ITV

Tag: cable

  • Disney plays Fun Indiagames with Den

    Disney plays Fun Indiagames with Den

    MUMBAI: Indian Cable Television Distribution Company Den Network Limited and Disney India’s gaming arm Indiagames have launched ‘Fun Games,’ a subscription based gaming service. The service will offer a range of exciting games from the catalogue of Indiagames branded titles.

    Den Networks CEO SN Sharma said, “Disney India is to launch exciting games for kids under the name of Den Fun Games.’’

    Further, he emphasized, “At Den, we give the best value for money by using the most advanced technology.”

    “Today, MSOs reach out to major population in India and, by collaborating with Den, we are able to popularize our gaming content amongst them,” said Disney India – interactive, VP and head, Sameer Ganapathy.

    Den’s Fun Games offers three games which will be refreshed regularly for players to acquire new skills. The games include Egg Jump, Mailbox and Tower of Hanoi and are available for monthly Rs 45 and quarterly Rs 90 subscriptions.

  • ItzCash gets bullish on DTH, cable, movie and mobile bookings

    ItzCash gets bullish on DTH, cable, movie and mobile bookings

    MUMBAI: Essel group company and digital payments facilitator ItzCash generates around 20 per cent to 22 per cent of its Rs 3,000 crore business from satellite cable / DTH recharge by subscribers for Dish TV. Now the company has set itself a scorching growth target of 42 per cent per annum as it bids to notch up business worth Rs 5,000 crore by 2018.

    It is banking on the rapid growth in pay TV subscriptions, its new strategic partnerships with India’s largest online ticketing entertainment brand Bookmyshow, mobile bookings and Zee TV group’s on the go OTT platform dittoTV to help it get to that target.

    BookMyShow has added a new Cash Top-Up feature to its ‘MyWallet’ to make it even easier for everyone to transact on the app or website. The partnership allows users to recharge their MyWallet by paying cash at the nearest ItzCash World outlet. While in its partnership with dittoTV, the company aims to capitalise on its offline network to offer revolutionary Rs 20 easy-recharge for monthly subscription.

    Says ItzCash chief growth officer Bhavik Vasa, “Our partnership with BookMyShow and dittoTV will benefit the larger sections of the society while enhancing customer experience. While with these tie-ups, our partners will leverage our deep entrenched retail network, we plan to aggressively build on our customer base in the online entertainment industry.”

    ItzCash has a presence across various segments serving 35 million consumers having 110 million accounts and over 75,000 franchisees branded as “ItzCash World” in 3000 plus cities and towns.

    To be fair, the company has been growing at 40 per cent per annum year on year in the entertainment sector. And that’s what’s making Vasa that much more confident.

    Says he: “ India is fast becoming a digital country and will soon be the world’s second largest market with 650 million internet users and 520 million smart phone users by 2020 as per a recent Google-BGC Digital Payments report. The food and entertainment sector tops the list of adoption and growth of digital payments.”

    Adds BookmyShow vice-president business intelligence and marketing Marzdi Kalianiwala: “At BookMyShow, we believe in customising our offerings to address the needs of our consumers. While acceptance for online payments is on the rise, a significant set of users still remain to be apprehensive about it, either due to lack of proper internet infrastructure facilities or security concerns, which prevents them from actively using BookMyShow to meet their entertainment demands. By introducing Cash Top-Up to our ‘MyWallet’, we are eliminating these barriers and extending our services to those who prefer cash as their preferred mode of payment. We are delighted to partner with ItzCash, which will enable users book tickets on the BMS app and website without having to use their credit/debit cards or net banking.”

  • ItzCash gets bullish on DTH, cable, movie and mobile bookings

    ItzCash gets bullish on DTH, cable, movie and mobile bookings

    MUMBAI: Essel group company and digital payments facilitator ItzCash generates around 20 per cent to 22 per cent of its Rs 3,000 crore business from satellite cable / DTH recharge by subscribers for Dish TV. Now the company has set itself a scorching growth target of 42 per cent per annum as it bids to notch up business worth Rs 5,000 crore by 2018.

    It is banking on the rapid growth in pay TV subscriptions, its new strategic partnerships with India’s largest online ticketing entertainment brand Bookmyshow, mobile bookings and Zee TV group’s on the go OTT platform dittoTV to help it get to that target.

