ITV

Tag: cable operators

  • DAS Phase III: Govt. insists 76% STB seeding; stakeholders claim huge shortage

    DAS Phase III: Govt. insists 76% STB seeding; stakeholders claim huge shortage

     
     NEW DELHI: The Government has claimed that the percentage achievement of coverage of Digital Addressable System (DAS) Phase III so far is 76 per cent, even as reports from multisystem and local cable operators in various states alleged there was huge shortage of set top boxes.
     
    In fact, the 13th Task Force meeting – the last to be held before the deadline of 31 December – was told that the percentage achievement was 86.25 if Tamil Nadu that has some legal and other issues is excluded. The meeting was told there were only 405 zero seeding areas till the last report.
     
    But reports from MSOs and LCOs to Indiantelevision.com from various parts of the country including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal said there is acute shortage of set top boxes (STBs) and indicated under 50 per cent seeding.
     
    In the 13th Task Force meeting presided over Special Secretary J S Mathur, Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) R Jaya said the number of urban areas to be digitised in Phase lll after updation of 27 States/UTs is 6016. While changes had been made in some urban states on the basis of reports from some state governments and union territories, comments were still awaited from the States/UTs of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Lakshdweep and Dadra Nagar Haveli. 
     
    Out of the 685 areas including West Bengal (where 280 areas were removed soon after the Task Force meeting), 450 areas had less than 1000 TV households and 226 from 1000 to 5000 TV households.
     
    Jaya said out of 510 MSOs registered for Phase lll areas as on the date of the meeting, only 190 MSOs are entering seeding data in the Management Information System (MIS). A total of 135 MSOs have still not logged into MIS and 185 MSOs have logged but have not reported any seeding. She said the Ministry had granted 567 registrations so far. Ninety applications are under process and 35 applications are pending clarifications. Affidavits are awaited from 170 applicants. About 100 applications were received in November and December. 
     
    She said the Home Ministry in July 2015 decided that no security clearance was deemed for issue of registration to MSOs. Since this would involve amendment in the rules, till that time, provisional registrations are being issued by the Ministry. The Joint Secretary further mentioned that the applications are still being received and in some cases the registrations are pending for want of documents. She also mentioned that as informed in the PowerPoint presentation made at the meeting, the MSO dark areas were minimal. 
     
    A Toll free facility has been operational for the last two months and an average of about 500 calls are being received every day over the last 10 days. 
     
    About 400 officers from AIR and Doordarshan have been nominated to inspect the headends of MSOs and in this regard inspection reports have already been received from 50 officers. 
     
    Shortage of STBs and their delivery and pending interconnect agreements with broadcasters as reported by some MSOs, were also mentioned. It was informed that requests had been received from Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and some MSOs for extension in cut-off date for Phase lll of digitisation. 
     
    It was also pointed out that seeding data received from direct to home (DTH) operators was based on PIN codes of places. DTH operators were requested to confirm their data as per the urban areas notified by the Ministry to confirm correct seeding status in Phase lll areas. 
     
    The representative of DTH mentioned that they have at present 16 million active set top boxes and another two million STBs, which shall be activated soon after the 31 December timeline in Phase lll areas. He added that apart from this, four million STBs are catered to by DD Freedish and another eight million by digital cable. He said the the seeding data for each notified phase lll urban area would be sent very shortly. He stated that the data for seeding of 16 million STBs may be taken. 
     
    It was decided that the seeding data may be accepted. Jaya said the data for two million STBs to be activated after the cut-off date shall however be included only after report of their activation is finally received. 
     
    A representative of Ortel Communications mentioned that due to component shortage with STB manufacturers, the delivery of STBs ordered by them is affected despite advance payment made by them. He added that they have seeded 30 per cent of STBs so far and have a stock of about 20 per cent. 
     
    Mathur said the notification for the cut-off date for Phase lll had been issued on 11 September, 2014, which was more than a year ago. Further, several awareness campaigns, Task Force and MSO sub-group meetings and orientation workshops for the State and district Nodal officers have been held during this period. In addition concerned officials of the State Governments including the Chief Secretaries have been sensitised from time to time on the importance of the initiative. Hence there was no case whatsoever to consider any extension in the cut-off date. 
     
    On a query by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) representative about 700 MSOs have single headend for both final phases, Jaya said an advisory was issued to all registered MSOs informing them that in case they have a single control room for Phase lll and Phase lV areas, they must take separate lRDs from broadcasters for taking digital signals in Phase lll areas and analogue signal in Phase lV areas. 
     
    A representative of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said it was made clear in all meetings that analogue signals can not be transmitted in Phase lll areas after 31 December, 2015. MSOs and broadcasters were required to make arrangements in advance for feeding Phase lll and Phase lV areas. He added that as per the interconnect regulations analogue transmission is permitted in Phase lV areas and MSOs and broadcasters should find a technological solution to the problem of segregating the feeds from the same control room. 
     
