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Tag: Arvind Prabhoo

  • Maharashtra’s LMOs get favorable Bombay HC interim order

    Maharashtra’s LMOs get favorable Bombay HC interim order

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s last mile cable TV operators  (LMOs) have got some relief. The Bombay High Court today gave them interim relief to the LMOs from filing joint affidavits along with the multi-system operators (MSOs).

    The Court has given an interim stay on the amended GR. We can continue depositing the entertainment tax to the court, says Arvind Prabhoo

    The Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) had on 13 December moved the Court challenging the Maharashtra state government’s amended gazette resolution (GR) regarding entertainment tax. According to the amended GR, it was mandatory for the LMOs to file a joint affidavit with the MSOs while paying entertainment tax.

    “The case was heard today and the court has given us an interim stay on the amended GR. We can continue depositing the entertainment tax with the court,” inform MCOF president Arvind Prabhoo.

    The case comes up for further hearing next Monday, that is, 23 December.

  • MCOF to meet MSOs to discuss billing issues

    MCOF to meet MSOs to discuss billing issues

    MUMBAI: The easier a process becomes, the better it is. It seems this is the process that Maharashtra Cable Operators’ Foundation (MCOF) has opted for in order to make the entire digitisation process a smooth ride. In a new initiative, the apex body of cable operators in Maharashtra has sent a letter to all the MSOs inviting them to a meeting where they would discuss about the proper implementation of digitisation.

     

    In the letter, of which Indiantelevision.com has a copy, the MSOs have been requested to schedule the meeting in the coming week.

     

    When both the parties meet, they are expected to discuss issues related to: interconnect agreement, billing, Consumer Application Form (CAF), package activation, a la carte channels choice, disconnection of set top boxes (STBs) without notice, misleading and false  information given about the LMO to the customer over call center, ownership of STB and uniform rates.
    We are making an effort from our side to meet each MSO separately, says Arvind Prabhoo

     

    The letter has come out a day after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) gave the MSOs the final deadline of 15 December to submit the duly filled CAFs and also implement gross billing by December.  “CAF is not the only issue, there are issues related to service tax and billing,” says MCOF president Arvind Prabhoo.  “There is no clarity on whether the consumers will be billed on the service provided by the MSO or on the MRP of the package that the subscriber opts for,” he adds.

     

    The meeting has been called to discuss the issues concerning both the MSOs and the LMOs.

     

    “We are making an effort from our side to meet each MSO separately. In the meeting, we will try and understand the system of billing devised by the MSO and make suggestions, if required. If not, we will go hand-in-hand with MSOs, provided our legal status is maintained,” informs Prabhoo.

     

    The apex body which comprises more than 1500 LMOs is also unsure about the settlement mechanism between the MSO and the LMO once the billing is done. “The MSOs so far haven’t spoken to the LMOs on how they will pay the LMO for the customer it bills,” points out Prabhoo.

     

    Expressing concern on the 15 December deadline set for submitting CAFs, Prabhoo says, “If 50 per cent CAFs have been filled in one year on an average, how does TRAI expect the remaining 50 per cent to be filled in next three weeks? Also, with the holiday season coming in, is TRAI looking at switching off STBs, if the deadline is not met?”

     

    With TRAI pushing MSOs to start gross billing from December, Prabhoo comments, “The issue relating to entertainment tax is subjudiced. So when the MSO says it will start gross billing from next month, is it looking at levying entertainment tax as well?”

     

    It should also be noted that the Nasik Cable Operators Association has moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on billing. While TRAI was supposed to respond to it on 22 November, the tribunal has granted time till 23 January to the regulator to respond. “So when both entertainment tax and billing is subjudiced, why is TRAI pushing cable operators for contempt of court?” he questions.

     

    On the issue of TRAI asking the MSOs to either convince the LMOs to start billing or do it themselves, Prabhoo sternly says, “They can do it, if they want. We are not going to be delivery boys. We are owners of our own businesses. And we have the right to bill our own consumers and that is what we are fighting for.”

  • LCOs, independent MSOs unhappy with digitisation

    LCOs, independent MSOs unhappy with digitisation

    MUMBAI: Back in 2012, when India kicked-off the process of digitisation, local cable operators (LCOs) were an unhappy lot; approaching state high courts for respite from what they perceived as a threat to their business.

