ITV

Tag: cable op

  • Chinese cable op uses BigBand Digital TV mgt to expand programme lineup

    MUMBAI: With the aim of expanding its programme lineup and maximising bandwidth efficiency Nanjing Radio and Television Network has done a deal with BigBand Networks which provides network platforms for video, voice and data services in China.
     

    Nanjing has deployed the BigBand Broadband Multimedia-Service Router (BMR) for its digital television services. The operator, one of China’s largest, is using extensive functionality of the BigBand Digital TV Management solution to deliver live programming in its network with more than 800,000 subscribers.

    This BMR platform deployment will also allow Nanjing to introduce more advanced services and functionality. Nanjing states that it chose BigBand Networks as it distinguished itself from alternatives with a complete and flexible solution design that accesses content from various sources, achieves total control over program lineups and bandwidth efficiency, and performs the necessary processing for reliable delivery to Nanjing subscribers.
     
     

    The BigBand BMR provides a complete solution for Nanjing’s current needs and also has next-generation capabilities to evolve with our expanding initiatives such as Gigabit Ethernet networking between facilities. The Nanjing deployment utilises multiple BigBand Digital TV Management functions for end-to-end delivery. The modular port flexibility of the BigBand BMR is leveraged to access content from a variety of program source types, including satellite downlinks, terrestrial broadcast feeds and local storage.

    The operator determines which of the accessed programmes to carry and what channel lineups to utilise, which is realised through statistical remultiplexing with RateShaping bit rate adaptation maintaining video quality while maximising bandwidth efficiency. The content is modulated by broadcast QAM modules on the BMR for robust delivery to any digital subscriber device including support for DVB Simulcrypt security.

  • Trai releases recommendations for broadcast sector

    Trai releases recommendations for broadcast sector

    MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: The cable and broadcast regulator has finally released its long awaited recommendations on the “Issues relating to Broadcasting and Distribution of TV Channels”.

    The recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), which will have to be ratified by the information and broadcasting ministry before being made implementable, will have far-reaching implications on how the broadcast industry functions.
     
     
    Among the key points that a quick perusal of the Trai document offered were:

    1. Subscription rates prevalent as on 26 December 2003 shall be the ceiling, until final determination by Trai.

    2. The subscription rate ceiling will be lifted from 26 December 2004. The amount of rate hike will, however be determined by Trai, which is preparing to review the rates and only allow an increase linked to inflation. This rate revision exercise is expected to be completed in November.

    3. Pay channels launched after 26 December 2003 should not be allowed to join a bouquet. Any new pay channels may be offered to the cable operator individually or as a new bouquet of channels which are not covered by the ceiling.
     

    The same restriction would apply for those channels that were free-to-air on the cut-off date and later converted to pay mode.

    These new pay channels may be offered to the cable operator individually or as a new bouquet of channels which are not covered by the ceiling. Thus for those consumers who do not get the new pay channels the ceilings already prescribed would continue. Where the consumers get the new pay channels, the extent to which the ceilings referred to above can be exceeded would be limited to the rates for the new pay channels.

    On the issue of addressability, as already reported by indiantelevision.com, three models have been proposed. Reason for these options: one system of addressability cannot be feasible for the whole country, though in the long run the system is the best way to bring about transparency in the industry.

    Patrons of indiantelevision.com will probably feel a sense of deja vu when perusing the proposals Trai is putting forward on addressability since they have been already covered extensively under the headlines “Trai out, Govt. in for deciding addressability issue” and “Trai offers government 3 options on CAS”.

    To recap however, this is the gist of what has been detailed in the proposals as far as addressability is concerned:

    1. Making available content on a non-discriminatory basis to all platforms.

    Interestingly, taking a leaf from the telecom industry, the broadcast and cable sector regulator also feels that inter-connect agreements (read commercial agreements) between a local cable op and a MSO, and a MSO and a broadcaster be registered with a designated authority and should be in the public domain in those areas where conditional access system (CAS) would be implemented. As part of this effort, the Authority will also issue shortly an Interconnection Regulation.