    When the IBF representative apprehended piracy problems in Phase lll areas, he was told the broadcasters must take action as per the law against those indulging in piracy. He was told that it is their responsibility to ensure that analogue signals are not transmitted in Phase lll areas without affecting transmission of analogue signals in Phase lV areas. 
     
    He was also told that the Ministry will write to all State/UT Governments to take action against those violating the law. Jaya remarked that broadcasters have to cancel the agreements entered by them for analogue signals in Phase lll areas.
     
    The Maharashtra government representative said difficulties have been reported from the field in implementing digitisation in the state within the timelines. 
     
    The Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation representative said about 60 per cent areas in Maharashtra are not served by the national MSOs. He said about one million STBs are to be seeded, which is not possible. He added that 40 registrations are pending to be issued by Ministry. 
     
     
    A representative of consumer organisation Savera said consumers were facing difficulties in redressal of their complaints from the MSOs/LCOs, and suggested the Consumer Affairs Ministry be added for redressal of the complaints. He also suggested that the Ministry may hold workshops on cable TV digitisation in all districts for awareness of the consumers. He was told that 11 workshops were held by Ministry for implementation of Phase lll and similar workshops have been planned to be held in Phase lV also. Besides, five advertisements on separate dates were issued in newspapers pan-India and both News and general entertainment channels (GECs) have been carrying ads and scrolls accordingly for information of all.
  • DTH & cable ops miffed as AAP hikes entertainment tax in Delhi

    DTH & cable ops miffed as AAP hikes entertainment tax in Delhi

    MUMBAI: Delhiites can expect to dole out more cash for their weekly dose of entertainment courtesy the new budget presented by the Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Under the new budget, while entertainment tax (ET) on cable TV and direct to home (DTH) in the national capital has gone up from the current Rs 20 to Rs 40, that for cinema halls has been hiked by 20-40 per cent. This, even as Maharashtra based cable operators, paying a hefty sum of Rs 45 as entertainment tax, are still fighting a case in the Bombay High Court for slashing the taxes, with little respite.

    According to Delhi based cable operators, while there aren’t any issues per se with increasing the entertainment tax, their grouse is that the government should have devised a way of collection from consumers before increasing the ET.

     

    As for now, it is the local cable operator who collects the ET from consumers and then gives it to the multi system operator (MSO). The system sees a number of leakages and blame game. While LCOs lament that the customer does not pay ET, MSOs believe that the LCO fail to pass on the collected ET to them. Since the onus of finally submitting the ET collection to the government is on the MSO, not surprisingly they are held guilty more often than not.

     

    While Delhi fell in phase I of DAS, where interconnect agreement should have been signed and billing started, thus protecting leakages, the same has yet not been achieved. Thus, increasing the ET by Rs 20 seems no less than a burden to both LCOs and MSOs.

     

    “The government can increase the entertainment tax, but then what are the measures it has put in place to be able to facilitate collection,” says Cable Operators Federation of India (COFI) president Roop Sharma.

    Sharma believes that the government should give incentives to cable operators for collecting entertainment tax from consumers. “The LCOs are the biggest sufferers in the whole process as they face the task of extracting this additional amount from their customers,” she adds.

     

    According to a Delhi based MSO, hiking entertainment tax is an unwelcome move. “With the earlier tax system, the exact amount was not being collected and this resulted in the MSOs getting penalized. The LCOs will not be able to collect the extra money from the ground, which will mean that the MSOs will have to pay the remaining from their own pocket,” the MSO tells Indiantelevision.com on condition of anonymity.

     

    The MSO is also of the opinion that while digitization was aimed at bringing in transparency, which ensured lesser leakages, hiking taxes and thus increasing the cable bill was unjustified.

     

    DTH Operators Association of India president and Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said, “The recent announcement of doubling of entertainment tax on cable TV and DTH services made by the Aam Admi Party government seems unfair and illogical. DTH as a platform is considered as critical to citizen’s right to information, news, education and entertainment. The sector is already saddled with high tax, where 33 per cent of revenues are taxed between the Centre and State. DTH operators that comprises Tata Sky, Dish TV, Airtel Digital TV, Videocon d2h, Sun Direct and Reliance Big TV, will have no choice but to hike their tariffs in Delhi to accommodate this hike in entertainment tax and the load will finally fall on the customer. By dropping electricity prices on the one hand and increasing entertainment tax on DTH on the other, does not seem like a move in favour of the aam aadmi! Is this how we plan to achieve a balance budget and reduce fiscal deficit?”

     

    On the other hand, Sharma informs that while the hike in entertainment tax is applicable for private DTH players, DD Freedish has been kept away from it. “Surprisingly the DD Freedish service is not taxed, but the same channels forced upon the cable TV networks will demand a tax. It appears there is no co-ordination between the central and Delhi government and in the bargain the aam aadmi has to suffer,” she adds.

