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Tag: Becil

  • Govt seeks professional help for DD revival

    Govt seeks professional help for DD revival

    NEW DELHI: Fazed by private sector television channels’ stridency in terms of revenues and viewership in an increasingly digital India, the government is seeking outside professional help in “transformation of Doordarshan.”

    A tender has been issued by an organisation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to look for a consultant to revamp Doordarshan into a leading public broadcaster that becomes a highly successful medium of mass communication.

    Amongst the objectives listed in the tender documents by the Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. (BECIL) a stated aim is to engage a consulting firm to support Doordarshan in achieving this “transformation goal by undertaking a comprehensive view on the projects and initiatives to be executed” by the Indian pubcaster.

    Pointing out that in the last couple of decades after introduction of cable television and technological changes in a country that’s now openly flirting with digital consumption of video and audio on multiple platforms, the government admitted DD’s monopoly days are over and it is not the target media for a large swathe of Indian population. “Given the potential television has, not just commercially but also as a means for socio-economic transformation, it’s critical to revitalize Doordarshan and develop it into a powerful and commercially successful organization of mass communication,” BECIL said in a note enumerating the objectives for the project.

    The consultant would have to undertake a comprehensive view on the projects and initiatives to be executed by Doordarshan, engage all stakeholders to arrive at trouble-spots and prepare a solution map for addressing those difficulties. The government is hoping that the consultant will identify in medium term goals for “quick wins” and further help Doordarshan develop a long-term strategic roadmap.

    The interested bidders are expected to send in their queries by 2 November 2016 and get responses in a pre-bid meeting on 4 November. The technical bids will be opened on 15 November at 1530 hours. Dates for presentations by bidders and opening of financial bids will be intimated later by BECIL.

    Interestingly, Minister of State for MIB Rajyavardhan Rathore few days back had admitted at a media conference that Prasar Bharati, DD’s parent, lacked adequate programming and marketing capabilities and was open to seeking help from private players.

    Doordarshan is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in the world in terms of studios and infrastructure and claims to cover 90 per cent of the total Indian population — a claim that, however, doesn’t aptly reflect in audience measurement data. DD, which offers 23 TV channels in various Indian languages, provides television, radio, online and app-based mobile services throughout India and overseas.

    ALSO READ:

    Prasar Bharati lacks content & marketing; open to tie-ups: MIB Minister

     

  • Prasar Bharati responds to TRAI consultation paper; open to sharing DTT infrastructure

    Prasar Bharati responds to TRAI consultation paper; open to sharing DTT infrastructure

    NEW DELHI: Pubcaster Prasar Bharati has sent its viewpoints  to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)’s consultation paper on the involvement of the private sector in digital terrestrial broadcasting (which has been its forte, so far).

    In its response, it has stated that, even as it supports the move, it feels that the potential of available distribution options need to be critically analysed to fulfill their requirements (for example coverage, capacity, reception mode, type of service etc).

    The public broadcaster has also said that the terrestrial broadcast platform will be relevant in the long term if its usage offers veritable benefits to the broadcasters, the audiences and the society as a whole. Even in countries where cable, satellite or broadband hold a significant market share, terrestrial broadcasting is usually regarded as an essential, flexible and reliable way of delivering broadcast content to a mass audience.

    In its response to 11 questions asked by TRAI in its Consultation Paper on ‘Issues related to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting in India,’ the pubcaster says that the terrestrial platform must be digital to remain viable in the long term.

    Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar had told indiantelevision.com in an interview earlier that it had cleared DTT for the private sector more than a year ago.

    Given the vast landscape of the country, Prasar Bharati says DTT is absolutely vital. It is thus crucial to ensure that, in the long term, the terrestrial distribution networks should be capable of delivering the current and future, advanced linear broadcast services, and fulfilling the  ever-increasing  requirements for quality and  choice  of services, including non-linear broadcast services.

    The benefits offered by DTT according to the pubcaster are:

    •         Near-universal coverage,

    •         Ability to provide for fixed, portable and mobile reception,
                Ability to efficiently provide regional and local content

    •         It is flexibility and content format agnostic. The newer formats of TV channels such as HD TV, 3D TV, UHD TV, data and radio services etc. can thus be delivered.

    •         Technical and cost efficiency,

    •         Efficient  use  of  spectrum  as  multiple  program channels  can  be transmitted using one TV spectrum channel of 8 MHz

    •         Network has ruggedness and not prone to catastrophic failure and sabotage from enemies

    •         Terrestrial broadcasting has strategic importance along the borders

    •         A potential for further development.