     

    Today, one would imagine cable ops to be happy, considering the first two phases of DAS are almost complete and India is on the threshold of the final phases (III and IV) of the big switch (analogue to digital feed).

     

    However, the truth is: cable ops are not happy with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) ruling on consumer application forms (CAF) and billing, which according to LCOs, makes multi system operators (MSOs) owners of consumers. In this connection, a group of LCOs and independent MSOs met the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Technology in New Delhi and put forth their views.

     

    ABS 7 Star CMD Atul Saraf told the committee: “The ownership of the consumers should be with the LCOs and not with the MSOs. The TRAI and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B Ministry) should amend the DAS rules keeping in mind the interest of all stake holders.”
    Almost 90 per cent of the STBs are imported from China, we propose that 70 per cent of the STBs should be Indian, says Atul Saraf

     

    Saraf pointed out that though there were 60,000 LCOs and 8,000 MSOs across the country, the task force formed for the process did not include a single LCO or MSO. “A new task force should be formed with all stake holders and not a couple of MSOs and broadcasters who are in vertical monopoly,” he remarked.

     

    Drawing attention to the low quality of the Chinese set top boxes (STBs) being used, he said cable ops who had already spent close to USD 4 billion in the first two phases would be forced to spend another USD 4-5 billion in the last two phases of DAS. “Currently, most of the STBs being seeded are Chinese. The boxes which are of low quality may have to be replaced in the next couple of years, which means more cost for the operators,” Saraf said, cautioning against implementing phases III and IV before the completion of the first two phases.

     

    “There should be a Broadcast Act to monitor broadcasters. Also, only after both the consumers and cable operators reap the benefits of DAS phase I and II, phase III and IV should be implemented,” he said.

    Increasing import duty on STBs will discourage the MSOs from importing STBs from China, points Arvind Prabhoo

     

    On behalf of the cable op community, Saraf demanded: “We want the committee to question the government as to why these loopholes were not looked at before importing such STBs,” pointing toward the growing need for indigenous box manufacturing. “Currently, almost 90 per cent of the STBs are imported from China; we propose that 70 per cent of the STBs should be Indian,” said he.

     

    He proposed that while the current import duty on STBs is 10 per cent, it should be raised to 50 per cent. “Wasn’t digitisation meant to uplift Indian STB manufacturers and also create more jobs for them? What I fail to understand is how the TRAI and I&B Ministry did not see these loopholes before implementing digitisation,” Saraf questioned.

     

    Seconding Saraf on the hike in import duty as well as indigenous manufacture of STBs was Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president Arvind Prabhoo. “Of course, importance should be given to the national STB manufacturers. If the import duty is increased, it will surely discourage the MSOs from importing STBs from China and also encourage Indian manufacturers. That digitisation should have helped generate revenue and employment for Indians, are issues the government should have thought about,” he said.
    We plan to go and meet the members of parliament once the winter session commences,says Pramod Pandya

     

    He opined that the government had been misled at some point. “I think that a certain section of the industry presented a wrong picture to the government. But, I am sure they will work on it now.”

     

    Gujarat Cable Operators Association president Pramod Pandya wanted to know if any consumer survey had been conducted before implementing digitisation. “I do not understand the need to force the implementation of DAS, if the country doesn’t have infrastructure to support it,” he thundered, pointing out that cable ops are hopeful the Broadcast Bill will be proposed during the winter session of the Parliament. “We plan to go and meet the members of parliament once the winter session commences,” he rounded off.

  • MSOs miss 15 November CAF deadline

    MSOs miss 15 November CAF deadline

    MUMBAI: Multi system operators (MSOs) have bought themselves some more time to collect duly filled consumer application forms (CAF) from cable subscribers across 38 cities falling under DAS phase II.

     

    The earlier deadline for CAF collection was today, that is, 15 November, and consumers failing to comply would have had their transmission cut off, even after possessing set top boxes. However, as learnt from several sources in the industry, MSOs failed to meet the timeline and are now seeking further extension.  

     

    While a few MSOs including Hathway Cable & Datacom have extended the deadline to 20 November, smaller Kolkata-based MSOs say the procedure will be complete by 23 November.

