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  • Slow pace of court cases, MSO registration may delay DAS deadline

    Slow pace of court cases, MSO registration may delay DAS deadline

    NEW DELHI: Between the analog sunset and a digital morning are court cases and cumbersome and slow MSO registration processes. And, the deadline of 31 December 2016 appears to be becoming a distant possibility despite assertions to the contrary in the stakeholder-government meetings.

    A mere 26 MSOs got provisional registration in November 2016, taking the total to 1,059 and the number of permanent MSOs (with ten-year licences) remaining static at 229.

    With the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs not being communicated in writing to the MIB, confusion prevails slowing down the registration processes of MSOs for delivering services in DAS areas.

    Junior minister in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) Rajyavardhan Rathore had admitted in response to a question in Parliament recently that legal cases, filed mostly by cable operators relating to some phases of digital rollout, may delay the year-end sunset date for analog services in the country.

    Though MIB officials and regulator TRAI in public insist that final digitisation deadline won’t be extended, in private government officials do admit that in Phase IV areas, comprising approximately 100,000 villages, small towns and hamlets, seeding of STBs is far from the desired level. An MIB official pointed out after the last DAS Task Force Meeting late last month that cash crunch due to demonetisation of high-value currency notes has only added to the problem on the ground slowing down the entire digital rollout process.

    Further impeding STB seeding is the slowing registration of MSOs who’d actually do the work on the ground.

    MIB List of Cancelled Registrations

    Meanwhile, MIB yesterday released a list of 44 MSOs whose registrations have been cancelled or their proposal for licences closed – as against 42 in October and 29 at the end of September 2016.These cancellations exclude four cases – Kal Cables of Chennai, Godfather Communication Pvt. Ltd of Amritsar, Digi Cable Network (India) Pvt Ltd of Mumbai, and Intermedia Cable Communication Pvt. Ltd of Delhi — in which provisional or permanent registrations were issued after high courts stayed the cancellation orders in petitions filed by these MSOs.

    Most of the other cases in the list of cancelled registrations had failed to get security clearance from the MHA. However, there are cases of many MSOs holding provisional licences not completing certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

    According to the latest list up to 30 November 2016, the areas of operation of two MSOs (one each in the permanent and provisional lists) have been revised or corrected after 31 October 2016.Of the new licensees, three (UCS Broadband Private Limited of Lucknow, Elxire IT Services Pvt. Ltd of Haryana and Microsense Wireless Pvt. Ltd of Chennai) have got pan-India licences. Maury Diginet Pvt. Ltd of Bihar has got pan-India licence for Phase II, III and IV.

    The other new registrations after October 2016 include state-wide licences or for specific districts in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Delhi and Tripura.In one of the meetings of stakeholders at MIB it was revealed that though there were a reported 6,000 MSOs in the country, but only a handful of them had come forward to register.

    ALSO READ:
    MIB’s digital deadline dilemma: to relax or not

    30 MSOs got provisional licences in Oct, taking total to 1033

     

  • Slow pace of court cases, MSO registration may delay DAS deadline

    Slow pace of court cases, MSO registration may delay DAS deadline

    NEW DELHI: Between the analog sunset and a digital morning are court cases and cumbersome and slow MSO registration processes. And, the deadline of 31 December 2016 appears to be becoming a distant possibility despite assertions to the contrary in the stakeholder-government meetings.

    A mere 26 MSOs got provisional registration in November 2016, taking the total to 1,059 and the number of permanent MSOs (with ten-year licences) remaining static at 229.

    With the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs not being communicated in writing to the MIB, confusion prevails slowing down the registration processes of MSOs for delivering services in DAS areas.

    Junior minister in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) Rajyavardhan Rathore had admitted in response to a question in Parliament recently that legal cases, filed mostly by cable operators relating to some phases of digital rollout, may delay the year-end sunset date for analog services in the country.

    Though MIB officials and regulator TRAI in public insist that final digitisation deadline won’t be extended, in private government officials do admit that in Phase IV areas, comprising approximately 100,000 villages, small towns and hamlets, seeding of STBs is far from the desired level. An MIB official pointed out after the last DAS Task Force Meeting late last month that cash crunch due to demonetisation of high-value currency notes has only added to the problem on the ground slowing down the entire digital rollout process.

