ITV

Tag: DAS

  • After Tamil Nadu, Karnataka state govt eyes cable TV business

    After Tamil Nadu, Karnataka state govt eyes cable TV business

    MUMBAI: Even though the demand for getting the Digital Addressable System (DAS) licence for J Jayalalithaa run Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV) is still pending with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B), there is another state government that is looking at entering the cable TV industry.

    The Karnataka state government Minister for Information, Public Relations and Infrastructure R Roshan Baig has been making headlines after his conference where he expressed interest in setting up cable television system, provided the Centre permitted it.  In the meeting, the Minister said that the Ministry has been receiving complaints from consumers who have to pay Rs 400-Rs 500 for cable TV service.

    Baig in the conference, while applauding the model of Arasu Cable in Tamil Nadu, said that the Karnataka government will also apply the same module, where consumers won’t be paying more than Rs 100 per month for the cable TV channels.  
    In response to the statement, Karnataka State Cable TV Operators’ Association (KSCOA) met the Minister to apprise him of the situation. “We told him that in the Rs 70 that Arasu charges for its services, it gives only free to air and regional channels, while the others give all the leading channels, which is what the consumers want,” informs Karnataka State Cable TV Operators’ Association spokesperson Sudhish Kumar adding that they have also addressed the matter to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Rahul Khullar.

    “Khullar in his address to the media has already made it clear that any government body or agency getting into the cable TV or distribution business is against the rules,” adds Kumar.

    “But, if it still happens, we will move the court,” he states.

    The association has suggested that the government could through DD Freedish give cable services at a lower tariff.

    The multi system operators (MSOs) in the region are shocked with even the new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam backing the demand for DAS licence for Arasu Cable.

    In order to ensure that the Karnataka government does not get the nod from the Centre, the South Indian Federation will be meeting the I&B Minister Arun Jaitley. “We are seeking his appointment and could be meeting him between 21 January to 23 January,” informs Kumar while adding that they want the I&B Minister to come out with his clear statement on the matter.

     

  • Govt does not have details of revenue generated by sale of CAS, DAS: Rathore

    Govt does not have details of revenue generated by sale of CAS, DAS: Rathore

    NEW DELHI: The Government has said that there was no provision under the present digital addressable system regulations or the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 for any assistance or relief to cable TV subscribers to buy set top boxes (STBs).

     
    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has told the Parliament that the Ministry had assessed the requirement of STBs to be installed at the customer premises, based on Population Census 2011.

     
    Thus, a total of 140 million STBs were required to implement cable TV digitisation in the country. Out of this, 30 million STBs had already been installed under phase I and phase II and the balance 110 million are required to be installed in the remaining two phases which are under implementation.

     
    He said the Ministry does not make any assessment with regard to quantum of revenue generation arising out of sale of CAS and DAS.

     
    He said according to a notification issued on 11 November 2011 issued by the Ministry, digitisation of cable TV in India is to be completed in four phases. Phase I and phase-II of digitisation have already been completed.

     
    Phase III is to be completed by 31 December 2015 whereas phase IV is to be completed by 31 December 2016.

     

  • Petition challenging TRAI tariff on DAS to be heard on 8 December

    Petition challenging TRAI tariff on DAS to be heard on 8 December

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) will hear the petition by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) challenging the DAS tariff order issued in July by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) relating to commercial subscribers on 8 December.

    The matter was to be heard in the Tribunal on 5 December but was pushed for next week because the bench was busy dealing with another part-heard case.

     In the last hearing in October, Counsel Abhishek Malhotra, who represents the IBF, had wanted time to file a rejoinder to the reply filed by TRAI following a notice in this regard in September.

     In the tariff order, TRAI had said commercial establishments, who do not specifically charge its clients/guests on account of providing/showing television programmes and offer such services as part of amenities, are to be treated like ordinary subscribers wherein the charges would be on per television basis.

     In cases where commercial subscribers specifically charge its clients/guests on account of providing/showing television programmes, the tariff would be as mutually agreed between the broadcaster and the commercial subscriber.

     TRAI had also said that the commercial subscriber was to obtain television service only from a distribution platform operator (MSO/DTH Operator/IPTV operator/HITS operator).

     The tariff order amendment has been brought out as per the directions of the Supreme Court. It is expected that with the coming into force of these changes in the regulatory framework, the distribution of TV services to the commercial subscribers would be streamlined and the services would be available to them at competitive rates.

     

  • TRAI is working on amending QoS regulation: N Parameswaran

    TRAI is working on amending QoS regulation: N Parameswaran

    MUMBAI: It has been nearly three months since the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) came up with its consultation paper on levying financial disincentives on multi system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) who are delaying the process of billing in the digital addressable system (DAS) areas of the country.

    Although it has been long since the deadlines for commencement of billing in DAS areas got over, there is no clue on how the whip will be cracked on those who haven’t gone beyond installing set top boxes in phase I and II.

    TRAI principal advisor N Parameswaran says, “We are in the process of working on the amendment to the Quality of Service (QoS) regulation. The comments have come and we are yet to take a final decision on the same.”