     

    It was the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) that had previously extended the original deadline from 20 September to 15 November. When contacted, TRAI principal advisor N Parameswaran said considering it was a national holiday today, “any decision on the final date would be taken only on 18 November.”

     

    “The MSOs have voluntarily decided to extend the date to 20 November,” informed Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) president Arvind Prabhoo, adding that the regulator had asked the MSOs to send a review of DAS phase I, covering points like billing and CAF, in the interim.

     

    Kolkata-based Manthan and Siti Cable confirmed that they have achieved 100 per cent CAF collection whereas the Cable Operators Digitalisation Committee of the Association of Cable Operators convener Swapan Chowdhury said a 100 per cent CAF was impossible to achieve in the City of Joy with so many festivities. “We have increased the deadline for duly filled CAF to 23 November,” he said.

     

    Cable Operators Federation of India president Roop Sharma opined that CAF collection is a difficult task at hand for operators.

     

    “Considering that the broadcasters have not yet declared the rates for the channels, it is difficult for the consumer to decide which ones they want to subscribe,” she said.
    Clearly, we have not heard of the last of CAFs, phase II – as yet.

  • New technology simplifies collection for cable ops

    New technology simplifies collection for cable ops

    MUMBAI: Even as industry prepares for phase III of digitisation, here comes a technology that is likely to get more than a warm welcome from cable operators.

    UPASS, a front-end automation for the cable sector and mobility solutions provider, has announced that it has successfully integrated with the subscriber management system of Media Nucleus; a development set to change the collection system. While Kottayam-based Star Vision Cable Networks is the first LCO to use the integrated solution, Media Nucleus is in talks with three other operators for installing the solution to their systems.

    It was at the recently concluded SCaT that the collaboration took place. “We finished the integration and also showcased a part of it during SCaT,” informed Media Nucleus director Santosh Nair. He explained the working of the solution as: “Each subscriber will have an ID, subscriber number or name that will be stored in the subscriber database. Once the subscriber pays the monthly fees, the collection agent will type it on the mobile phone that has all the details relating to the package etc. Also, there is a Bluetooth printer connected to this device, which will help him print a receipt immediately.  The same data will also be sent to the database, which clears the subscriber’s outstanding amount.”

    Technically speaking, UPASS’s cloud model acts as data bridge between the mobile device and the SMS server. There is an option for collection entries to be made either in cash or cheque and the relevant data is passed on to the SMS server in real-time.

    UPASS managing director Ravindra Deshmukh said: “We are excited that Media Nucleus and UPASS are collaborating to help operators overcome the challenges of billing and collection hurdles by providing data in real-time as trusted and actionable information. Our system benefits end users quickly and with self-service, regardless of data volumes and variety, or whether the data is on-premise or in the cloud.”

    The advantages of the solution are three-fold. One, it will make the collection process easier. Two, it will make the system more transparent and help MSOs with instant data on subscribers and revenue collected per day. Three, it is more economical, since it can be used even on a simple Rs 500 mobile phone.

    Nair said every operator had collection issues and with this system in place, “MSOs will just have to follow up on the data. They will get instant information, unlike earlier, when LCOs would collect data and sometimes, not even reveal it. The information will give an upper hand to MSOs as well, who can show it to their investors.”

    The new solution will help both the MSOs and LCOs by making collection easier, says Santosh Nair Explained Media Nucleus director technology and delivery Rajiv Tomer: “We had been providing the core solution of subscriber management solution and were looking at integration services to enable collection at the ground level become a part of our solution to our clients.  UPASS, having an industry benchmark solution, gave us the right option to be a go-to-market, providing end-to-end technology with a single integrated platform. We have enabled it in such a way that operators can provide the basic handset to the collection agents, which gets integrated with our SMS.”

    The solution will be available to operators at a one-time investment of Rs 2500. This apart, “the operator will have to pay less than Re 1 per transaction per month,” informed Nair, adding, “We will be meeting operators from Pune next week. We have been getting a good response for the technology.”

    Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president Arvind Prabhoo said the technology would address the biggest problem of digitisation, which is collection. “The cost of collection for the operator is approximately Rs 25. Also, there is a huge process involved with it- right from collecting money from each subscriber to putting the data on computer etc. The solution will reduce this burden and make the system more transparent.”

