ITV

Tag: Consultation

  • MIB gives an extension to broadcasters on TV rating committee’s report

    MIB gives an extension to broadcasters on TV rating committee’s report

    Mumbai: The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has granted an extension on the deadline seeking comments from broadcasters on the report on ‘Guidelines for TV Rating Agencies in India’ till 30 November.

    Major broadcasting associations including the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), News Broadcasters Association (NBA), and News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) have received the report.

    The MIB had reached out to broadcasters earlier in the month seeking their comments by 17 November on the report. The report was submitted by a committee instituted by MIB on 4 November 2020 and led by Prasar Bharati chief executive officer Shashi Shekhar Vempati. The committee submitted its 39-page report in January.

    Govt committee seeks to set up a specialised regulator for media ratings in India

    The comprehensive report highlights 20 recommendations of the committee to restore faith in the integrity of the TV rating system in India. The committee was formed in response to the TRP scam that broke out in October last year where three TV channels were named by Mumbai Police for allegedly tampering with rating data.

    As reported previously by Indiantelevision.com, the recommendations made by the committee in their report were aimed towards strengthening corporate governance at Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) India which is the premier TV audience measurement company in the country. There were also recommendations pertaining to the technical aspects of the TV measurement system like the use of return-path data (RPD), instituting a regulatory mechanism for media rating agencies, adopting an open data ecosystem, and moving towards hybrid audience measurement.

    The four-member committee included IIT Kanpur professor of the statistics department of mathematics and statistics Dr Shalabh, C-DOT executive director Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay and Decision Sciences Centre for Public Policy professor Pulak Ghosh.

  • Open House Discussion by TRAI on Quality of Service in DAS

    Open House Discussion by TRAI on Quality of Service in DAS

    NEW DELHI: With consumers and service providers still to get a full experience of digital addressable systems and the various rules relating to it, an Open House Discussion has been organized by the the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India late this week on Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection.

    Earlier in mid-June, Trai had extended its last date for receiving comments on its Consultation Paper of 18 May 2016 on the issue on the subject to 1 July with counter-comments by 8 July 2016.

    The Discussion is in Delhi on the afternoon of 28 July at the India International Centre.

    As the country moves towards the final phase of digital addressable systems, TRAI wanted to know if there should be a uniform regulatory framework for quality of service and consumer protection across all digital addressable platforms.

    TRAI had also sought opinion of stakeholders on the standards and essential technical parameters for ensuring good quality of service for Digital Cable TV, Direct-to-home (DTH), head-end in the sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

    In over fifty questions posed to stakeholders, it wanted to know the broad contours for Quality of Service Regulatory Framework for digital addressable systems.

    The regulator had asked if timelines relating to various activities to get new connection should be left to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to be transparently declared to the subscribers. What should be the time limits for various activities including consumer application form and installation and activation of service for new connections, it wanted to know.

    Referring to a query often asked by stakeholders, the regulator wanted to know if the minimum essential information to be included in the CAF should be mandated through regulations to maintain basic uniformity. Should the use of e-CAF be facilitated, encouraged or mandated, it had asked.

  • Open House Discussion by TRAI on Quality of Service in DAS

    Open House Discussion by TRAI on Quality of Service in DAS

    NEW DELHI: With consumers and service providers still to get a full experience of digital addressable systems and the various rules relating to it, an Open House Discussion has been organized by the the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India late this week on Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection.

    Earlier in mid-June, Trai had extended its last date for receiving comments on its Consultation Paper of 18 May 2016 on the issue on the subject to 1 July with counter-comments by 8 July 2016.

    The Discussion is in Delhi on the afternoon of 28 July at the India International Centre.

    As the country moves towards the final phase of digital addressable systems, TRAI wanted to know if there should be a uniform regulatory framework for quality of service and consumer protection across all digital addressable platforms.

    TRAI had also sought opinion of stakeholders on the standards and essential technical parameters for ensuring good quality of service for Digital Cable TV, Direct-to-home (DTH), head-end in the sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

    In over fifty questions posed to stakeholders, it wanted to know the broad contours for Quality of Service Regulatory Framework for digital addressable systems.

    The regulator had asked if timelines relating to various activities to get new connection should be left to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to be transparently declared to the subscribers. What should be the time limits for various activities including consumer application form and installation and activation of service for new connections, it wanted to know.

    Referring to a query often asked by stakeholders, the regulator wanted to know if the minimum essential information to be included in the CAF should be mandated through regulations to maintain basic uniformity. Should the use of e-CAF be facilitated, encouraged or mandated, it had asked.

  • TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    NEW DELHI: With consumers still to get a full experience of digital addressable systems and the various rules relating to it, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has agreed to extend the last date for receipt on comments on its consultation paper on ‘Issues related to Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection’.

    Stakeolders can now send in their comments by 1 July and any counter-comments by 8 July 2016 to the paper issued on 18 May 2016. The earlier date was 17 June for receipt of comments and 1 July 2016 for counter comments.

    As the country moves towards the final phase of digital addressable systems, TRAI wants to know if there should be a uniform regulatory framework for quality of service and consumer protection across all digital addressable platforms.

