ITV

Tag: Athar Abbas

  • Catvision looks to invest Rs 10 crore in FY15-16

    Catvision looks to invest Rs 10 crore in FY15-16

    KOLKATA: Noida-based Catvision Limited, a manufacturer, re-seller and system integrator, has earmarked an investment of up to Rs 10 crore in the current fiscal 2015-16.

     

    The company aims to install 200 headends by December 2016 and manufacture around 15 lakh set top boxes (STBs) by 2017 fiscal end and the investment will be for such manufacturing and installation.

     

    The company has installed more than 60 headends till now in the country. Plans are afoot to install 200 more headends by 2016 through its joint venture (JV) company – Catvision Unitron. On the STB front, the company aims to manufacture around 15 lakh STBs to be used in the third and fourth phases of cable TV digitization process in India, which is likely to be completed by December 2016.

     

    “We aim to invest up to Rs 10 crore in the current fiscal 2015-16 on STB manufacturing and headend installation,” Catvision managing director Athar Abbas tells Indiantelevision.com.

     

    With the installation of the 200 more headends, Catvision is aiming about 25 per cent share in the headend installation vertical by 2016.

     

    Catvision Limited signed an agreement with Belgium’s Unitron Group NV, to set up a 50:50 joint venture company – Catvision Unitron in India which would develop AV encoders for the cable television industry. Now the JV develops CATV digital systems and products with the latest world-class technology. Unitron Group NV of Belgium has years of experience in the state-of-the-art digital head-end technology, and is one of the leading companies in Europe in providing solutions for TV distribution to multi- dwelling units and residential complexes.  

     

    While Catvision has number of years of experience in the CATV industry in India, a market that is migrating to digital technology totally by the end of 2016.

     

    By aiming to manufacture around 15 lakh STBs to be used in the third and fourth phases of cable TV digitisation process in India, the company is looking at a market share on one per cent, said Abbas.

     

    “Now, with extended deadline of cable TV digitization process, the industry would be able to cater to all the needs of the fragmented markets. By the end of 2015-16, we are looking at five lakh STBs and by 2016-17 we aim to manufacture another one million STBs,” Abbas further says.

     

  • Catvision to install 200 headends by December 2016

    Catvision to install 200 headends by December 2016

    KOLKATA: Catvision, a manufacturer, re-seller and system integrator, which has installed more than 60 headends till now, aims to install around 200 more headends by the end of 2016 through its joint venture company Catvision Unitron.

     

    By looking at an additional 200 headends, the company is aiming at about 25 per cent share in the headend installation vertical by 2016.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Catvision managing director Athar Abbas said, “We have installed more than 60 headends in locations like Guwahati, Dimapur, Sonipat, Dehradun among others till now. In phase III and IV, we are looking at a market share of 25 per cent. By December 2015, we are looking at 100 headends and another 100 by 2016.”

     

    Catvision signed a joint venture agreement with Belgian company Unitron Group NV to set up a 50:50 joint venture called Catvision Unitron in India. The company develops AV encoders for the cable television industry.

     

    Now the JV develops CATV digital systems and products with the latest world-class technology. Unitron Group NV of Belgium has years of experience in the state-of-the-art digital headend technology, and is one of the leading companies in Europe in providing solutions for TV distribution to multi- dwelling units and residential complexes.

     

    On the other hand, Catvision has experience in the CATV industry in India, a market that is migrating to digital technology totally by the end of 2016.

     

    “This joint venture with Unitron has enabled Catvision to become a leading player in India and surrounding countries in the emerging digital TV space,” Abbas said.

     

    As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the company aims to manufacture around 15 lakh STBs to be used in the third and fourth phases of cable TV digitization process in India.

     

  • Catvision to manufacture 15 lakh STBs by 2017

    Catvision to manufacture 15 lakh STBs by 2017

    KOLKATA: Catvision, a manufacturer, re-seller and system integrator, aims to manufacture 15 lakh set top boxes (STBs) by 2017 fiscal end.

     

    The company has set sights on this goal as the cable TV sector prepares for phase III and IV of digitisation. Catvision is looking at capturing a market share of one per cent with this.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Catvision managing director Athar Abbas said, “With the extension in the deadline for cable TV digitisation, the industry will be able to cater to all the needs of the fragmented markets. By the end of 2015-16, we are looking at five lakh STBs and by 2016-17 we aim to manufacture another one million STBs.”

     

    Talking about Phase I and II, Abbas said that India could achieve an ambitious target as the digitization process as a whole was well executed in these two phases. “No one expected that Phase I and II would be done on time but India did it. However, in the remaining phases, the biggest challenge would be fragmented markets,” Abbas said, when queried about the challenges the locations, falling under Phase III and IV, might pose.

     

    Speaking on the delay that digitization Phase III and IV have encountered, Abbas said that the government was keen on STBs being manufactured in the country. “The delay will give employment opportunities to many and keep a check on the balance. The industry is happy as the VAT has been reduced from 12.5 per cent to two per cent,” he said.

     

    Catvision was promoted in 1985 by professionals, who earlier worked in senior positions with the HCL group of companies – India’s largest computer and IT conglomerate. In 1986 Catvision started installing complete CATV systems in company townships and hotels – the first cable TV network in India.

     

    In 1990, it became the exclusive agent of CNN for a period of five years. The first Gulf War, captured live on CNN, triggered commercial cable TV in India. In 1995, the company made a public issue of stock. At present the company’s stock is listed at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The company has its head office at Noida, and manufacturing unit at Dehradun.