    “Rs 2500 is just 10 customers for an operator, so it is very economical for them. Also, getting two-three handhelds will also reduce their burden. As for the MSO, they have for long wanted a transparent system, which they can achieve through this,” Prabhoo said.

    The UPASS solution claims that it provides customer data capture and STB activation in real time, channel/package activation from the LMO phone as well. 

  • New technology simplifies collection for cable ops

    New technology simplifies collection for cable ops

    MUMBAI: Even as industry prepares for phase III of digitisation, here comes a technology that is likely to get more than a warm welcome from cable operators.

     

    UPASS, a front-end automation for the cable sector and mobility solutions provider, has announced that it has successfully integrated with the subscriber management system of Media Nucleus; a development set to change the collection system. While Kottayam-based Star Vision Cable Networks is the first LCO to use the integrated solution, Media Nucleus is in talks with three other operators for installing the solution to their systems.

     

    It was at the recently concluded SCaT that the collaboration took place. “We finished the integration and also showcased a part of it during SCaT,” informed Media Nucleus director Santosh Nair. He explained the working of the solution as: “Each subscriber will have an ID, subscriber number or name that will be stored in the subscriber database. Once the subscriber pays the monthly fees, the collection agent will type it on the mobile phone that has all the details relating to the package etc. Also, there is a Bluetooth printer connected to this device, which will help him print a receipt immediately.  The same data will also be sent to the database, which clears the subscriber’s outstanding amount.”

     

    Technically speaking, UPASS’s cloud model acts as data bridge between the mobile device and the SMS server. There is an option for collection entries to be made either in cash or cheque and the relevant data is passed on to the SMS server in real-time.

     

    UPASS managing director Ravindra Deshmukh said: “We are excited that Media Nucleus and UPASS are collaborating to help operators overcome the challenges of billing and collection hurdles by providing data in real-time as trusted and actionable information. Our system benefits end users quickly and with self-service, regardless of data volumes and variety, or whether the data is on-premise or in the cloud.”

     

    The advantages of the solution are three-fold. One, it will make the collection process easier. Two, it will make the system more transparent and help MSOs with instant data on subscribers and revenue collected per day. Three, it is more economical, since it can be used even on a simple Rs 500 mobile phone.

     

    Nair said every operator had collection issues and with this system in place, “MSOs will just have to follow up on the data. They will get instant information, unlike earlier, when LCOs would collect data and sometimes, not even reveal it. The information will give an upper hand to MSOs as well, who can show it to their investors.”
     

    Explained Media Nucleus director technology and delivery Rajiv Tomer: “We had been providing the core solution of subscriber management solution and were looking at integration services to enable collection at the ground level become a part of our solution to our clients.  UPASS, having an industry benchmark solution, gave us the right option to be a go-to-market, providing end-to-end technology with a single integrated platform. We have enabled it in such a way that operators can provide the basic handset to the collection agents, which gets integrated with our SMS.”

     

    The solution will be available to operators at a one-time investment of Rs 2500. This apart, “the operator will have to pay less than Re 1 per transaction per month,” informed Nair, adding, “We will be meeting operators from Pune next week. We have been getting a good response for the technology.”

     

    Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president Arvind Prabhoo said the technology would address the biggest problem of digitisation, which is collection. “The cost of collection for the operator is approximately Rs 25. Also, there is a huge process involved with it- right from collecting money from each subscriber to putting the data on computer etc. The solution will reduce this burden and make the system more transparent.”

     

    “Rs 2500 is just 10 customers for an operator, so it is very economical for them. Also, getting two-three handhelds will also reduce their burden. As for the MSO, they have for long wanted a transparent system, which they can achieve through this,” Prabhoo said.

     

    The UPASS solution claims that it provides customer data capture and STB activation in real time, channel/package activation from the LMO phone as well.

  • It’s family time this Diwali

    It’s family time this Diwali

    In this world of cut-throat competition where life is full of struggles and work for the people in the corporate world, Diwali is a moment of relief. The lights of Diwali doesn’t just spread brightness around but also illuminates their inner self as they get a chance to have family time. Few corporate head honchos talk about their plans this Diwali and talk about their memorable Diwali moments.

    I am spending time with my family and friends but I won’t be bursting any crackers as I am against it. Diwali is a festival of lights and not noise.