    Meanwhile, the MSOs that indiantelevision.com spoke to have said that billing has happened only in few areas of New Delhi and Kolkata while the remaining cities in DAS phase III and IV don’t even have proper consumer application forms (CAFs).

    TRAI earlier had said that it is seeking to implement financial penalties on those MSOs and LCOs who defy the law. Comments had been asked from stakeholders on the same. The regulator had also said that for non-compliance of issuing bills, a disincentive of not exceeding Rs 20 per subscriber will be levied on the MSO and/or its linked cable operator and for the second time, penalty would be Rs 50. “For non-compliance of regulations, Rs 100 will be levied on each MSO for each contravention. If the MSO and LCO have entered into an agreement, both of them will be penalised for faults while in the case of no deal being signed, only the MSO is liable to pay,” TRAI had said.

    As per the consultation paper, the amendment, when approved, will come into effect 30 days from the date of publication.

     

  • Bibhash Jha quits Star Sports, joins Siti Cable

    Bibhash Jha quits Star Sports, joins Siti Cable

    MUMBAI: Multi system operator (MSO) Siti Cable has roped in Bibhash Jha as its head-content & carriage. Jha in his capacity will provide a fillip to the growth momentum of Siti Cable. The MSO is taking giant strides in this exciting phase of digitisation and Jha will play an instrumental role in this leap from analog to absolute digitisation.

     

    Jha has over 20 years of distribution work experience with 15 years at Star Sports India, where he played an instrumental role in the transition of ESPN channel to Star Sports India. In 2007, he played a key role in the launch of new sports channel Star Cricket. Under his ambit, a separate vertical of MSO business was created which was profitable in its very first year of operation. He was also responsible for the distribution of sports channel for Star on pan India basis.

     

    Siti Cable executive director and CEO VD Wadhwa said, “We are delighted to have Bibhash Jha on board. With his rich experience of broadcasting & distribution business, he brings to us a competitive edge in strategizing business and accomplishing organisational goals.”

     

    Jha will be based at the Corporate Office of Siti Cable, Noida.

     

  • Kolkata LMOs in talks with STB and headend vendors

    Kolkata LMOs in talks with STB and headend vendors

    KOLKATA: The last mile owners (LMOs) in Kolkata are gearing up to stake claim on their subscribers. Apart from uniting and setting up their own control room and tie-ups with existing DAS license holders, the LMOs have initiated talks with the STB and headend suppliers and other vendors in India and as well as abroad.

     

    The LMOs have already made an agreement with a DAS license holder, who will levy a minimum price against every set top box (STB). “Recently, more than 150 LMOs signed the deal. And thousands of LMOs from different MSOs are also showing interest to join in this mission,” says a LMO on the condition of anonymity.

     

    “The LMOs have already formed a company as they intend to counter the MSO business. We are also trying to take control over our business,” informs Cable Operators Sangram Committee general secretary Apurba Bhattacharya.

     

    He adds, “It is a survival battle; either we set up our own headend or partner with MSOs. As for the investment, every LMO will put in the amount according to their pockets. In fact, some financiers are also ready to invest in it.” He further explained that the investment would be based on the size of LMO’s network.

     

    Tying up with existing license holders ensures LMOs power of billing to subscribers, distribution of package according to the choice of subscribers, share of carriage fee and ownership of STBs.

     

    There are some DAS license holders who might go ahead and increase their topline and bottomline by strengthening their presence.

     

  • No progress in Arasu application for MSO licence for DAS

    No progress in Arasu application for MSO licence for DAS

    NEW DELHI: There is no progress in the application of Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited for the MSO licence, if one goes by the reply given in Parliament by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore.

     

    He said the matter is being examined in the light of the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regarding entry of government entities in the broadcasting and distribution activities.  TRAI had in reports in 2008 and early this year reiterated that government entities and political parties should not be permitted to enter the broadcasting sector.

     

    The Ministry had received a letter of 3 June 2014 from the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha for grant of multi system operator registration to Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited for operating in the Digital Addressable System (DAS) notified areas of Tamil Nadu.

     

    The Ministry has so far granted 129 permanent MSO registrations for operating in DAS notified areas. The details are available on the Ministry’s website www.mib.nic.in.

     

    “No licences have been granted in respect of DTH services during the last three years,” the Minister said. DTH licenses are granted under “DTH guidelines issued on 15 March 2001.”

     

    Under the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995, Cable Operators are required to get registrations from Post Offices. However, under the amendment in Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 2011, the multi system operators are required to get registration from the Ministry for operation in Digital Addressable Systems (DAS) notified areas. 

  • TDSAT to hear petition challenging TRAI’s DAS tariff relating to commercial subscribers on 5 December

    TDSAT to hear petition challenging TRAI’s DAS tariff relating to commercial subscribers on 5 December

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) will hear on 5 December the petition by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) challenging the DAS tariff order issued in July by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) relating to commercial subscribers.