     

    MSOs and DTH players will now have to come up with a campaign to inform consumers of the hike in entertainment tax, so that it is easier to collect from the ground.

     

    This also could be the trigger for going prepaid, something that Mumbai based MSO IMCL has started, where the customers pays for the channels they want to watch in advance. Defaulters, if any, face disconnection of set top boxes. The mechanism can at least help in collection and not make the LCOs or MSOs fall in the defaulter category. However, one thing remains unchanged, which is that the consumer will surely have to have deep pockets for their entertainment needs and demands going forward. 

  • GTPL-KCBPL increases HD channels to 32; to go off free model

    GTPL-KCBPL increases HD channels to 32; to go off free model

    KOLKATA: Kolkata-based multi-system operator (MSO) GTPL-KCBPL, which was offering around 22 High Definition (HD) channels, has increased the offering to 32 channels now. The company, which is airing these HD channels for free now, is looking at charging its 15,000 customers either towards the end of March or in the beginning of the next fiscal (2015-16).

     

    GTPL- KCBPL managing director Bijoy Kumar Agarwal told Indiantelevision.com that the channels launched by the MSO are Star Sports 3HD, Star Ports 4HD, Animal Planet HD, Sony HD, Sony Six HD, Sony Pix HD, &Pictures HD and TLC World HD.

     

    High definition is a different standard of digital television broadcasting, which offers sharper, more detailed pictures and surround sound. Only viewers with an “HD Ready” television set, a special HD set top box receiver and reception of a high definition service will experience true HD programming. High definition programmes are also specially shot.

     

    In 2005, a group of 160 cable operators in a unique manner turned themselves into shareholders and made KCBPL a successful MSO in Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA). While in the year 2010, KCBPL entered into a joint venture with GTPL, which has enabled this new entity to gain strong foothold in the state of West Bengal.

     

    At present the company has more than five lakh set top boxes (STBs) seeded in West Bengal. “We are also betting on increasing the HD boxes from 15,000 currently installed by us,” Agarwal said.

     

    According to Agarwal, there is a lot of scope of increasing HD boxes in certain pockets of the city. “Digitisation of television industry has always been at the centre of our strategies,” he added.

     

    The company’s technology partners include Cisco, Skyworth, Nagravision, Newland and Magnaquest amongst others. “We are in touch with our partners on a regular basis so we can always update and offer latest technology to our customers,” he said.

     

    “After the rollout of digitisation in KMA, which is in first and second phase of digitisation drive, we believe, our partners and viewers stand to benefit from more opportunities, products and value. We are soon going to roll out broadband services in KMA to begin with, which will create more opportunities for our business partners and at the same time with state of the art technologies we will be bringing the best of the services,” he concluded.

  • SC adjourns Doordarshan’s telecast of WC 2015 case to 19 Feb

    SC adjourns Doordarshan’s telecast of WC 2015 case to 19 Feb

    NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati was asked today by the Supreme Court to examine the feasibility of starting a new Doordarshan channel exclusively to telecast 2015 World Cup cricket matches without the compulsion of the must-carry clause.

     

    The bench sought this view on a suggestion made by Star and ESPN who had won a case in Delhi High Court to the effect that Doordarshan should not share the World Cup Cricket telecasts with cable operators.

     

    During the hearing of the appeal by Prasar Bharati which was adjourned to 19 February, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose asked Prasar Bharati to examine the technical feasibility and otherwise of starting a new channel, subscription of which could be regulated for the cable operators.

     

    The Court meanwhile extended the interim order allowing DD to telecast all matches till the next hearing.

     

    The bench also asked Star, ESPN and the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) to give an estimate of losses they were likely to suffer in case DD was permitted to beam matches after sharing live feeds with cable operators.

     

    During the hearing, the bench observed that it wanted people to enjoy cricket matches without any hurdles and that the revenue dispute should be resolved amicably between the parties.

     

    The Court also accepted an intervention by multi-system operator Home Cable through Vikki Choudhary and asked him to file an additional affidavit on the formula suggested by ESPN and Star Sports.

      

    While admitting the case last week, the Apex Court had said in its interim order: “This arrangement of DD showing free feed has been there for the last seven years. Let it continue.” 

     

    In its judgment, the High Court had refused to strike down the must carry clause of 2000 under which cable operators have to carry signals of Doordarshan, and also the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act 2007.

     

    A bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva passed the order on the plea of BCCI, ESPN and Star who had contended that cable TV operators were getting live feeds through DD channels free of cost, resulting in loss of revenue for them.

  • DD can share World Cup signals with cable operators: Supreme Court

    DD can share World Cup signals with cable operators: Supreme Court

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has stayed the order of the Delhi High Court barring Doordarshan from sharing the signals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 with cable operators.