    Even with the presence of huge number of DTH and cableTV channels, a strong terrestrial platform is critical to healthy competition in the TV and radio market and to the realisation of a wide range of social and cultural benefits and most essentially an all-weather reliable platforms for the distribution of radio and TV signals, says the pubcaster.

    As indicated in the consultation paper, there are 247 million households in India as per the 2011 census, and a large number of these, particularly in rural and remote areas, depend completely on the FTA (free-to-air) terrestrial broadcasting TV services provided by the public broadcaster.

    Thus, in order to meet consumer expectations and ensure optimum utilization of resources, a digital terrestrial TV service having suitable bouquet of TV channels and nationwide coverage is very essential, says the pubcaster.

    It stresses that DTT is being provided in FTA mode in most of the countries. Its capability to provide local content will facilitate in providing social benefits of promoting local talent, local culture and music, generating employment, catering to local self-governance information needs, etc.

    This powerful combination would be difficult to replicate by any single alternative technology. DTT secures greater plurality in platform ownership, ensuring that no single platform owner is so powerful that it can exert undue influence on public opinion, and hence is the need for every country.

    DTT broadcasting has emerged as one of the popular digital television platforms in countries such as the UK, the US, Japan, Germany, France and Australia as it turns out to be one of the most economical broadcast transmission systems. In the DTT broadcasting process, everybody watches the same content at the same time, and it guarantees everybody the same high level of service, since they are all bathed in the same signal, and that too free to air, whereas, in OTT, the received signal quality depends upon number of viewers watching it, simultaneously.

    By the end of 2015, DTT constituted the second highest user base worldwide among the digital TV broadcast platforms next only to that of digital cable TV services.

    The pubcaster feels that, to optimise the time and resources, DTT can be started with two multiplexes at each location, and can be enhanced to three/four in due course of time, may be after analogue switchoff (ASO). Nation-wide coverage plan may further be implemented in time-bound phased manner as has been done in the case of implementation of DAS cable system.

    Infrastructure sharing will be essential for easy and cost-effective implementation of DTT service in India. Sharing would be essential so as to minimise the cost of implementation and faster roll-out. The experience sharing during implementation of FM expansion may be considered as an input for DTT roll-out.

    Deciding a national standard for DTT service is quintessential to have a volume of scale in terms of DTT ecosystem.  Doordarshan has already adopted DVB-T2 for itsDTT service, and it would be beneficial for the nation to adopt DVB-T2 as the national standard. Besides volume of scale, it may eliminate interoperability issues. Most of the countries are following a single national standard for DTT.

    The television viewer needs variety in programming content which may be possible when private channels are allowed on terrestrial platform. This is also required to make attractive and competitive bouquet.

    Prasar Bharati, however, says that it has to be ensured that the consumers are not impacted or charged heavily for private services. Issues regarding quality of service, grievance redressal etc. are also important.

    Doordarshan also needs to see that it continues to be the public service provider while providing wholesome content. The faster roll-out of DTT would require support from every stakeholder (government/private) for creating nation-wide network.

    Prasar Bharati already has huge infrastructure such as land, building, towers, trained manpower, networks, etc, for its terrestrial transmission. It has also initiated setting up of DTT transmitters. Doordarshan has already installed 23 DVB-T2 transmitters at 19 locations and services have been started at 16 locations. Also, it is in the process of expanding this to 63 locations.

    Doordarshan has gained enough experience and has good expertise in the field of DTT implementation including coverage and frequency planning, design of DTT network, procurement, execution, measurement and testing, field  surveys  etc.  It  is , therefore, a  better-placed  entity  for setting  up Integrated DTT Broadcasting network that includes private broadcasters as well.

    In this scenario, Prasar Bharati may also become a content aggregator for sharing transmitter capacity with private service-providers to give variety of content while the platform remains with it.

    This will ensure public service broadcasting can be strengthened in the country and reach of services from public broadcaster will enhance immensely; dissemination of social, educational programmes to masses; no new regulatory framework required for implementation of DTT; existing infrastructure will be optimally utilized; and introduction of a variety of services making DTT more competitive.

    Doordarshan has already got funds from government to pioneer DTT, and it is seeking additional funds from it to complete it.  Private broadcasters may be charged a suitable fee for using this infrastructure. This has already been implemented in the DD DTH service.