    TRAI has also sought opinion of stakeholders on the standards and essential technical parameters for ensuring good quality of service for Digital Cable TV, Direct-to-home (DTH), head-end in the sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

    In over fifty questions posed to stakeholders, it wants to know the broad contours for Quality of Service Regulatory Framework for digital addressable systems.

    The regulator has asked if timelines relating to various activities to get new connection should be left to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to be transparently declared to the subscribers. What should be the time limits for various activities including consumer application form and installation and activation of service for new connections, it wants to know.

    Referring to a query often asked by stakeholders, the regulator wants to know if the minimum essential information to be included in the CAF should be mandated through regulations to maintain basic uniformity. Should the use of e-CAF be facilitated, encouraged or mandated, it has asked.

    TRAI wants to know if an initial subscription period can be charged while providing a new connection to protect the interest of subscribers as well as DPOs, and the protections for subscribers and DPOs during initial subscription period.

  • TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    NEW DELHI: With consumers still to get a full experience of digital addressable systems and the various rules relating to it, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has agreed to extend the last date for receipt on comments on its consultation paper on ‘Issues related to Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection’.

    Stakeolders can now send in their comments by 1 July and any counter-comments by 8 July 2016 to the paper issued on 18 May 2016. The earlier date was 17 June for receipt of comments and 1 July 2016 for counter comments.

    As the country moves towards the final phase of digital addressable systems, TRAI wants to know if there should be a uniform regulatory framework for quality of service and consumer protection across all digital addressable platforms.

    TRAI has also sought opinion of stakeholders on the standards and essential technical parameters for ensuring good quality of service for Digital Cable TV, Direct-to-home (DTH), head-end in the sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

    In over fifty questions posed to stakeholders, it wants to know the broad contours for Quality of Service Regulatory Framework for digital addressable systems.

    The regulator has asked if timelines relating to various activities to get new connection should be left to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to be transparently declared to the subscribers. What should be the time limits for various activities including consumer application form and installation and activation of service for new connections, it wants to know.

    Referring to a query often asked by stakeholders, the regulator wants to know if the minimum essential information to be included in the CAF should be mandated through regulations to maintain basic uniformity. Should the use of e-CAF be facilitated, encouraged or mandated, it has asked.

    TRAI wants to know if an initial subscription period can be charged while providing a new connection to protect the interest of subscribers as well as DPOs, and the protections for subscribers and DPOs during initial subscription period.

  • TRAI issues DTH licensing consultation paper; Dish TV given extension

    TRAI issues DTH licensing consultation paper; Dish TV given extension

    NEW DELHI : Currently, India has six pay DTH operators, apart from the free-to-air DD Direct Plus operated by Doordarshan. Dish TV, was the first DTH licencee which got the wireless operating licence (WOL) for starting its DTH services on 1 October 2003. The other five DTH operators got the WOLs during 2006 to 2008. Dish TV‘s licence was due to expire on 30 September 2013. The DTH Guidelines are silent on the course of action to be adopted after expiry of the 10 year licence period.

    As the time left before the due date of expiry of the licence period for the first licencee (Dish TV) was ‘simply not sufficient for TRAI to follow the due consultation process,‘ it suggested some interim measures on 11 September to the Minister for the protection of the interests of consumers and keeping in view the large subscriber base of the said licencee.

    It was suggested that, in the interim, the Ministry may consider allowing Dish TV to continue its operations/services on the existing terms and conditions subject to Dish TV renewing the existing bank guarantee and a suitable undertaking that once the final policy in this regard is laid down by the government, the said DTH operator will comply with that policy for the interim period also. Any financial obligations arising from the change in policy shall also be honoured.

    The existing DTH Guidelines provide for the issue of a licence for 10 years. They do not explicitly provide for an extension or a renewal, implying that at the end of the 10-year period of validity, the licence expires.

    TRAI has noted that ‘starting a DTH business entails a huge investment of resources. It would, therefore, be a reasonable expectation on the part of DTH licencees that, on the expiry of the initial 10 year licence, they would be eligible to apply for issue of a new licence so that they can continue their business.‘

    DTH broadcasting services were opened up in the country in 2001. On 15 March 2001, the government issued the ‘Guidelines for obtaining licence for providing Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasting service in India’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘DTH Guidelines’). These guidelines prescribe the eligibility criteria, the procedure for obtaining the licence to set up and operate DTH services in India, and the basic terms and conditions/obligations reposed in the operators.

    After a company applies for a licence, the Ministry obtains the security clearance from the Home Ministry and clearance for usage of satellite from the Department of Space. Once the clearances are obtained, the player is asked to pay the entry fee of Rs 10 crore. On payment of the entry fee, the Ministry communicates its intent to the applicant to issue a licence, after which it needs to approach the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) for Standing Advisory Committee for Frequency Allocation (SACFA) clearance. Once the SACFA clearance is obtained, the company has to give a bank guarantee of Rs 40 crore and sign the licence agreement with the Ministry.

    After this, the company has to apply to WPC for obtaining the WOL. The duration of the DTH licence is 10 years from the date of issue of the WOL. Licences to establish, maintain and operate the DTH platform are granted under Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885, and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933.