     

    The leave petition will meanwhile be heard on 17 February by when ESPN and Star Sports will submit their replies.

     

    In its judgment, the High Court had refused to strike down the must carry clause under which cable operators have to carry signals of Doordarshan nor the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act 2007.

     

    A bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva passed the order on the plea of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), ESPN and Star who had contended that cable TV operators were getting live feeds through DD channels free of cost, resulting in loss of revenue for them.

     

    In its order, the Court refused to strike down a 2000 notification issued by Prasar Bharati, which made it mandatory for cable operators to carry DD National and DD News channels. Simultaneously, the court also rejected the additional prayers by ESPN Star to strike down Section 3 of the Sports Act, which makes it mandatory for them to share with Prasar Bharati the live feed of sporting events of national importance.

     

    DD officials said the Mandatory Sharing Act was clear that matches would have to be shared with DD on its terrestrial network and via its direct-to-home Freedish. An official said the directive by the Court appeared to be a precautionary measure aimed at warning cable operators who pirate the signals and not Doordarshan.

     

    In the order, the High Court had said, “The appeal as well as writ petition (civil) 8458/2007 are allowed to the extent that the live broadcasting signal shared by ESPN/Star by virtue of the Sports Act with Prasar Bharati, shall not be carried in the designated Doordarshan channels under the must carry obligation cast by the Cable TV Network Act on cable operators. This shall operate prospectively.”

     

    In its directive, the Court had also observed that while the advertisement revenue received by DD in respect of the shared content of the sports channels was to be shared in the ratio of not less than 75:25, “it still does not cater to the loss of subscription revenue” by ESPN and Star.

     

    BCCI, Nimbus Communications Ltd and the two sports channels (ESPN and Star) had challenged the High Court’s single judge November 2007 order rejecting their pleas that no cable television network, Direct-to-Home (DTH) Network, multi-system network or local cable operator could broadcast such sports events without a licence from the content owners.

  • DD to appeal against Delhi HC’s order barring sharing of 2015 WC feed with cable ops

    DD to appeal against Delhi HC’s order barring sharing of 2015 WC feed with cable ops

    NEW DELHI: The countdown to the 2015 Cricket World Cup has begun, and even as teams gear to battle it out on ground, back home, public broadcaster Doordarshan is up for another challenge. This, after the Delhi High Court on 4 February came out with its order which barred Doordarshan from sharing the live feed of the 2015 Cricket World Cup, of which ESPN and Star have the exclusive broadcasting rights, with cable operators.

     

    While this seems like a good news for broadcaster Star India, which could now be hoping for renewing all its distribution deals with multi system operators (MSOs) for its sports channels after its decision of moving to Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) deals; the pubcaster is all set to appeal against this order in the Supreme Court.

     

    As per DD legal experts, an appeal will be filed in the Supreme Court since the directive of the High Court militates against the must-carry clause and the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act 2007.

     

    A Prasar Bharati official confirmed that the matter had been discussed with the legal consultant Rajeev Sharma this morning and the appeal would be filed shortly.  

     

    Several MSOs in the capital also confirmed to indiantelevision.com that they were planning to either file an independent appeal or intervene in the appeal to be filed by Doordarshan or Prasar Bharati.    

     

    A MSO on condition of anonymity said, “The order has come out only yesterday, we are yet to get a copy of the order. Once that happens, we will read it thoroughly and decide on our next move.”

     

    He further added, “As per the law, we have to carry 24 Doordarshan channels, but we do not control the content that is being aired on its channels. We will meet the Ministry to get a clear understanding of what the next move should be.”

     

    A bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva passed the order on the plea of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), ESPN and Star who had contended that cable TV operators were getting live feeds through DD channels free of cost, resulting in loss of revenue for them.

     

    Another MSO said, “Since we are under a mandatory obligation of must- carry of DD channels, it is surprising that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry did not intervene in the matter in the Delhi High Court.”

     

    MSOs and LCOs said that this also violated their fundamental right to do business. MSO and LCO representatives told indiantelevision.com that they feared that they may be forced to shut DD channels at the time of the matches on the ground of technical fault as had often been done previously.

     

    In its order, the Court refused to strike down a 2000 notification issued by Prasar Bharati which made it mandatory for cable operators to carry DD National and DD News channels. Simultaneously, the court also rejected the additional prayers by ESPN Star to strike down section 3 of the Sports Act, which makes it mandatory for them to share with Prasar Bharati the live feed of sporting events of national importance.

     

    DD officials said the Mandatory Sharing Act was clear that matches would have to be shared with DD on its terrestrial network and via its direct-to-home Freedish. An official said the directive by the Court appeared to be a precautionary measure aimed at warning cable operators who pirate the signals and not Doordarshan.