    For DTT expansion plan phase 1 and 2, one option could be that Prasar Bharati  (Doordarshan) gets government funds and charges a fee from private broadcasters as in the case of the pioneer plan; or Doordarshan (Government) and private broadcaster can share the capital expenditure in a suitable sharing model. Revenue may also be shared using the same model.

    Considering the present situation in India and to optimise  time and resources, DTT can be started with two multiplexes at 63 locations and can be enhanced to three/four in due course, may be after ASO.  A suggestive model for integrated DTT broadcasting network could be:

    i)      DTT may be implemented at 630 locations almost immediately where Doordarshan (Prasar Bharati) has already started implementation of DTT and infrastructure is almost ready. Private operators may be allowed to share this infrastructure by paying a suitable fee to Doordarshan as is being done in the case of DD DTH service. [This may be called DTT Pioneer Plan]

    ii)      Of the remaining 567 locations, wherever Doordarshan has sufficient requisite infrastructure, DVB-T2 multiplexes may be established and private  broadcasters can  share  those  exactly  in  the  same  way. [This may be called DTT Expansion Plan-Phase1]

    iii)     A new CTI (common transmission) infrastructure may be established at all other places where Doordarshan infrastructure is not available. These CTIs may be established by an experienced separate entity (e.g., BECIL). However, the ownership may be with Doordarshan (or a consortium). The process for this may be started in parallel to phase-1 but may have a different target date as establishment of new CTI will take more time. [This may be called DTT Expansion Plan-Phase2]

    It will be difficult to earmark exclusive spectrum for DTT as Doordarshan is already using the UHF band-IV for analog TV service. Besides, Doordarshan is also using band-IV for DTT and has planned utilization of band-IV and band-V frequencies for already approved DVB-T2 transmitters. It has also planned a DTT transmitter network at 630 locations with 2 MUXs, in Band-IV and Band-V.

    For the simulcast period, additional spectrum is required for the parallel transmission of TV services in analogue and digital mode. The required amount of spectrum will heavily depend on the introduction strategy adopted for DTT. ITU-R studies have concluded that 224 MHz spectrum would be required in UHF band for implementation of four to five DTT Multiplex at each location. Whereas, in India, practically only 176 MHz (470-646MHz) spectrum is available in UHF band. It would be appropriate that the entire broadcasting band 470-698 MHz may be made available.

    In a statement that may help the private sector, Prasar Bharati said that countries boosted switching to digital by giving subsidy on STBs; mandatory DTT tuner in all TV receivers after a certain date; awareness campaign regarding ASO; incentives to broadcasters in terms of spectrum charges for providing simulcast, and dialogue and incentives to manufacturer/importer of DTT receiving equipment.

    India would certainly need such concerted efforts to popularize digital reception and achieve ASO. With the concerted effort, India may think of a simulcast period of at least 6-12 months before switching off analogue transmitters. As the digitization is proposed to be implemented in a phased manner, ASO will also happen in a phased manner. However, the situation will have to be reviewed before actually switching off.

    The pubcaster has suggested that provision of DVB-T2 Tuner can be made mandatory on all TVs imported/manufactured in India after 1 April 2018. Similarly, embedding of DVB-T2/T2 Lite tuner in mobile phones should also be mandated on the same date.

    Also read: http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/terrestrial/prasar-bharati-ceo-prasar-bharati-not-opposed-to-private-players-entry-in-dtt-160620

     

  • Prasar Bharati responds to TRAI consultation paper; open to sharing DTT infrastructure

    Prasar Bharati responds to TRAI consultation paper; open to sharing DTT infrastructure

    NEW DELHI: Pubcaster Prasar Bharati has sent its viewpoints  to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)’s consultation paper on the involvement of the private sector in digital terrestrial broadcasting (which has been its forte, so far).

    In its response, it has stated that, even as it supports the move, it feels that the potential of available distribution options need to be critically analysed to fulfill their requirements (for example coverage, capacity, reception mode, type of service etc).

    The public broadcaster has also said that the terrestrial broadcast platform will be relevant in the long term if its usage offers veritable benefits to the broadcasters, the audiences and the society as a whole. Even in countries where cable, satellite or broadband hold a significant market share, terrestrial broadcasting is usually regarded as an essential, flexible and reliable way of delivering broadcast content to a mass audience.

    In its response to 11 questions asked by TRAI in its Consultation Paper on ‘Issues related to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting in India,’ the pubcaster says that the terrestrial platform must be digital to remain viable in the long term.

    Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar had told indiantelevision.com in an interview earlier that it had cleared DTT for the private sector more than a year ago.