    One of the fondest memories of Diwali is when I once made sweets and kandil at home and kept it in a way that everybody could see it. These days we usually buy sweets from outside.

    Raj Nayak, CEO, Colors

    On Diwali, everybody is at home and if something happens we have to be on our toes. And thus, I would be working on Diwali.

    I remember how as a kid I used to wake up early morning at 4.00-4.30 and be the first one to burst crackers. Later, when I became a cable guy, it was to go and adjust the CNN dish.

    Arvind Prabhoo, president, MCOF (Maharashtra Cable Operators Association)

     

    Festivals are the best time to be at home and with the family. I too will be home and play with my children and grandchildren. On Diwali, we’ll have a puja and then we would burst crackers. Every year, we plan a family get together to celebrate the festival of lights. Even this year, the families of my three brothers and few colleagues will come to my home to celebrate the festival.

    The best Diwali in my life was in 2004 when my daughter got married just before Diwali.

    M Rajendran, MD, Raj network

     

    This Diwali, I will praying to the almighty that light enters many lives and the earth becomes harmonised. I will also be lighting lamps and celebrating with friends.

    I have a hilarious memory of Diwali. When I was a seven year old, a rocket cracker flew into our house and went inside our landlord’s lungi, who was standing on the top floor balcony. Thankfully, the rocket had already burst earlier.

    Swapna Sundari, COO, Raj Network (Telugu market)

     

    For me the festival of lights has always been about spending some quality time with family, friends and relatives. Enjoying food and sweets, and of course burst a few crackers. But this time around, Diwali will be even more special as I will get to spend time with my twin daughters who are two years old and are learning everything slowly. It is going to be a really special time with them.

    Krishna Desai, network head, Kids Entertainment, India, Turner International

     

    I always remember Diwali as the festival when we spent time with close friends and family, burst lots of crackers and enjoy the variety of sweets on offer. However, this time around, Diwali will be a quiet affair. I will spend time with my family and kids.

    Rohit Lamba, head, network distribution, business development & affiliate sales, Times Global Broadcasting Company Limited

     

    Well, Diwali, the festival of lights, is a great occasion to sit back and spend time with family and friends. But, I also take this opportunity to rethink on key issues relating to my professional and personal life.

    Sandeep Arora, vice president, sales – India & SAARC Service Provider (Telco), Cisco Systems

     

    I remember how as a kid Diwali used to be a time when the entire family got together and spent time with each-other. Everyone used to be excited as this was a time to buy new clothes and eat great food. But now I feel we need to be conscious about not adding to the already polluted environment by bursting crackers. It would be best to celebrate a noise free Diwali and have fun too.

    Uday Singh, managing director, Motion Picture Association (India)

     

    We celebrated the second anniversary of Helios on 1 November. Diwali has become a special event for us because it brings with it double celebrations. Another reason I love Diwali is because I am a big gambler and I love playing cards. While I play cards almost every weekend, Diwali gives me an opportunity to play the game with more fervor.

    Divya Radhakrishnan, managing director, Helios Media

     

    Diwali is a family affair for me. Whenever possible, I try to visit my hometown where my parents live and we light lamps, burst crackers with the children. My parents usually shuttle between Nanital and Bombay, so when they are in Bombay it becomes much easier for us. But we always make a point to be together on Diwali. Since childhood it has been a complete family affair and I looked forward to the festival. I try to keep it like that. We avoid going out and try to be together.

    Ashish Bhasin, chairman India and CEO South East Asia, Aegis Group

     

    Diwali is all about puja, bhajan and family time. Usually we go out every year, but this time we will be celebrating the festival with relatives and close friends. Diwali is much more than a holiday as it is also the beginning of the new year for Hindus. For Gujaratris, it’s a special occasion, to say saal-mubarak. For us, these two days are very important and auspicious. Diwali is the occasion where you can greet people with not only love and affection but also with gifts and mitthai. It is an occasion to stop worrying about the calorie counts and eat as many sweets as you want to. It is a colourful occasion and very lively atmosphere.

    J.D Majethia, producer and actor/director, Hats Off Productions

     

    When we were kids we used to celebrate Diwali with lots of crackers, but now the festival is much more than bursting crackers. It is one occasion when we get together with family and get a little religious. It is so hectic in Mumbai that socialising becomes a little difficult. This is a day for extended family get together.

