs), operating in the Kolkata Municipal Area with more than 33 lakh cable television homes, plan to submit a draft of the interconnection agreement to the multi system operators (MSOs) without any further delay. The agreement has been drafted after extensive discussion between both the MSO and the LCO.

     

    Sources said that MSOs like Siticable and Manthan among others have executed the interconnection agreement with their affiliated LCOs, while there are a few who have yet not worked out the details of the agreement.

     

    “The LCOs have decided to submit a draft interconnection agreement to their MSOs, since they do not want to be blamed for non-signing of the agreement by the MSOs,” said Sangram Committee secretary Apurba Bhattacharya.

     

    In a meeting held recently, Sangram Committee addressed issues pertaining to the interconnection agreement; notice of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the amendment to be introduced shortly; the MIB notice to the MSOs and lastly the local issues of LCOs.

     

    The move comes after TRAI had instructed the MSOs and LCOs to mutually draft an interconnection agreement for better operation. The Authority had also said that if the two parties failed to mutually draft the agreement, it would come up with one, which will then have to be signed by both.   

  • Kolkata LMOs appeal to TRAI

    Kolkata LMOs appeal to TRAI

    KOLKATA: The last mile owners (LMO) in Kolkata have appealed to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to allow them to air events related to the region through their local cable TV channels. 
     

    The appeal has come after the Authority released its consultation paper to regulate the local cable TV channels of cable operators in June, this year. “We have appealed to the Authority to allow us to run the local video channels as we did during the analogue times,” informs Cable Operators’ Sangram Committee secretary Apurba Bhattacharya.

     

    In the consultation paper, TRAI had said that MSOs, LMOs, DTH operators, HITS and IPTV service providers (all called as distribution platform operators – or DPOs-  henceforth) are running local channels aka platform services (PS) that don’t have the MIB’s permission. And some channels that are transmitted by the DPOs through the PS channels have content similar to regular TV channels.

     
    DAS, according to TRAI has changed the context for DPOs and their PS as far as cable TV operators are concerned. The reason: with digitisation, it is only the MSOs who can transmit encrypted signals from their headends on cable TV networks; LMOs can no longer transmit their own local ground based channels. 

     

    “Cable TV operators have no intention to violate the rules and regulations set up by the most competent authority concerning local video channel,” informs Bhattacharya, who feels that the LMOs have never in the past 25 years violated any of the rules.

     

    According to Bhattacharya, digitisation has made local cable TV channels necessary, as it gets more localised and informative. “Cable TV subscribers through these channels can get information about the upcoming events, change of channel packages and TRAI recommendations,” he adds.

     

    To make their voices heard, cable operators in West Bengal, presented their plea not only through forums, but have also written letters to the TRAI. 

     

    During the analogue regime, these local cable TV channels were available on LCN five. “The channel is used not only to telecast popular movies, but also helps people get acquainted with important announcements of local law and order, events, traffic condition of the area, weather report and educational/academic programmes,” informs a cable operator. 

  • Cable TV subscribers unhappy with raised subscription fees

    Cable TV subscribers unhappy with raised subscription fees

    KOLKATA: Indiantelevision.com has done a series of reports on the concerns of local cable operators (LCOs) and multi system operators (MSOs) around the process of digitisation.

    However, what we haven’t touched upon yet is the response of city-based cable TV consumers to DAS, especially the 30 to 50 per cent increase in subscription charges over the past two months.
    Cable subscribers in Barasat, Hooghly, Khardah, some parts of Salt Lake and northern Kolkata – regions that fall under DAS 1 – are learnt to be fuming over LCOs’ decision to randomly increase subscription rates.

    So much so, some of them are refusing to pay subscription fees while others are willing to pay just the fees, sans the service tax and amusement tax components and without getting proper bills from the LCOs.

    Cable Operators Digitalisation Committee of the Association of Cable Operators convener Swapan Chowdhury says: “Customers were expecting to get the bills and now, on not getting the bills, are upset. Some are not willing to pay even the monthly rental.”

    Analyst Namit Dave feels customers who were used to paying on an average Rs 60 – Rs 90 during the analogue regime are uncomfortable shelling out higher viewing charges.

    According to cable ops in Shyam Bazaar and north Kolkata, customers who used to pay Rs 120 per month are raising a hue and cry when asked to pay Rs 150 as monthly rental.

    “We really do not know how to explain things and convince people,” said a cable operator.

    Barasat resident Tumpai Das argued that the sudden increase of subscription fee from Rs 150 to Rs 280 was unjustified.

    “The local cable operators have not added anything new in terms of quality in connection or channels. They have started collecting this amount for the past two months. If they are not controlled, soon they may hike again,” he rues.

    “We are not being issued a valid bill. When we ask for a bill, they just write it in a white paper and issue it. If the cable operators are not controlled, they would fleece us to any extent. We would have no other option but to opt for DTH connection if they hike the charges further,” says a retired teacher from Hooghly.

    Meanwhile, Cable Operators Sangram Committee general secretary Apurba Bhattacharya feels that going forward the situation is unlikely to change unless billing begins.