    Given the vast landscape of the country, Prasar Bharati says DTT is absolutely vital. It is thus crucial to ensure that, in the long term, the terrestrial distribution networks should be capable of delivering the current and future, advanced linear broadcast services, and fulfilling the  ever-increasing  requirements for quality and  choice  of services, including non-linear broadcast services.

    The benefits offered by DTT according to the pubcaster are:

    •         Near-universal coverage,

    •         Ability to provide for fixed, portable and mobile reception,
                Ability to efficiently provide regional and local content

    •         It is flexibility and content format agnostic. The newer formats of TV channels such as HD TV, 3D TV, UHD TV, data and radio services etc. can thus be delivered.

    •         Technical and cost efficiency,

    •         Efficient  use  of  spectrum  as  multiple  program channels  can  be transmitted using one TV spectrum channel of 8 MHz

    •         Network has ruggedness and not prone to catastrophic failure and sabotage from enemies

    •         Terrestrial broadcasting has strategic importance along the borders

    •         A potential for further development.

    Even with the presence of huge number of DTH and cableTV channels, a strong terrestrial platform is critical to healthy competition in the TV and radio market and to the realisation of a wide range of social and cultural benefits and most essentially an all-weather reliable platforms for the distribution of radio and TV signals, says the pubcaster.

    As indicated in the consultation paper, there are 247 million households in India as per the 2011 census, and a large number of these, particularly in rural and remote areas, depend completely on the FTA (free-to-air) terrestrial broadcasting TV services provided by the public broadcaster.

    Thus, in order to meet consumer expectations and ensure optimum utilization of resources, a digital terrestrial TV service having suitable bouquet of TV channels and nationwide coverage is very essential, says the pubcaster.

    It stresses that DTT is being provided in FTA mode in most of the countries. Its capability to provide local content will facilitate in providing social benefits of promoting local talent, local culture and music, generating employment, catering to local self-governance information needs, etc.

    This powerful combination would be difficult to replicate by any single alternative technology. DTT secures greater plurality in platform ownership, ensuring that no single platform owner is so powerful that it can exert undue influence on public opinion, and hence is the need for every country.

    DTT broadcasting has emerged as one of the popular digital television platforms in countries such as the UK, the US, Japan, Germany, France and Australia as it turns out to be one of the most economical broadcast transmission systems. In the DTT broadcasting process, everybody watches the same content at the same time, and it guarantees everybody the same high level of service, since they are all bathed in the same signal, and that too free to air, whereas, in OTT, the received signal quality depends upon number of viewers watching it, simultaneously.

    By the end of 2015, DTT constituted the second highest user base worldwide among the digital TV broadcast platforms next only to that of digital cable TV services.

    The pubcaster feels that, to optimise the time and resources, DTT can be started with two multiplexes at each location, and can be enhanced to three/four in due course of time, may be after analogue switchoff (ASO). Nation-wide coverage plan may further be implemented in time-bound phased manner as has been done in the case of implementation of DAS cable system.

    Infrastructure sharing will be essential for easy and cost-effective implementation of DTT service in India. Sharing would be essential so as to minimise the cost of implementation and faster roll-out. The experience sharing during implementation of FM expansion may be considered as an input for DTT roll-out.

    Deciding a national standard for DTT service is quintessential to have a volume of scale in terms of DTT ecosystem.  Doordarshan has already adopted DVB-T2 for itsDTT service, and it would be beneficial for the nation to adopt DVB-T2 as the national standard. Besides volume of scale, it may eliminate interoperability issues. Most of the countries are following a single national standard for DTT.

    The television viewer needs variety in programming content which may be possible when private channels are allowed on terrestrial platform. This is also required to make attractive and competitive bouquet.

    Prasar Bharati, however, says that it has to be ensured that the consumers are not impacted or charged heavily for private services. Issues regarding quality of service, grievance redressal etc. are also important.

    Doordarshan also needs to see that it continues to be the public service provider while providing wholesome content. The faster roll-out of DTT would require support from every stakeholder (government/private) for creating nation-wide network.

    Prasar Bharati already has huge infrastructure such as land, building, towers, trained manpower, networks, etc, for its terrestrial transmission. It has also initiated setting up of DTT transmitters. Doordarshan has already installed 23 DVB-T2 transmitters at 19 locations and services have been started at 16 locations. Also, it is in the process of expanding this to 63 locations.