    Ravi Mansukhani, CEO, Incable

     

     

    The festival is for family and friends. It is about lots of food and playing cards. This year, I will celebrate the festival with my family and friends in Mumbai first and then head to Delhi to meet my parents. My kids are excited to be with their grandparents this Diwali.

    The fondest childhood memory of Diwali is how we wanted to be the one to burst the longest ladi in the neighbourhood along with loads of other fireworks. Though with time I have grown to become more eco-friendly and thus fireworks now is a big ‘No no’.

    Gaurav Gandhi, group COO, IndiaCast

     

    Diwali for me is a day which is spent well with family, performing puja and playing teen patti. There was a time when I used to burst a lot of crackers. But once I grew up I realised how annoying it could be for others, so I don’t burst crackers anymore, but yes I have to admit that it used to be great fun bursting crackers.

    Ferzad Palia, senior VP & GM, English entertainment, Viacom18 Media

     

    My (escape) plan for Diwali is to drive down to the peace and quiet of Goa. The most memorable Diwali for me was last year when I celebrated the festival with my niece and nephew in North Korea. They had enough fireworks to give North Korea an inferiority complex.

    Anil Kakkar, founder/chief creative officer, Gasoline
  • Maharashtra’s LMOs to blackout TV on 2 Oct

    Maharashtra’s LMOs to blackout TV on 2 Oct

    MUMBAI: A mid- week holiday is always welcome and is a good time to catch up with friends and family as well as your favourite TV shows and channels. However, this Gandhi Jayanti will see a different type of revolt on television in the west Indian state as the Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) has decided to put their foot down on the alleged “harassment” that they have been facing from the MSOs.

     

    From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm tomorrow, 2 October, about 3,000 cable operators under the MCOF have decided to blackout their screens opposing the ‘high-handed’ behavior that MSOs have adopted towards LMOs (Last Mile Operators), as MCOF president Arvind Prabhoo puts it. This includes the areas of Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nasik and Indore in MP where DAS I and II have been implemented. Approximately 15-20 lakh customers in Maharashtra alone will not get to see their favourite shows during prime time. LMOs in Gujarat have also been approached and a response is awaited from them.
    Arvind Prabhoo feels that it is time to start treating LMOs as equals and respect their demands

     

    The federation says that its intention is not to harass customers but just demonstrate that cable operators are united and it is high time MSOs give them their due credit in the cable TV chain. Communications to customers have already started in the form of SMSes and emails as well as leading papers – both English and Marathi – are being used to inform people about the flash blackout.

     

    “If the MSOs and broadcasters sit and talk with us there is no need to do this but no one is listening to us,” stresses Prabhoo. He does not even feel that the two will reach out to the LMOs before evening of tomorrow. Initially the plan was to shut it down for a whole day but due to legal regulations, it was reduced  to three hours.

     

    This isn’t the end as well. If nothing comes out of this then more such days will see blackouts with increased hours especially during festive times.

     

    There is a possibility that MSOs may take legal action against MCOF for this move but it is ready to fight the biggies. “This is exactly what we are opposing. When an MSO switches off channels on its own, no one questions its decision but the local guy is questioned. No legal action is taken but we have to bear all the brunt from both the MSOs as well as the customers,” adds Prabhoo. Recently, InCable had decided to switch off signals to all sports channels, right before the Champions Trophy T20, a way to bully the LMOs to cough up more cash, claims the federation.

     

    The issues that LMOs have been grappling with are many. Prabhoo points out that last minute decisions taken by MSOs lead to chaos which has to be resolved by local operators. This happened during DAS Phase I when STBs (Set Top Boxes) were being installed in homes. Unending trips to customers to fill forms is a burden on them as well, discloses Prabhoo. MSOs have the power to switch off signals to channels arbitrarily as well as make channels unavailable on a-la-carte rates so that only packages exist. “They should talk business, not superiority or inferiority,” adds Prabhoo.

     

    For now, the impending blackout is on the cards for tomorrow. Unless discussions take place soon, cable TV viewers in Maharashtra could well be in for more evenings of just looking at a blank TV set or one with a flickering static-riddled picture.