    Further impeding STB seeding is the slowing registration of MSOs who’d actually do the work on the ground.

    MIB List of Cancelled Registrations

    Meanwhile, MIB yesterday released a list of 44 MSOs whose registrations have been cancelled or their proposal for licences closed – as against 42 in October and 29 at the end of September 2016.These cancellations exclude four cases – Kal Cables of Chennai, Godfather Communication Pvt. Ltd of Amritsar, Digi Cable Network (India) Pvt Ltd of Mumbai, and Intermedia Cable Communication Pvt. Ltd of Delhi — in which provisional or permanent registrations were issued after high courts stayed the cancellation orders in petitions filed by these MSOs.

    Most of the other cases in the list of cancelled registrations had failed to get security clearance from the MHA. However, there are cases of many MSOs holding provisional licences not completing certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

    According to the latest list up to 30 November 2016, the areas of operation of two MSOs (one each in the permanent and provisional lists) have been revised or corrected after 31 October 2016.Of the new licensees, three (UCS Broadband Private Limited of Lucknow, Elxire IT Services Pvt. Ltd of Haryana and Microsense Wireless Pvt. Ltd of Chennai) have got pan-India licences. Maury Diginet Pvt. Ltd of Bihar has got pan-India licence for Phase II, III and IV.

    The other new registrations after October 2016 include state-wide licences or for specific districts in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Delhi and Tripura.In one of the meetings of stakeholders at MIB it was revealed that though there were a reported 6,000 MSOs in the country, but only a handful of them had come forward to register.

    ALSO READ:
    MIB’s digital deadline dilemma: to relax or not

    30 MSOs got provisional licences in Oct, taking total to 1033

     

  • MIB’s digital deadline dilemma: to relax or not

    MIB’s digital deadline dilemma: to relax or not

    NEW DELHI: India’s ongoing cable digitalisation, plagued by court cases resulting in roll-out delays, may have just got entangled with the short to medium-term inconveniences caused by demonetisation of high-value currency notes signalling likely further delays.

    The ministry of  information and broadcasting (MIB), grappling with the issue of delays, was served with another likely roadblock when the the Telangana state government requested postponement of  the digital deadline of 31 December, 2016, at a stakeholders’ meeting on 29 November 2016.

    As per the government mandate, the sunset date for all analog television services in the country is 31 December, 2016, which would have signalled completion of Phase IV of the digital addressable system (DAS) rollout.

    While grudgingly admitting that the government is seized of the inconveniences caused due to demonetisation, a government official told indiantelevision.com that in view of the prevailing situation in the country and a major portion of Phase IV areas (about 60 per cent) still to be seeded with digital STBs, the government is unable to take a decision whether to hold on to year-end deadline or relax it.

    “The court cases filed by cable operators (relating to DAS Phase III and IV) have been a cause of a major delay and the situation arising out of demonetisation has further added to government’s dilemma,” a senior government official explained.

    At the monthly DAS Task Force meeting of stakeholders at MIB, chaired by the ministry’s additional secretary, not only the representative of the state of Telangana voiced his concern on the digital deadline of 31 December, 2016 requesting postponement, but some MSOs and Indian STB manufacturers too expressed their apprehensions.

    The Telangana state government’s proposal was opposed by a majority of those present in the meeting. Their concern: any official postponement of the sunset date of 2016 would send wrong signals, and may further derail the digital rollout. MIB is understood to be studying all the feedback before announcing its official position on the deadline.   

    Though, according to MIB, officially Phase IV of DAS is progressing as per schedule, a section of the cable industry estimates that approximately 10 million homes, part of DAS Phase III, are still to be seeded with STBs.

    The court cases relating to DAS in Delhi High Court have had several adjournments on grounds of technicalities.