    Doordarshan has gained enough experience and has good expertise in the field of DTT implementation including coverage and frequency planning, design of DTT network, procurement, execution, measurement and testing, field  surveys  etc.  It  is , therefore, a  better-placed  entity  for setting  up Integrated DTT Broadcasting network that includes private broadcasters as well.

    In this scenario, Prasar Bharati may also become a content aggregator for sharing transmitter capacity with private service-providers to give variety of content while the platform remains with it.

    This will ensure public service broadcasting can be strengthened in the country and reach of services from public broadcaster will enhance immensely; dissemination of social, educational programmes to masses; no new regulatory framework required for implementation of DTT; existing infrastructure will be optimally utilized; and introduction of a variety of services making DTT more competitive.

    Doordarshan has already got funds from government to pioneer DTT, and it is seeking additional funds from it to complete it.  Private broadcasters may be charged a suitable fee for using this infrastructure. This has already been implemented in the DD DTH service.

    For DTT expansion plan phase 1 and 2, one option could be that Prasar Bharati  (Doordarshan) gets government funds and charges a fee from private broadcasters as in the case of the pioneer plan; or Doordarshan (Government) and private broadcaster can share the capital expenditure in a suitable sharing model. Revenue may also be shared using the same model.

    Considering the present situation in India and to optimise  time and resources, DTT can be started with two multiplexes at 63 locations and can be enhanced to three/four in due course, may be after ASO.  A suggestive model for integrated DTT broadcasting network could be:

    i)      DTT may be implemented at 630 locations almost immediately where Doordarshan (Prasar Bharati) has already started implementation of DTT and infrastructure is almost ready. Private operators may be allowed to share this infrastructure by paying a suitable fee to Doordarshan as is being done in the case of DD DTH service. [This may be called DTT Pioneer Plan]

    ii)      Of the remaining 567 locations, wherever Doordarshan has sufficient requisite infrastructure, DVB-T2 multiplexes may be established and private  broadcasters can  share  those  exactly  in  the  same  way. [This may be called DTT Expansion Plan-Phase1]

    iii)     A new CTI (common transmission) infrastructure may be established at all other places where Doordarshan infrastructure is not available. These CTIs may be established by an experienced separate entity (e.g., BECIL). However, the ownership may be with Doordarshan (or a consortium). The process for this may be started in parallel to phase-1 but may have a different target date as establishment of new CTI will take more time. [This may be called DTT Expansion Plan-Phase2]

    It will be difficult to earmark exclusive spectrum for DTT as Doordarshan is already using the UHF band-IV for analog TV service. Besides, Doordarshan is also using band-IV for DTT and has planned utilization of band-IV and band-V frequencies for already approved DVB-T2 transmitters. It has also planned a DTT transmitter network at 630 locations with 2 MUXs, in Band-IV and Band-V.

    For the simulcast period, additional spectrum is required for the parallel transmission of TV services in analogue and digital mode. The required amount of spectrum will heavily depend on the introduction strategy adopted for DTT. ITU-R studies have concluded that 224 MHz spectrum would be required in UHF band for implementation of four to five DTT Multiplex at each location. Whereas, in India, practically only 176 MHz (470-646MHz) spectrum is available in UHF band. It would be appropriate that the entire broadcasting band 470-698 MHz may be made available.

    In a statement that may help the private sector, Prasar Bharati said that countries boosted switching to digital by giving subsidy on STBs; mandatory DTT tuner in all TV receivers after a certain date; awareness campaign regarding ASO; incentives to broadcasters in terms of spectrum charges for providing simulcast, and dialogue and incentives to manufacturer/importer of DTT receiving equipment.

    India would certainly need such concerted efforts to popularize digital reception and achieve ASO. With the concerted effort, India may think of a simulcast period of at least 6-12 months before switching off analogue transmitters. As the digitization is proposed to be implemented in a phased manner, ASO will also happen in a phased manner. However, the situation will have to be reviewed before actually switching off.

    The pubcaster has suggested that provision of DVB-T2 Tuner can be made mandatory on all TVs imported/manufactured in India after 1 April 2018. Similarly, embedding of DVB-T2/T2 Lite tuner in mobile phones should also be mandated on the same date.

    Also read: http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/terrestrial/prasar-bharati-ceo-prasar-bharati-not-opposed-to-private-players-entry-in-dtt-160620

     

  • India has 890 TV channels against 12th Plan target of 1500

    India has 890 TV channels against 12th Plan target of 1500

    NEW DELHI: With the government having cleared a total of 890 television channels including 401 news channels, it appears highly unlikely that the country will achieve the target of 1500 channels by March next year.