     
    When the issue came up in the Tribunal, counsel Abhishek Malhotra who represents the IBF said he needed time to file a rejoinder to the reply filed by TRAI following a notice in this regard in September.

     
    In the tariff order, TRAI had said commercial establishments who do not specifically charge its clients/guests on account of providing/showing television programmes and offer such services as part of amenities are to be treated like ordinary subscribers wherein the charges would be on per television basis.

     
    In cases where commercial subscribers specifically charge its clients/guests on account of providing/showing television programmes the tariff would be as mutually agreed between the broadcaster and the commercial subscriber.
     

    TRAI had also said that the commercial subscriber was to obtain television service only from a distribution platform operator (MSO/DTH Operator/IPTV operator/HITS operator).

     
    The tariff order amendment has been brought out as per the directions of the Supreme Court. It is expected that with the coming into force of these changes in the regulatory framework, the distribution of TV services to the commercial subscribers would be streamlined and the services would be available to them at competitive rates.

     

  • Nodal monitoring units for DAS to be formed by mid-January, task force to meet every month

    Nodal monitoring units for DAS to be formed by mid-January, task force to meet every month

    NEW DELHI: A total of 11 crore set top boxes (STBs) will be needed for the third and final phase of digital addressable system of which only three crore will be for direct-to-home (DTH) platforms.

     
    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) says the requirements for phase III have been worked out on the basis of census 2011 data and the compiled data will be sent to state governments for vetting.
     

    The data for TV households is also being collected from the Registrar General and Census Commissioner for verification.

     
    The Ministry, which claims that manufacturers have assured it of adequate supplies of STBs, has constituted a publicity committee and begun issuing advertisements in newspapers and the electronic media in this regard to encourage multi-system operators to place orders.

     
    During the recent task force meeting for the next two phases of DAS, the Ministry said it will facilitate a meeting of manufacturers of indigenous STBs and MSOs in view of complaints by the manufacturers that no orders were being placed for the STBs.

     
    A multi-lingual call centre will be set up by the end of February, and 12 nodal regional monitoring units will begin working by 15 January. The task force will meet every on the second Wednesday of every month.

     
    The task force meeting under the chairmanship of Ministry additional secretary J S Mathur was also addressed by the advisor for DAS Yogendra Pal.

     
    A road map has been prepared by the government for the final two phases, and MSOs have been asked to apply by 21 December this year for licences.

     
    The Home Ministry will clear all security licences within 90 days, the meeting was informed.

     
    Publicity awareness campaigns have also commenced, for which a Publicity Committee has been formed.

     
    The Department of Information Technology is in the process of developing an Indian cable access system that will be ready in a year and will make interoperability of STBs possible. A participant pointed out that there was still the issue of certification involved in the embedment of CAS in set top box manufactured by the domestic STB manufacturers. The integration of CAS with the STB is a time consuming process and indigenous STB manufacturers must clear the apprehensions on this account.

     
    The long pending demand of “C” Form had been resolved to give fillip to domestic manufacturing of STBs.

     
    Interestingly, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has not attended any of the two task force meetings, a point noted by several participants. However, Mathur said TRAI was being apprised of the proceedings.

     
    The Ministry officials said that MSOs could simply download the forms for registration and did not have to come to the Ministry.

     
    A participant pointed out that the carriage fee which had fallen initially after announcement of DAS had again shot up. Others said issues relating to billing, packaging and reference interconnect order had still not been ironed out by TRAI.

     
    There was also a reference to entertainment tax, and it was stated by some participants that the Uttar Pradesh Government had sharply raised this tax.

     

  • I&B Ministry to study why MSOs are not taking indigenous STBs

    I&B Ministry to study why MSOs are not taking indigenous STBs

    NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) will facilitate a meeting of manufacturers of indigenous set top boxes (STBs) and multi-system operators (MSOs) next week in view of complaints by the manufacturers that no orders were being placed for their STBs.

     

    This was decided at a meeting of the Task Force which will oversee the next two phases of digital addressable system (DAS) and which met under the chairmanship of Ministry Additional Secretary J S Mathur here today.

     

    Earlier this week, the manufacturers had met Ministry secretary Bimal Julka and made the same complaint.

     

    The participants were apprised that around 3.5 households had to be covered in the third phase of digitisation.

     

    A Ministry source told indiantelevision.com that the meeting discussed various roadblocks on the road to full digitisation and ways to overcome these hurdles.

     

    Star India legal & regulatory senior vice president Pulak Bagchi, who is also the representative of the broadcasters said emphatically that broadcasters would support voluntary transition to DAS as long as there were some ground rules.

     

    He also said that broadcasters were prepared to give concessions to operators switching over to DAS provided the operators totally stopped analogue transmission.

     

    Bagchi also said that it should be made mandatory that any MSO or local cable operator who switches over to DAS should switch off analogue and not run both systems.

     

    The meeting was attended by around 20 people and included representatives of trade bodies like FICCI and CII, apart from MSOs, LCOs and DAS advisor Yogendra Pal.