    BookMyShow has added a new Cash Top-Up feature to its ‘MyWallet’ to make it even easier for everyone to transact on the app or website. The partnership allows users to recharge their MyWallet by paying cash at the nearest ItzCash World outlet. While in its partnership with dittoTV, the company aims to capitalise on its offline network to offer revolutionary Rs 20 easy-recharge for monthly subscription.

    Says ItzCash chief growth officer Bhavik Vasa, “Our partnership with BookMyShow and dittoTV will benefit the larger sections of the society while enhancing customer experience. While with these tie-ups, our partners will leverage our deep entrenched retail network, we plan to aggressively build on our customer base in the online entertainment industry.”

    ItzCash has a presence across various segments serving 35 million consumers having 110 million accounts and over 75,000 franchisees branded as “ItzCash World” in 3000 plus cities and towns.

    To be fair, the company has been growing at 40 per cent per annum year on year in the entertainment sector. And that’s what’s making Vasa that much more confident.

    Says he: “ India is fast becoming a digital country and will soon be the world’s second largest market with 650 million internet users and 520 million smart phone users by 2020 as per a recent Google-BGC Digital Payments report. The food and entertainment sector tops the list of adoption and growth of digital payments.”

    Adds BookmyShow vice-president business intelligence and marketing Marzdi Kalianiwala: “At BookMyShow, we believe in customising our offerings to address the needs of our consumers. While acceptance for online payments is on the rise, a significant set of users still remain to be apprehensive about it, either due to lack of proper internet infrastructure facilities or security concerns, which prevents them from actively using BookMyShow to meet their entertainment demands. By introducing Cash Top-Up to our ‘MyWallet’, we are eliminating these barriers and extending our services to those who prefer cash as their preferred mode of payment. We are delighted to partner with ItzCash, which will enable users book tickets on the BMS app and website without having to use their credit/debit cards or net banking.”

  • Research and Markets’ World DTH TV Update for 2015

    Research and Markets’ World DTH TV Update for 2015

    MUMBAI: What’s driving DTH subscriber growth globally? According to research firm, Research and Markets’ (R&M’s) latest report, World DTH Market End 2015, almost one third of pay TV satellite growth is a result of telecom companies making DTH offers.

    Telecoms players’ foray into extending their current portfolios along with strategy of selling bundles is the reason behind this..

    The market research outfit says that DTH television is growing in all regions, excepting in the US where it has gone down. Latin America has added the maximum DTH subs growing from 14 million in 2010 to 35 million in 2015 – a compounded annual growth rate of 20 per cent.

    Next to Latin America the other region growing fast is APAC at a CAGR of 17 per cent followed by Middle-East Africa (MEA) at a CAGR of 15 per cent. Europe has grown at a CAGR of 5 per cent for 2010-15.

    The author has tracked tracks TV subscribers quarterly based on technology type – Cable, DTT, IPTV and DTH. The report analyses the DTH pay TV subscribers globally and the share of telecom operators in the DTH space.

  • Research and Markets’ World DTH TV Update for 2015

    Research and Markets’ World DTH TV Update for 2015

    MUMBAI: What’s driving DTH subscriber growth globally? According to research firm, Research and Markets’ (R&M’s) latest report, World DTH Market End 2015, almost one third of pay TV satellite growth is a result of telecom companies making DTH offers.

    Telecoms players’ foray into extending their current portfolios along with strategy of selling bundles is the reason behind this..

    The market research outfit says that DTH television is growing in all regions, excepting in the US where it has gone down. Latin America has added the maximum DTH subs growing from 14 million in 2010 to 35 million in 2015 – a compounded annual growth rate of 20 per cent.

    Next to Latin America the other region growing fast is APAC at a CAGR of 17 per cent followed by Middle-East Africa (MEA) at a CAGR of 15 per cent. Europe has grown at a CAGR of 5 per cent for 2010-15.

    The author has tracked tracks TV subscribers quarterly based on technology type – Cable, DTT, IPTV and DTH. The report analyses the DTH pay TV subscribers globally and the share of telecom operators in the DTH space.

  • Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    NEW DELHI: At a time when the last phase of the digital addressable system for cable TV is gathering momentum, the government cleared just under forty multi system operators over the past month, taking the total to 792 including 231 which have permanent (ten-year licences) by 26 February.

    The last list issued on 26 February had put the total at 753 including the 231 which have permanent (ten-year) licences. The Information and Broadcasting had by 12 January cancelled the licences of 26 MSOs and closed their cases.