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information Technology which goes into issues relating to Information and Broadcasting noted that the State Finance Commission, while drafting its proposals for the 12th Plan (2012-17), had assumed that the number of permitted TV channels would rise to 1500.

    However, a recent I and B ministry report said that a total of 890 TV channels had got permission to start their operation as on 31 May. Out of these, twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country, and 96 including 81 general entertainment channels are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.

    Meanwhile, the committee was told that the present set up of Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) has developed logging and recording facility for 900 TV channels and is thus fully equipped to start monitoring of all permitted channels available on public domain.

    The Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. (BECIL) is configuring all available free to air channels in the content monitoring system of the EMMC.

    However, configuration of pay channels will require broadcasters to provide necessary equipment for downloading and decryption of the content/signal and this is expected to be completed within 4 months’ time.

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information Technology which goes into issues relating to Information and Broadcasting observed that the monitoring capacity of EMMC is being augmented in a phased manner to achieve the objective of developing content acquisition facility for 1500 channels by the end of the 12th Plan.

    By the end of Fiscal Year 2014-15, EMMC successfully achieved the Plan target of content acquisition facility of 600 TV channels. Under the 12th Plan, Rs.56.37 crore had been utilized as of 31 March 2016 out of the total outlay of Rs.90 crore.

    The committee was told that the budget estimate for 2016-17 had been reduced to Rs 12 crore as compared to Rs 21 crore in 2015-16, out of which Rs 19.76 had been spent by 3 March 2016.

    During the year 2015-16, EMMC has procured content acquisition hardware for setting up monitoring facility for 300 additional TV channels and installed at the new set up on the eleventh floor of Soochna Bhawan in New Delhi. The channels are being configured.

    The ministry also informed the committee that issues pertaining to monitoring of 600 channels, hardware for which was acquired in FY 2014-15 had been resolved. Hence, EMMC was able to stabilize and regularly monitor 600 TV channels.

    The ministry said its target under the Machinery and Equipment head was to develop content acquisition facility for additional 300 TV channels by the end of FY 2016-17.

    The committee was informed that during the year 2015-16, 11 cases were found where TV channels were in violation of content guidelines (Programme Code and Advertisement Code).

    While there is no provision of pre-censorship of the content telecast on private TV channels, all programmes/ advertisements telecast on such TV channels are required to adhere to the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the rules framed thereunder. Action is taken whenever any violation of the Codes is noticed or brought to the notice of the ministry.

  • India has 890 TV channels against 12th Plan target of 1500

    India has 890 TV channels against 12th Plan target of 1500

    NEW DELHI: With the government having cleared a total of 890 television channels including 401 news channels, it appears highly unlikely that the country will achieve the target of 1500 channels by March next year.

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information Technology which goes into issues relating to Information and Broadcasting noted that the State Finance Commission, while drafting its proposals for the 12th Plan (2012-17), had assumed that the number of permitted TV channels would rise to 1500.

    However, a recent I and B ministry report said that a total of 890 TV channels had got permission to start their operation as on 31 May. Out of these, twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country, and 96 including 81 general entertainment channels are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.

    Meanwhile, the committee was told that the present set up of Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) has developed logging and recording facility for 900 TV channels and is thus fully equipped to start monitoring of all permitted channels available on public domain.

    The Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. (BECIL) is configuring all available free to air channels in the content monitoring system of the EMMC.

    However, configuration of pay channels will require broadcasters to provide necessary equipment for downloading and decryption of the content/signal and this is expected to be completed within 4 months’ time.

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information Technology which goes into issues relating to Information and Broadcasting observed that the monitoring capacity of EMMC is being augmented in a phased manner to achieve the objective of developing content acquisition facility for 1500 channels by the end of the 12th Plan.

    By the end of Fiscal Year 2014-15, EMMC successfully achieved the Plan target of content acquisition facility of 600 TV channels. Under the 12th Plan, Rs.56.37 crore had been utilized as of 31 March 2016 out of the total outlay of Rs.90 crore.

    The committee was told that the budget estimate for 2016-17 had been reduced to Rs 12 crore as compared to Rs 21 crore in 2015-16, out of which Rs 19.76 had been spent by 3 March 2016.

    During the year 2015-16, EMMC has procured content acquisition hardware for setting up monitoring facility for 300 additional TV channels and installed at the new set up on the eleventh floor of Soochna Bhawan in New Delhi. The channels are being configured.