     

    In the order, the Court had said, “The appeal as well as writ petition (civil) 8458/2007 are allowed to the extent that the live broadcasting signal shared by ESPN/STAR by virtue of the Sports Act with Prasar Bharati, shall not be carried in the designated Doordarshan channels under the must carry obligation cast by the Cable TV Network Act on cable operators. This shall operate prospectively.”

     

    In its directive, the Court had observed that while the advertisement revenue received by DD in respect of the shared content of the sports channels was to be shared in the ratio of not less than 75:25, “it still does not cater to the loss of subscription revenue” by ESPN and Star.

     

    BCCI, Nimbus Communications and the two sports channels (ESPN and Star) had challenged the High Court’s single judge November 2007 order rejecting their pleas that no cable television network, Direct-to-Home (DTH) Network, multi-system network or local cable operator could broadcast such sports events without a licence from the content owners.

     

    Broadcaster Star on its part is currently reading the judgment in detail and internal discussions are on. “We need to understand the nuances of the High Court order and then come up with a strategy which is both under law and our business practices,” said a source from Star.

  • TRAI clears platform services offered by local cable ops, subject to conditions and payments

    TRAI clears platform services offered by local cable ops, subject to conditions and payments

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended the establishment of an online system by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to register all the platform services being offered and the registration is on the basis of a simple set of information and at a nominal registration fee of Rs 1000 per channel.

     
    According to the recommendations on the ‘Regulatory Framework for Platform Services’ issued by it, TRAI said distribution platform operators (DPOs) desirous of providing platform services must be incorporated as a company under the Indian Companies Act 2013.

     
    TRAI had issued a consultation paper on ‘Regulatory framework for Platform Services’ on 23 June and the recommendations are based on the responses received from stakeholders. TRAI said there is an urgent need to ensure that these programming services are brought within the four corners of a robust and fair regulatory system that addresses all concerns adequately.

     

    The Ministry in a letter to TRAI on 17 January 2013 sought recommendations of TRAI under section 11 (1) (a) (ii), (iii) and (iv) of TRAI Act, 1997 on the issues related to local ground-based channels of cable TV operators. In addition, through an earlier letter of 2 February 2009, the Ministry had also sought TRAI’s recommendations about such kind of programming services being offered by DTH service providers to their subscribers as well as on the issue of carriage of FM radio channels on the DTH platform.

     
    The Regulator also issued a letter in this connection to the secretary in the Ministry, Bimal Julka.

     
    TRAI has also said a time of 12 months should be given to the DPOs to comply with the guidelines to be issued by the Ministry in this regard.

     
    Prior clearance is required from the district authorities of any local information and local affairs bulletins that may be transmitted.

     
    Platform Services (PS) are programming services/ channels that are owned by the DPO; available only to the subscribers of the DPO’s network; advertisements, if any, on these channels is inserted by the DPO and ad-revenues, therefore, accrue to it. Regular TV channels, howsoever transmitted, and Doordarshan channels which appear on the TV networks, cannot be included in PS. Further, foreign TV channels not registered in India cannot be included in PS.

     
    A maximum number of five PS channels may be offered by the cable operators in non-DAS areas. In DAS areas and for all other platforms, a maximum of 15 PS channels may be offered by the DPOs. These numbers are the number of PS channels to be made available at the subscribers’ end.

     
    In addition to the recommendations on Platform services, the Authority has suo motu made recommendations for a regulatory framework for ground based broadcasters as well. This has been done to ensure that any TV channel that is distributed on any TV network in India is covered by a regulatory framework, whether it is obtained from a satellite-based broadcaster; produced by the network operator or sourced from a terrestrial broadcaster.

     
    The recommendations for the ground-based broadcasters are largely the same as that for the satellite broadcasters, barring the requirements of seeking spectrum and approvals in that regard from Department of Telecom and the Department of Space.

     
    Retransmission of FM radio channels on TV channel distribution networks has been recommended provided that all the legal rights to do so are obtained. However, the Authority has said that this matter will be revisited at a later point in time, once the FM radio industry fully develops in India.

     
    These recommendations have been issued in view of ground based channels being operated at the level of cable TV operators and regarding the kind of programming services being offered by the DTH service providers to their subscribers.

     
    The Authority recommends that no change in the existing FDI limits and Net-worth requirements be made for DPOs offering PS.

     
    In so far as carrying local news and current affairs bulletins on PS is concerned, the following categories will be treated as non-news and current affairs broadcast and will, therefore, be permissible:

     
    (i) Information about local events and other local affairs, sourced locally and not obtained from news agencies or from broadcast news channels/ sources;

    (ii) Information pertaining to sporting events, excluding live coverage. However live commentaries of sporting events of local nature may be permissible, if broadcasting rights for the same are not held by anyone else;

    (iii) Information pertaining to Traffic and Weather;

    (iv) Information pertaining to and coverage of cultural events, festivals;

    (v) Coverage of topics pertaining to examinations, results, admissions, career counseling;

    (vi) Availability of employment opportunities; and

    (vii) Public announcements pertaining to civic amenities like electricity, water supply, natural calamities, health alerts etc. as provided by the local administration.