    Information and broadcasting minister of state Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore admitted in the Parliament that DAS may get delayed. “As per Cable TV Rule, the cut-off date for complete digitisation is 31 December 2016. As such, all cable subscribers in the country should take STBs (set-top boxes) before this date to continue avail cable TV services. However, due to court cases the implementation may get delayed,” the Minister said in Lok Sabha or Lower House of Parliament earlier this week.

    ALSO READ:

    DAS cases put off to Nov 23 as processes incomplete

     

  • MIB’s digital deadline dilemma: to relax or not

    MIB’s digital deadline dilemma: to relax or not

    NEW DELHI: India’s ongoing cable digitalisation, plagued by court cases resulting in roll-out delays, may have just got entangled with the short to medium-term inconveniences caused by demonetisation of high-value currency notes signalling likely further delays.

    The ministry of  information and broadcasting (MIB), grappling with the issue of delays, was served with another likely roadblock when the the Telangana state government requested postponement of  the digital deadline of 31 December, 2016, at a stakeholders’ meeting on 29 November 2016.

    As per the government mandate, the sunset date for all analog television services in the country is 31 December, 2016, which would have signalled completion of Phase IV of the digital addressable system (DAS) rollout.

    While grudgingly admitting that the government is seized of the inconveniences caused due to demonetisation, a government official told indiantelevision.com that in view of the prevailing situation in the country and a major portion of Phase IV areas (about 60 per cent) still to be seeded with digital STBs, the government is unable to take a decision whether to hold on to year-end deadline or relax it.

    “The court cases filed by cable operators (relating to DAS Phase III and IV) have been a cause of a major delay and the situation arising out of demonetisation has further added to government’s dilemma,” a senior government official explained.

    At the monthly DAS Task Force meeting of stakeholders at MIB, chaired by the ministry’s additional secretary, not only the representative of the state of Telangana voiced his concern on the digital deadline of 31 December, 2016 requesting postponement, but some MSOs and Indian STB manufacturers too expressed their apprehensions.

    The Telangana state government’s proposal was opposed by a majority of those present in the meeting. Their concern: any official postponement of the sunset date of 2016 would send wrong signals, and may further derail the digital rollout. MIB is understood to be studying all the feedback before announcing its official position on the deadline.   

    Though, according to MIB, officially Phase IV of DAS is progressing as per schedule, a section of the cable industry estimates that approximately 10 million homes, part of DAS Phase III, are still to be seeded with STBs.

    The court cases relating to DAS in Delhi High Court have had several adjournments on grounds of technicalities.

    Information and broadcasting minister of state Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore admitted in the Parliament that DAS may get delayed. “As per Cable TV Rule, the cut-off date for complete digitisation is 31 December 2016. As such, all cable subscribers in the country should take STBs (set-top boxes) before this date to continue avail cable TV services. However, due to court cases the implementation may get delayed,” the Minister said in Lok Sabha or Lower House of Parliament earlier this week.

    ALSO READ:

    DAS cases put off to Nov 23 as processes incomplete

     

  • DAS Phase IV pace slack; MIB to meet Indian STB makers

    DAS Phase IV pace slack; MIB to meet Indian STB makers

    NEW DELHI: A miniscule percentage of set-top boxes have been seeded in DAS Phase IV after August 2016 as compared to those seeded earlier in four phases when six weeks are left for the deadline for switching off analogue signals is reached.

    Although the total number of set-top boxes seeded in the country for four phases of the digital addressable system is 92.424 million till 25 October 2016, a mere 1.966 million STBs were seeded in the Phase IV areas after 31 August 2016.

    Also, the much-touted indigenously manufactured STBs with iCAS or Indian CAS too have not found much favour with industry players as no major purchase orders had been placed.

    The MIS system shows that about 2.843 million including 8,76,000 STBs in Phase III for which the deadline was 31 December 2015 have been seeded, according to figures released at the 18th Task Force meeting held on 26 October 2016.

    (Phase IV areas, needing approximately 75 million STBs according to industry estimates, mostly comprise rural India’s smaller hamlets and towns where selling the idea of digitisation and getting a STB at home itself is considered a challenging task by LCOs, MSOs and other stakeholders.)