    The ministry also informed the committee that issues pertaining to monitoring of 600 channels, hardware for which was acquired in FY 2014-15 had been resolved. Hence, EMMC was able to stabilize and regularly monitor 600 TV channels.

    The ministry said its target under the Machinery and Equipment head was to develop content acquisition facility for additional 300 TV channels by the end of FY 2016-17.

    The committee was informed that during the year 2015-16, 11 cases were found where TV channels were in violation of content guidelines (Programme Code and Advertisement Code).

    While there is no provision of pre-censorship of the content telecast on private TV channels, all programmes/ advertisements telecast on such TV channels are required to adhere to the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the rules framed thereunder. Action is taken whenever any violation of the Codes is noticed or brought to the notice of the ministry.

  • Successful bidders can start FM channels: I and B Ministry

    Successful bidders can start FM channels: I and B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: Operators who have recently won bids successfully for FM Radio stations have been asked to operationalize their channels as early as possible since “time is money and spectrum sold is still unutilized.”

    Information and Broadcasting ministry joint secretary (B-II) Mihir Kumar Singh said this will benefit all stakeholders including the ministry as annual fee realization will also start early.

    However addressing a meeting of the FM operators, Singh said the ministry was agreeable to allowing interim set-up subject to the interim stations being in the same premises from where regular CTI is operating; and payments to Prasar Bharati and Broadcasting Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd is made in full according to mutual consent.

    The meeting on 27 April was at the instance of four FM Radio operators viz. ENIL, HTML, RBNL and MBL for being allowed to operationalise their fresh FM radio channels from interim set-up till the CTI facility is prepared by BECIL. The ten private FM representatives present also included representatives of Mathrubhumi and DB Corp.

    The representatives of the companies were informed that the ministry was cautious in the matter as the operators at Chennai who were earlier given interim set up permission are yet to shift to the CTI facility at Avadi.

    Upon enquiry about BECIL’s timelines to complete the CTI facilities, BECIL CMD George Kuruvila said though the target dates for all the cities is September 2016, BECIL would be able to complete CTI facilities for new FM channels in some cities in July-August.

    It also agreed to provide city-wise timelines which was done.

    All India Radio Resoirces GM (Commercial) AN Sharma said only single dipole, 7/8 inch cable with 3kw transmitter can be allowed for interim set-up. The range of transmission will be 15-20 km.

    The operators should arrange for their power supply as Prasar Bharati will not be able to provide additional power required for interim set-up. The operation of interim set-up should not pose any hurdle for the regular CTI facilities being created for new FM channels.

    Prasar Bharati was requested to give details of tower aperture, land space and rentals that
    it would be willing to share and the pubcaster would so so within two days.

    Kuruvila said since the interim set-up will be in the same premises for which SACFA clearance is available, BECIL will inform the WPC on the interim set-up on behalf of the operators.

    All the operators sought a week’s time for giving their views and so the next meeting is fixed for 6 May.

  • Successful bidders can start FM channels: I and B Ministry

    Successful bidders can start FM channels: I and B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: Operators who have recently won bids successfully for FM Radio stations have been asked to operationalize their channels as early as possible since “time is money and spectrum sold is still unutilized.”

    Information and Broadcasting ministry joint secretary (B-II) Mihir Kumar Singh said this will benefit all stakeholders including the ministry as annual fee realization will also start early.

    However addressing a meeting of the FM operators, Singh said the ministry was agreeable to allowing interim set-up subject to the interim stations being in the same premises from where regular CTI is operating; and payments to Prasar Bharati and Broadcasting Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd is made in full according to mutual consent.

    The meeting on 27 April was at the instance of four FM Radio operators viz. ENIL, HTML, RBNL and MBL for being allowed to operationalise their fresh FM radio channels from interim set-up till the CTI facility is prepared by BECIL. The ten private FM representatives present also included representatives of Mathrubhumi and DB Corp.

    The representatives of the companies were informed that the ministry was cautious in the matter as the operators at Chennai who were earlier given interim set up permission are yet to shift to the CTI facility at Avadi.

    Upon enquiry about BECIL’s timelines to complete the CTI facilities, BECIL CMD George Kuruvila said though the target dates for all the cities is September 2016, BECIL would be able to complete CTI facilities for new FM channels in some cities in July-August.

    It also agreed to provide city-wise timelines which was done.

    All India Radio Resoirces GM (Commercial) AN Sharma said only single dipole, 7/8 inch cable with 3kw transmitter can be allowed for interim set-up. The range of transmission will be 15-20 km.