     
    There are four distinct kinds of channels, though variously described, and with a variety of content, that are being carried on DPO networks. For analytical ease and simplicity these are classified in terms of the source of the channel:  

     
    (a) Private Satellite Channels: These are the traditional satellite broadcast channels, governed by the Uplinking/ Downlinking Guidelines of the Ministry. They carry all genres of programme content.

    (b) Doordarshan Channels: These are the Public Broadcaster’s channels, some of which the TV networks are mandated to carry under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.

    (c) Platform Services (PS) Channels: These are channels owned and operated by the DPOs and distributed to their own subscribers. They are of several kinds and, depending on the design of the network, may or may not be interactive. They offer a fairly wide variety of content to their subscribers. Content generally offered includes local affairs information/news; movies; general entertainment; music; education and religion. The DTH networks offer on-demand services for which the subscriber has to pay extra. These channels include movies/ video on demand, educational channels, interactive channels, etc. While such on-demand channels are at present distributed only by the DTH operators, in the DAS environment MSOs too can provide them.

     
    (d) Ground-based Channels: These channels are akin to the traditional broadcast channels, but with a strong local focus. In the comments received they have generally been referred to as ‘local-channels’ and the producers of such channels have been described as ‘local-channel operators’. In reality they are ground-based broadcasters. These channels offer a variety of content such as local news and information; regional movies and music; religious content, etc. The ground-based broadcaster channels are an integral part of most cable TV networks. Like traditional TV channels, these channels may also be carried on more than one DPO network simultaneously. The owners of these channels transmit the content terrestrially to the headend of the cable TV network, i.e., there is no uplinking or downlinking of the channel and the DPOs retransmit them on commercial terms to the subscribers. Like traditional TV channels, these local-channels also carry advertisements and the ad-revenue obtained usually accrues to the ground-based broadcaster. Consequently, they own the rights for the content carried and are responsible for the same. At present, such channels are not specifically covered under any regulatory framework and the ground-based broadcasters are not formally recognised as a ‘broadcaster’.

     
    The Authority recommended that any DPO offering PS retain, with itself, a recording of all PS channel programmes for a period of 90 days; a written log/register should also be maintained about such programme for a period of one year from the date of broadcast. The recording and the register can be examined by the Authorised Officer and the State/District Monitoring Committee appointed by the MIB as, when and if required. For PS distributed on a pan-India basis MIB should be the monitoring agency.

     
    The Authority recommends that the first violation of the PS Guidelines should lead to prohibition on transmission of the PS channel for a period of up to 30 days; for the second violation, the prohibition on transmission of the PS channel should be for a period of up to 90 days; for the third violation the registration of the PS should be revoked and the PS channel concerned should not be allowed to be transmitted. Consequently, the number of PS channels that the DPO can transmit thereafter will be appropriately reduced.

     
    Considering the smaller reach of some of the ground-based broadcasters, the Authority recommends that a State should be taken as a unit and a reach in 15 or more States should be taken as a pan-India presence. The States that are members of the North Eastern Council (NEC) could be considered to be equivalent to one State, for this purpose.

     

  • “Traditional STBs can no longer handle complex requirements of innovative operators”: Matthias Greve

    “Traditional STBs can no longer handle complex requirements of innovative operators”: Matthias Greve

     

    IPTV is moving from a pure linear product to a complete TV experience with live TV, on demand services and third party content. This new world of connecting the TV to the Internet means both, opportunities and challenges for operators, developers and integrators.

     

    ABOX42, is one of the leading provider of hybrid, IPTV and OTT DVB smart set top boxes (STBs), with five years expertise and knowledge in end-user mass-market products and a deployment of over 120 OTT applications. ABOX42 developed a new generation of smart STBs for the global market. The ABOX42 smart STB platform is the ideal solution for any IPTV and OTT content providers, cable-operators and ISPs, who are aiming to provide an own STB for its services to its customers. The platform was designed for fast moving OTT providers, cable operators, IPTV providers and internet service companies. With its powerful smart SDK, the Smart SaaS Services and additional Smart Solutions, the ABOX42 platform offers its customers a short project cycle, short lead times in production and includes lifecycle management for ongoing software maintenance and service updates.

     

    ABOX42 is taking a new approach with the ABOX42 Smart Platform and its advanced customised IPTV, OTT and Hybrid Smart STBs to solve the most important key challenges by providing the solid hardware foundation and the software features for a unique TV proposition with least cost and low development effort. In an interview, ABOX42 founder and CEO Matthias Greve answers essential questions about the rapidly changing market.