    2. The regulation also provides for a minimum of one month’s notice before disconnecting signals. Such notice is also required to be published in two newspapers to give time to the consumers to obtain relief.

  • TDSAT orders Star not to cut feed to Delhi cable op

    TDSAT orders Star not to cut feed to Delhi cable op

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed Star India not to switch off its channel feed to Panchsheel Communication Network Pvt. Ltd., a cable network in Delhi.

    While directing Star India to file a reply by 4 April, TDSAT told M/s. Panchsheel Communication, the petitioner, to pay the monthly subscription for March 2004 on the same basis as was being paid till February 2004, which would translate to as per existing connectivity.

    The matter would be taken up by the tribunal again on 7 April when it will hear similar complaints filed by few other networks.

    Panchsheel Communication Network, operating moved TDSAT under Section 14 and 14A of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, against Star India Pvt. Ltd. on the ground that the latter’s action seeking 58 per cent increase in connectivity (subscriber base), with effect from March 2004, would amount to about 42 per cent increased outflow of subscription money.

    Panchsheel Communication Network Pvt. Ltd., represented by Maninder & Pratibha Singh, argued before the Bench, comprising TDSAT chairman Justice Wadhwa and Vinod Vaish, that the proposed action of Star India. is without any basis and is unjust, arbitrary and illegal. The tribunal was also told that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, though an order dated 15 January, had frozen the cable charges as prevalent on 26 December, 2003.

    Star India counsel, Gopal Jain, opposed the petition and sought time from TDSAT to file reply.

  • B4U to cost Rs 10 post-CAS; 50%+ margin to cable op

    B4U to cost Rs 10 post-CAS; 50%+ margin to cable op

    MUMBAI: MTV India’s pay-driven sister Nickelodeon was the first to declare its rate. Now B4U Movies has announced it will remain a pay-channel after CAS at Rs.10 per subscriber per month. The channel has also stated that it will offer the highest revenue share to the cable operator among all channels.

     
    Since Zee TV has been on record saying it is willing to offer a 50 per cent revenue share, that would mean B4U would have to cross that margin.

    Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Debashis Dey, chief distribution officer, B4U Television Network, said while no definite margin had as yet been worked out, B4U Movies would match and better the best offer in the business. When it was pointed out to him that Zee was ready to offer 50 per cent, Dey confirmed that if 50 per cent was the highest margin in the market, B4U would go higher than that, but did not provide a definite number.

    Kids’ channel Nickelodeon had earlier declared it would cost Rs 3 per subscriber per month and is reportedly ready to offer 30 per cent of subscription revenue to the cable operator.

     
    Offering his views on the vexed CAS issue, Dey said the biggest flaw in the present system was that open architecture and inter-operability had not been mandated as a prerequisite for the set top box. “Ignoring all other areas of controversy, as many friends and consumer bodies are truly concerned and working on the same, CAS defeats it own objective in one big sense – in not providing freedom of choice to the viewers. Unlike the DTH law, which specifies a box with an open architecture and inter-operability, which means that the consumer can buy a box and dish from the market and choose his or her service provider. The same should have been for CAS also, as a closed system of encryption again sponsors monopoly and subsequent unethical practice, be it overhand or underhand. The consumer remains stuck with one MSO, one box and one particular package and totally vulnerable to exploitation, Dey points out. 

    Adds Dey, “The solution remains with the government and it should either specify a set top box with a common interface or a single encryption for the whole country. This will truly give the freedom of choice, to the broadcaster, the operator and the consumer (who can choose any service provider of his or her choice) in every sense. Competition will bring out the best in services, in pricing and in value additions. We are also confident that the cable operators will once again wake up to this call and meet the techno-commercial demand. All of them are very much capable.”

    Dey also made a dig at broadcasters lobbying for the bundling of pay channels (Zee on Saturday said it was petitioning the government towards this end). “Bundling defeats the very essence of CAS and the government should take all necessary steps to put an end to such unethical practices which promote exploitation of viewers and stop such marriage of conveniences between broadcasters, which we are witnessing now.”