    The operators should arrange for their power supply as Prasar Bharati will not be able to provide additional power required for interim set-up. The operation of interim set-up should not pose any hurdle for the regular CTI facilities being created for new FM channels.

    Prasar Bharati was requested to give details of tower aperture, land space and rentals that
    it would be willing to share and the pubcaster would so so within two days.

    Kuruvila said since the interim set-up will be in the same premises for which SACFA clearance is available, BECIL will inform the WPC on the interim set-up on behalf of the operators.

    All the operators sought a week’s time for giving their views and so the next meeting is fixed for 6 May.

  • TDSAT: Four broadcasters asked to work out commercial deals with MSO

    TDSAT: Four broadcasters asked to work out commercial deals with MSO

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal today asked four broadcasters to work out commercial terms with M.C. Transmissions towards working out fresh interconnect agreements.

    Chairman justice Aftab Alam and member B B Srivastava gave the direction to the broadcasters – Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd, Star India, Taj Television, and Indiacast UTV Media Distribution Services Pvt. Ltd – after accepting the supplementary report of the Broadcast Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd about the headend of MC Transmissions. Tbe Tribunal listed the matter for further hearing on 26 April.  

    Earlier, the broadcasters had said that despite a BECIL report pointing out some defects, the MSO had not corrected them.  Thereupon, the Tribunal had asked the broadcasters to constitute a joint team or agree upon one of them getting the inspection done by its technical team to examine the headend of M.C. Transmissions for any defects.

    However, the broadcasters reported that they were still not satisfied with the headends, following which BECIL was asked to conduct a fresh examination. “In the aforesaid circumstances, there is no other course but to ask the BECIL to make a supplementary report specific to its earlier findings. Since the supplementary report is on a very limited and specific issue, BECIL, as a special case, will waive its fee”, the Tribunal had said, giving BECIL one week for a its report which was presented today.

  • TDSAT: Four broadcasters asked to work out commercial deals with MSO

    TDSAT: Four broadcasters asked to work out commercial deals with MSO

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal today asked four broadcasters to work out commercial terms with M.C. Transmissions towards working out fresh interconnect agreements.

    Chairman justice Aftab Alam and member B B Srivastava gave the direction to the broadcasters – Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd, Star India, Taj Television, and Indiacast UTV Media Distribution Services Pvt. Ltd – after accepting the supplementary report of the Broadcast Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd about the headend of MC Transmissions. Tbe Tribunal listed the matter for further hearing on 26 April.  

    Earlier, the broadcasters had said that despite a BECIL report pointing out some defects, the MSO had not corrected them.  Thereupon, the Tribunal had asked the broadcasters to constitute a joint team or agree upon one of them getting the inspection done by its technical team to examine the headend of M.C. Transmissions for any defects.

    However, the broadcasters reported that they were still not satisfied with the headends, following which BECIL was asked to conduct a fresh examination. “In the aforesaid circumstances, there is no other course but to ask the BECIL to make a supplementary report specific to its earlier findings. Since the supplementary report is on a very limited and specific issue, BECIL, as a special case, will waive its fee”, the Tribunal had said, giving BECIL one week for a its report which was presented today.

  • BECIL directed by TDSAT to conduct fresh audit of Mumbai MSO in its petition against Sun Networks

    BECIL directed by TDSAT to conduct fresh audit of Mumbai MSO in its petition against Sun Networks

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has directed a fresh audit of the systems of JPR Channel, Mumbai, by the Broadcast Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd – BECIL – to check whether or not the system was compliant with the norms prescribed by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    BECIL had earlier done an audit and JPR Channel counsel J K Mehta claimed that the auditors’ report was “incomplete and only a draft report. Its findings are misconceived and whatever findings are recorded there can be fully explained.”

    Sun Distribution Services Pvt. Ltd. Chennai counsel Abhishek Malhotra said the auditor’s report had found very serious anomalies in the working of the petitioner’s system. Malhotra added that BECIL has already audited the petitioner’s system and found it non compliant with the statutory norms in a report of 26 February.

    Describing the natter as a serious dispute, Chairman Aftab Alam and member B B Srivastava said that BECI should conduct a thorough audit of the petitioner’s system and to submit its report. If desired, BECIL shall allow a representative of Sun to be present at the time of the audit.

    The Tribunal hoped and expected that BECIL would submit its report within three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of its order. The audit fee will be initially paid by the the MSO but depending upon the report, it may be suitably apportioned or Sun itself may be held liable to pay the entire fee. The Tribunal listed the matter for 10 May.