     

    Excerpts:

     

    What role do STBs play now and in future, considering Smart TVs and cloud based services?

     

    Modern STBs like the ABOX42 M-series are designed for local TV applications as well as for emerging cloud based TV services. Since on one hand the operators need to control the user experience and on the other hand need to be ahead of competition with the introduction of new TV features, it will be more than ever mandatory to have a modern, flexible and scalable Set Top Box platform for the first screen TV experience of paying end-users. Smart TVs offer a certain range of OTT applications, but will not replace the main Set Top Box device in end-users home, which provide a unified, rich TV experience on the first and second screen.

     

    Do you see a “SetTopBox-less” future for operators?

     

    There is currently some talk from operators about virtual STBs as SmartTV apps or STBs as CI+ modules. Since there is today no standard for the virtual STB applications and the vast majority of the installed flat screen TV in the household do not support these new applications, the operator still needs to focus on its core STB. This is the device, which can be shipped to all subscribers regardless of the type or age of the TV set.

     

    What view should an operator take on the virtual STB?

     

    The best way to view these issues is to treat the virtual STB like the operator would treat an App on iPad, XBOX or PlayStation. It is an add-on but not the core of the operators TV solution.

     

    What are the challenges of virtual STBs as apps?

     

    With the virtual STB apps within SmartTV, the operator does not have the same freedom on the user interface side. Also the quality of service cannot be guaranteed over the live time of the app. It is out of the operators´ control, how for example future software updates of the SmartTV manufacture might affect the compatibility and proper functioning of the operators TV service.

     

    Also Virtual STB apps are not free of charge and need costly maintenance. If you support different manufactures and different version of TV sets it quickly sums up to 5 to 10 new platforms which have to be supported each year.

     

    What is the major shift in the STB market?

     

    Traditional closed STB platforms are not any longer able to handle the complex requirements of innovative operators. The market will move from old integrated, proprietary STB products to modern SmartSTB platforms where the focus has moved to the software layer. This is a similar shift like we experienced in the last few years with the move from traditional feature phones to modern Smart phones. The same trend we see in the TV middleware segment, where operators want to move from closed propriety systems to open solutions based on modern internet technologies and open standards.

     

    What are the specific operator challenges solely advanced STBs are able to match?

     

    The biggest challenge for operators today is to understand what the difference of new IPTV & OTT solutions is and how the operator can in an effective way get to the target solution in least time.

     

    Basically almost all Cable and Satellite Pay TV operators want to deliver new services like network PVR, VOD and want to add OTT delivery of specific channels to free up bandwidth in their traditional DVB networks. IPTV operators who started several years ago need to upgrade their user experiences from inflexible first and second-generation STB platforms to latest (third) generation. This new generation STB platforms allow the fast development of modern user interfaces, compelling services and the integration of third party services based on HTML5. In addition these new Smart STB platforms are upgradable and much more future proof than legacy STBs.

     

    Do SmartSTBs already match operators´ current and future demands?

     

    SmartSTBs have arrived and delivery of HD live TV channels over the internet with OTT technologies is a market proven technology deployed in the mass market already. A new concept of OTT DVB, allows not only live TV signal delivery over the internet, but to also include multiple audio tracks, classical TeleText, DVB Subtitle as well as modern HbbTV application via HLS streaming.

     

    Will future trends in the operator area be in favour of STBs?

     

    There are two major trends increasing the demand for STBs. Operators who already run an older generation IPTV service plan to upgrade to a latest generation IPTV & OTT solution which is modern and scalable, which can be integrated seamlessly and offers new compelling features (additional OTT services, HbbTV, nPVR, Smart TV applications) and multi-screen capabilities.

     

    Operators without an existing installation who want to move into the TV space with a modern IPTV (or even more often OTT) solution which is easy to role out, does not require long integration work and offers a great first screen experience combined with multi-screen capabilities.

     

    What are the unique possibilities given with OTT solutions and STBs?

     

    OTT is a great opportunity for new players to enter the TV market, or for existing operators and internet service providers to reach new customers and add new features. ABOX42 has been an innovator in the advanced Set Top Box platform field for quite a while and we recognise that our solution is picked by both traditional operators who want to move to a future proof, modern and complete solution, as well we are serving new OTT operators who are entering the TV field with compelling new product offerings and disruptive business models. We see a major increase of our business and getting more and more request from traditional operators.

     

    What distinguishes the new STB generation from the preceding models?

     

    The new SmartSTBs will be able to handle many different standards side by side, such as streaming protocols, DRM and CAS systems. This new SmartSTB generation is HTML5 browser based and much more easier for development. A new focus will become the management of the software lifecycle and cloud services to manage the SmartSTB during the entire lifecycle, like we are all used nowadays with e.g. the iPhone.

     

    What are characteristic innovations in the area of OTT and IPTV technologies?