    According to the list issued today but dated till 26 March, the areas of operation of some of the MSOs have been revised or amended. None of the 39 new licencees have got pan-India registration, though some have the registration to cover a particular state and most have only clearances for some districts. The new registrations are for from Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu Gujarat, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Chhatisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

    With the home ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs’ not being communicated in writing to the MIB, the pace remains slow.

    The permanent licence issued to Kal Cable of Chennai had been cancelled on 20 August, 2014 but this cancellation was set aside by the Madras high court on 5 September the same year. However, Kal Cable’s name continues to be in the cancelled list – presumably because the cases are still pending.

    Sources said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

  • Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    NEW DELHI: At a time when the last phase of the digital addressable system for cable TV is gathering momentum, the government cleared just under forty multi system operators over the past month, taking the total to 792 including 231 which have permanent (ten-year licences) by 26 February.

    The last list issued on 26 February had put the total at 753 including the 231 which have permanent (ten-year) licences. The Information and Broadcasting had by 12 January cancelled the licences of 26 MSOs and closed their cases.

    According to the list issued today but dated till 26 March, the areas of operation of some of the MSOs have been revised or amended. None of the 39 new licencees have got pan-India registration, though some have the registration to cover a particular state and most have only clearances for some districts. The new registrations are for from Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu Gujarat, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Chhatisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

    With the home ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs’ not being communicated in writing to the MIB, the pace remains slow.

    The permanent licence issued to Kal Cable of Chennai had been cancelled on 20 August, 2014 but this cancellation was set aside by the Madras high court on 5 September the same year. However, Kal Cable’s name continues to be in the cancelled list – presumably because the cases are still pending.

    Sources said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

  • Hathway Cable and Datacom launches E-KYC

    Hathway Cable and Datacom launches E-KYC

    MUMBAI: Hathway Cable and Datacom announced the launch of electronic KYC that will strengthen the create efficiency in the KYC process as defined and stipulated by TRAI.

    With the launch of electronic KYC, Hathway says that it endorses regulatory compliance with TRAI regarding completion of customer requisition form by the customer in a digitized format. With the electronic KYC, the entire distribution chain including the LCO will be able to easily store millions of forms at a lower operational cost, thus, simplifying Hathway’s daily business and improving customer relationships.

    This digital technology is also aimed at upgrading LCO partners and helping them to align with the current trends and service consumers effectively.  The electronic KYC feature also enables updation of customer details including proof of identity, proof of address and customer’s digital photograph by using an APP, at the same time activating the customer’s set top box in real time basis.

    The detailed process flow includes authenticating customers through their digital signature on a smartphone or via an OTP generated on the registered mobile number which is followed by the CRF being generated. The same will be circulated to the customer in person and also stored digitally, which can be easily accessed by the LCO as well.

    This environment-friendly initiative eliminates the need to print large number of paper forms in a fast growing digital world, thus, proving time-consuming and effective measure keeping in mind the ever increasing digital cable subscriber universe.Recently, Hathway launched a breakthrough initiative with an LCO portal Hathway Connect that aims to redefine and transform business dynamics and  further strengthen the role of the LCO in the distribution chain.

    Commenting on the E-KYC initiative,Hathway  video business president TS Panesar said, “Over the past year, Hathway has taken some defining steps in transforming the way the cable industry operates and with the launch of the E-KYC process, we truly comply with TRAI’s directive in easing out customer experience which will prove to be an important stepping-stone. It also coincides with ‘Hathway Connect’-our online portal for LCOs, which will overall help our LCO partners and  make their business operations more convenient. By upgrading the LCOs with E-KYC, our endeavour is to give our consumers, a world class and seamless experience from the word go.”

  • Hathway Cable and Datacom launches E-KYC

    Hathway Cable and Datacom launches E-KYC

    MUMBAI: Hathway Cable and Datacom announced the launch of electronic KYC that will strengthen the create efficiency in the KYC process as defined and stipulated by TRAI.

    With the launch of electronic KYC, Hathway says that it endorses regulatory compliance with TRAI regarding completion of customer requisition form by the customer in a digitized format. With the electronic KYC, the entire distribution chain including the LCO will be able to easily store millions of forms at a lower operational cost, thus, simplifying Hathway’s daily business and improving customer relationships.