  • Arvind Prabhoo shares LMO perspective at IDOS 2013

    Arvind Prabhoo shares LMO perspective at IDOS 2013

    GOA: In this special session, the Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president Arvind Prabhoo addressed some dire issues currently being faced by the last mile owners (LMOs).

    Prabhoo thanked Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for pushing digitisation as he feels that the cable industry has been stagnant for nearly 10-12 years. He went on to introduce how the cable industry has been blossoming in India. “Let’s go back to 1989 when we first started to replace nearly eight million fixed line phones with cable and the process was completed in merely two years.”

    He elaborated on how the LMOs have been investing and re-investing to improve the quality of signals that have been transmitted to their consumers and this without any financial backing or infrastructure provision.

    “Let me demystify an LMO for you – we are entrepreneurs to the core, self-motivated and self-learned men. We have the highest SLA track record among service providers,” he added.

    Prabhoo further spoke on the LMOs’ contribution towards the progress of DAS, he said that nearly 95 per cent of the STBs of the two crore boxes have been installed by LMOs in individual houses. “Contrary to common belief, it was us who purchased the boxes from MSOs at subsidised rates and installed in our customers’ homes.”

    There is no argument that cable is a preferred medium for better quality of picture and sound, “LMOs are the roots, so strengthen us to face the storms ahead as the economy is going through tough times now.”

    He further elaborated on the implementation of DAS and the fact that customers are still to enjoy the benefits of DAS roll out. “The benefits are still invisible for the consumers, there is still no clarity on the ownership of STBs, the consumer has already lost nearly Rs 200 crore in one year alone because of not having the option of just going in for FTA channels (which according to Prabhoo nearly 30 per cent of the customers would prefer watching) and to add to that extra cost charged as entertainment tax… so where are the benefits? And who is gaining out of this?” questioned Prabhoo.

    So what is the way ahead for LMOs: Prabhoo expounded, “It’s going to be tough for us, we only stand to lose out customer base and revenue, there will be marginalisation in customer care and the most pressing issue remains the lack of settlement mechanism between MSOs and LMOs.”

    What the LMOs are really wishing for is G’NOC’OLISED (globalised, nationalised and localised) content and to work in a mutually beneficial manner with the MSOs and bring about a revolutionising change to the way cable is being perceived today.

    “A-la-carte is the way forward, and the customer will always be the one whom we cater to,” ended Prabhoo.

  • MCOF to hold seminar for LMOs

    MCOF to hold seminar for LMOs

    MUMBAI: With Last Mile Operators (LMOs) viewing digitisation as a threat and legal tussles between them and Multi System Operators (MSOs) on the rise, the Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) has organised an educational and business seminar on ‘challenges and opportunities post DAS’ to address their growing concerns.

    To be held on 23 November at the Prabhodhankar Thakarey Krida Sankool in Vile Parle, Mumbai, the seminar will see the who’s who of the industry educate LMOs about the kind of business opportunities lying in wait.

    Addressing operators from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Goa will be Castle Media director Vynsley Fernandes, who will speak on ‘global industry standards and trends’; HSBC Securities (Telecom and Media) lead analyst Rajiv Sharma, who will touch upon the financial aspects; former Sun group CEO Tony D’Silva, who will discuss HITS (Headends in the Sky) technology, UPASS managing director Ravindra Deshmukh and PING Network founder Prashanto Das, who will talk about global trends in broadcasting.

    Also among the invitees are small scale industries and the State Bank of India (SBI) regional head.

    Says MCOF president Arvind Prabhoo: “There is a lot of confusion about digitisation and LMOs feel the business is going out of their hands but if you understand what digitisation is and how to go about it as well as reorient yourself to the changing scenario, then you don’t look at it as a challenge but as an opportunity. I want LMOs to know that digitisation is not a threat and remove the fear factor from their mind.”

    A few women cable operators are also expected to attend the seminar that will be conducted in both Hindi and English. Nearly 500 to 600 LMOs are likely to participate with registration fees fixed at Rs 500 per head. Leading Marathi and Gujarati newspapers will be carrying advertorials tomorrow and day after to promote the event.

    Apart from challenges and opportunities post DAS, the seminar will also cover topics such as maximizing broadband penetration, optimised network architecture in DAS and future proof, Value Added Services (VAS), identifying right equipment and spares, supply tie ups and employee training.