     

    ABOX42 as innovator in the IPTV & OTT segment is already delivering products, which offer all the latest innovations. This includes support of all major DVB features in both IPTV & OTT, supporting HbbTV services, other OTT services and third party applications with different streaming formats, different DRM systems side by side on the platform. More efficient streaming with H.265 will for sure boost the video quality especially for OTT and will allow more efficient content delivery for operators.

     

    Do SmartSTBs and especially ABOX42 solutions meet the customers´ demands?

     

    ABOX42 is supporting all demanded new features with its Smart SDK and Smart mobile Toolkit for the advanced ABOX42 STB platform. We see this as one of our competitive advantages to provide a broad compatibility to OTT services, streaming formats, DRM systems as well as the support of various TV Middleware solutions.

    This way a network operator can flexibly and easily upgrade all existing customers (digital and analog TV watchers) with new OTT and interactive services such as Catch-Up TV, Video on Demand and many more. ABOX42 offers short project cycles, short production lead times and includes lifecycle management, ongoing software maintenance and service updates.

     

    What are currently the typical demands of ABOX42´s customers?

     

    Depending on legal requirements in a certain country, cloud based recording (network PVR & network timeshift) is the most compelling feature. But also HbbTV offers a great set of additional features and on demand content which is supported by more and more countries / operators. Last but not least ‘Multi-Screen’ applications are getting more and more popular since it is not only about ‘on demand’, but about ‘any place, any time’ nowadays. In general it is all about high quality content and an intuitive user interface. This is what end-users like on the new TV experience.

     

    What are the prospects for a retail market as a channel for multiple services and devices?

     

    We believe the operators including new OTT operators are in the driver’s seat to deploy compelling multi screen solutions to their customers. Most markets are dominated by pay TV offerings by operators. Looking into the hardware devices, already today lots of retail devices (iOS or Android based) can be enabled as a second screen device, where the operator controls the application for these devices (for OTT services). For the main screen (e.g. IPTV), the operator will control and provide as well the hardware device (STB).

  • Centre asks States to ensure Right of Way to cable ops for implementing DAS

    Centre asks States to ensure Right of Way to cable ops for implementing DAS

    NEW DELHI: In a move that will give a sigh of relief to cable operators all over the country, the Centre has written to state governments to give ‘right of way’ to cable operators who want to lay cables or erect posts to complete the work of digital addressable system (DAS).

    In a letter, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said that Section 48 of the Cable television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 is clear in this regard.

    The letter notes that Phase I and II of DAS have been successfully completed and efforts are on to implement the next two phases which have been modified to 31 March 2015 for all other urban areas (Municipal Corporations/Municipalities) and rest of India by 31 December 2015.

    Additional secretary Jitendra Shankar Mathur has in his letter asked the chief secretaries in all states to issue instructions to field officers to extend the facility of ‘right of way’ to the cable operators.

    He has also suggested that copy of his letter may be appended to the instructions to be sent to field officers, and said he was prepared to answer any queries in this regard.

    Sec 48 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act 2011 regarding Right of Way (RoW)

     

    (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any cable operator entitled for providing cable seNices may from time to time lay and establish cables and erect posts under, over, along, across, in or upon any  immovable  property  vested  in or  under  the  control  or  management  of a public authority.

    (2) Any public authority under whose control or management any immovable property is vested may, on receipt of a request from a cable operator,  permit the cable operator  to do all or any of the following acts, namely:-

    a)   to place and maintain underground cables or posts; and

    b)   to enter on the property, from time to time, in order to place, examine, repair, after or remove such cables or posts.

    (3)   The facility of right of way under this section for laying underground cables, and erecting posts, shall be available to all cable operators subject to the obligation of reinstatement or restoration of the property or payment of reinstatement or restoration charges in respect thereof at the option of the public authority.

    (4) When the public authority, in public interest considers it necessary and expedient that the underground cable or post placed by any cable operator under the provisions of this section, should be removed or shifted or its position altered, it may require the cable operator to remove it or shift it or alter its position, as the case may be, at its own cost in the time frame indicated by public authority.

    (5)  The  Central  Government  may  lay  down  appropriate  guidelines  to enable  the  State Governments to put in place an appropriate mechanism for speedy clearance of requests from cable operators for laying cables or erecting posts on any property vested in, or under the control or management of, any public authority and for settlement of disputes, including refusal of permission by the public authority.

    (6) Any permission granted by a public authority under this section may be given subject to such reasonable conditions as that  public  authority thinks fit to impose as to the payment of any expenses, or time or mode of execution of any work, or as to any other matter connected with or related to any work undertaken by the cable operator in exercise of those rights.

    (7)  Nothing in this section shall confer any right upon any cable operator other than that of user for the purpose only of laying underground cable or erecting posts or maintaining them.

     

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

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

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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