    This digital technology is also aimed at upgrading LCO partners and helping them to align with the current trends and service consumers effectively.  The electronic KYC feature also enables updation of customer details including proof of identity, proof of address and customer’s digital photograph by using an APP, at the same time activating the customer’s set top box in real time basis.

    The detailed process flow includes authenticating customers through their digital signature on a smartphone or via an OTP generated on the registered mobile number which is followed by the CRF being generated. The same will be circulated to the customer in person and also stored digitally, which can be easily accessed by the LCO as well.

    This environment-friendly initiative eliminates the need to print large number of paper forms in a fast growing digital world, thus, proving time-consuming and effective measure keeping in mind the ever increasing digital cable subscriber universe.Recently, Hathway launched a breakthrough initiative with an LCO portal Hathway Connect that aims to redefine and transform business dynamics and  further strengthen the role of the LCO in the distribution chain.

    Commenting on the E-KYC initiative,Hathway  video business president TS Panesar said, “Over the past year, Hathway has taken some defining steps in transforming the way the cable industry operates and with the launch of the E-KYC process, we truly comply with TRAI’s directive in easing out customer experience which will prove to be an important stepping-stone. It also coincides with ‘Hathway Connect’-our online portal for LCOs, which will overall help our LCO partners and  make their business operations more convenient. By upgrading the LCOs with E-KYC, our endeavour is to give our consumers, a world class and seamless experience from the word go.”

  • Encourage greater indigenous STB production with tax holiday in budget for DAS to succeed

    Encourage greater indigenous STB production with tax holiday in budget for DAS to succeed

    NEW DELHI: With the Government hoping to achieve complete digitisation of the cable television sector by the end of this calendar year, it is imperative that the Union Budget for 2016-17 being presented on Monday has important concessions for the industry.

    Perhaps the most important step would be to give infrastructure status to the Broadcast, Cable and direct-to-home (DTH) sector so that it gets all the benefits and incentives available for infrastructure industry including the availability of finance at a concessional rate.

    Though the government claims more than 90 per cent seeding of set top boxes (STBs) in all urban areas covered under Phase III of digital addressable system (DAS) – a figure disputed by most private stakeholders, it is important that the budget should give some concessions that benefit the sector particularly as far as set top boxes go.

    While the Make in India or Digital India initiatives have failed to encourage many indigenous manufacturers of STBs, it is necessary not merely to give some tax concessions under these two schemes but also a tax holiday for some years for those who venture to beat the sale of Chinese STBs and encourage Indian STBs.

    Earlier, the Entertainment Wing of FICCI had said in a pre-budget memorandum to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that the sector should be allowed tax concessions under Section 80-IA of the Income Tax Act.

    As the digitisation process and the deployment of STBs are heavy capital oriented sectors needing large investments, FICCI had said they should be allowed to set off accumulated losses and unabsorbed depreciation allowances to be carried forward as per Section 72 A of the Act.

    One way of giving greater encouragement to indigenous STBs is to give the broadcast industry the same benefits that the manufacturing sector gets.

    FICCI had in fact also said that the rate of taxes, which range from 30 – 70 per cent, especially the entertainment tax imposed by the states, over and above the service tax are punitive in nature. It is important that the overall taxation level is brought down for the sector as a whole.

    State Entertainment tax legislations levy high taxes on the subscription earned by cable operators and DTH operators. The non-availability of credit of central taxes against the state taxes and vice versa increases the tax burden on the entertainment industry.

    In addition to this, the Central Government has levied service tax at 14 per cent on the transfer of copyrights, which is already being taxed as ‘goods’ under the various state VAT legislations.

    There is therefore need to rationalise taxes or rush through the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Bill to bring parity and clear snags in taxation.

    With so many cases pending before TDSAT and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) constantly being impleaded in such matters, the Government should provide a clarification that the payments made towards carriage fees are not in the nature of royalty or fees for technical services and TDS is required to be made on such payments as per section 194C of the Act.

    The Indian media and entertainment industry grew from Rs 918 billion in 2013 to Rs 1026 billion in 2014, registering an overall growth of 11.7 per cent. The industry is estimated to achieve a growth rate of 13 per cent in 2015 to touch Rs 1159 billion. The sector is projected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 13.9 per cent to reach Rs 1964 billion by 2019.

    The benefits of Phase I and II of DAS rollout, and continued Phase III rollout are expected to contribute significantly to strong continued growth in the TV sector revenues and its ability to invest in and monetise content. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.5 per cent over the period 2015-2019.