    The Task Force was told that the Nodal Officers have been supplied with the passwords to access state wise specific reports from the MIS system. Information and Broadcasting Ministry Joint Secretary Mihir Singh who chaired the meeting said the Ministry may analyze the district wise seeding data and send the district wise status of progress of seeding to the respective States for further action.

    Meanwhile, the meeting was informed that five of the 45 cases transferred to the Delhi High Court relating to Phase III following Supreme Court directives had been disposed off. Two cases had been returned to the respective High Courts as these did not relate to DAS implementation; 23 cases were listed for hearing before a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini and 13 cases before a single bench. Two cases are yet to be listed for hearing. The Chairperson directed that the Ministry should ensure that the court notices are delivered to the petitioners according to the directions of the court.

    Referring to the public awareness campaign through television commercials, the Chairperson said broadcasters need to increase the frequency of these spots particularly during prime time for greater impact. He directed the broadcasters to carry these spots at least four times a day, of which two should be during the prime time from 7 pm to 11 pm.

    Giving an update on the status of public awareness campaign for Phase lV, Advisor (DAS) Yogendra Pal said broadcasters, including Doordarshan, are giving wide publicity using two AV spots developed by the Ministry. He added that in addition to these spots, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation had also developed its own spot. Scrolls are also being run by broadcasters on their channels.

    The representative of the News Broadcasters Association said 62 channels of their members are carrying AV spots and are also carrying scrolls developed by them.

    The Ministry has issued an advisory to about 4500 cable operators to apply for registration as multisystem operators immediately if interested, failing which they would not be able to work as MSOs after the cut-off date of 31 December 2016. In this regard, advertisements were also published in all regional newspapers on 9 September and 1 October 2016. In order to ensure that only registered MSOs are operating in all DAS notified areas, the Ministry had requested lBF, NBA and ARTBI to provide the names of the registered MSOs, phase-wise and area-wise, with whom they have entered into interconnect agreements for pay channels to the Ministry by 28 October 2016. lt was clarified to the representatives of IBF that information has been asked in a particular format and has to be sent for all phases.

    However, the date had been put off to 4 November 2016 on the request of representatives of IBF and NBA.

    Representatives of national MSOs mentioned that the seeding in Phase IV areas was not satisfactory due to various court cases for phase III and the status will drastically change once these cases are disposed off by the Delhi High Court. It was also mentioned that most of the head-ends serving phase IV areas are located in phase III areas and hence transition to digital in phase IV areas should not pose any problem.

    The Chairperson asked the members to suggest measures to implement phase IV of digitisation by the notified cut-off date of 31 December 2016.

    Members made some suggestions in this regard. One was that the Ministry should as a pre-emptive measure consider filing caveats and the Ministry should consider extending the date till March 2017 in line with the draft revised tariff orders of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    The TRAI representative opposed this, saying that revision of regulations and tariff orders is a routine exercise and cut-off date should not be linked with the issue of draft tariff orders.

    The representatives of CEAMA and DTH also opposed any extension of the cut-off date.

    Welcoming the judgement, SITI Networks Limited executive director and CEO VD Wadhwa said, “This is a landmark moment in the Digital India journey as it will also clear the passage for timely implementation of DAS Phase 4 of digitisation. The industry had been suffering due to pending litigation, and with this welcome move, all hurdles have been cleared. It is now obligatory on part of broadcasters and other players to disconnect analogue signals within two weeks.”

    All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), the industry body representing Digital Multi System Operators (MSO), has asked all its members to work with broadcasters to switch off analogue signals and implement digitisation is DAS Phase III markets immediately. This will also pave the way for digital revenues to flow in from these areas as per the directives of the TRAI.

    AIDCF has also urged all local cable operators, MSOs, broadcasters and government bodies to help complete digitisation at the earliest. Federation president VD Wadhwa said: “On behalf of AIDCF, I urge all MSOs, cable operators, broadcasters to switch off analogue feeds in two weeks to comply with the honorable court’s order. We would also request government bodies to extend their good support in meeting the digitisation deadlines.”

  • DAS Phase IV pace slack; MIB to meet Indian STB makers

    DAS Phase IV pace slack; MIB to meet Indian STB makers

    NEW DELHI: A miniscule percentage of set-top boxes have been seeded in DAS Phase IV after August 2016 as compared to those seeded earlier in four phases when six weeks are left for the deadline for switching off analogue signals is reached.

    Although the total number of set-top boxes seeded in the country for four phases of the digital addressable system is 92.424 million till 25 October 2016, a mere 1.966 million STBs were seeded in the Phase IV areas after 31 August 2016.

    Also, the much-touted indigenously manufactured STBs with iCAS or Indian CAS too have not found much favour with industry players as no major purchase orders had been placed.

    The MIS system shows that about 2.843 million including 8,76,000 STBs in Phase III for which the deadline was 31 December 2015 have been seeded, according to figures released at the 18th Task Force meeting held on 26 October 2016.

    (Phase IV areas, needing approximately 75 million STBs according to industry estimates, mostly comprise rural India’s smaller hamlets and towns where selling the idea of digitisation and getting a STB at home itself is considered a challenging task by LCOs, MSOs and other stakeholders.)

    The Task Force was told that the Nodal Officers have been supplied with the passwords to access state wise specific reports from the MIS system. Information and Broadcasting Ministry Joint Secretary Mihir Singh who chaired the meeting said the Ministry may analyze the district wise seeding data and send the district wise status of progress of seeding to the respective States for further action.

    Meanwhile, the meeting was informed that five of the 45 cases transferred to the Delhi High Court relating to Phase III following Supreme Court directives had been disposed off. Two cases had been returned to the respective High Courts as these did not relate to DAS implementation; 23 cases were listed for hearing before a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini and 13 cases before a single bench. Two cases are yet to be listed for hearing. The Chairperson directed that the Ministry should ensure that the court notices are delivered to the petitioners according to the directions of the court.

    Referring to the public awareness campaign through television commercials, the Chairperson said broadcasters need to increase the frequency of these spots particularly during prime time for greater impact. He directed the broadcasters to carry these spots at least four times a day, of which two should be during the prime time from 7 pm to 11 pm.

    Giving an update on the status of public awareness campaign for Phase lV, Advisor (DAS) Yogendra Pal said broadcasters, including Doordarshan, are giving wide publicity using two AV spots developed by the Ministry. He added that in addition to these spots, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation had also developed its own spot. Scrolls are also being run by broadcasters on their channels.

    The representative of the News Broadcasters Association said 62 channels of their members are carrying AV spots and are also carrying scrolls developed by them.

    The Ministry has issued an advisory to about 4500 cable operators to apply for registration as multisystem operators immediately if interested, failing which they would not be able to work as MSOs after the cut-off date of 31 December 2016. In this regard, advertisements were also published in all regional newspapers on 9 September and 1 October 2016. In order to ensure that only registered MSOs are operating in all DAS notified areas, the Ministry had requested lBF, NBA and ARTBI to provide the names of the registered MSOs, phase-wise and area-wise, with whom they have entered into interconnect agreements for pay channels to the Ministry by 28 October 2016. lt was clarified to the representatives of IBF that information has been asked in a particular format and has to be sent for all phases.

    However, the date had been put off to 4 November 2016 on the request of representatives of IBF and NBA.

    Representatives of national MSOs mentioned that the seeding in Phase IV areas was not satisfactory due to various court cases for phase III and the status will drastically change once these cases are disposed off by the Delhi High Court. It was also mentioned that most of the head-ends serving phase IV areas are located in phase III areas and hence transition to digital in phase IV areas should not pose any problem.

    The Chairperson asked the members to suggest measures to implement phase IV of digitisation by the notified cut-off date of 31 December 2016.

    Members made some suggestions in this regard. One was that the Ministry should as a pre-emptive measure consider filing caveats and the Ministry should consider extending the date till March 2017 in line with the draft revised tariff orders of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    The TRAI representative opposed this, saying that revision of regulations and tariff orders is a routine exercise and cut-off date should not be linked with the issue of draft tariff orders.

    The representatives of CEAMA and DTH also opposed any extension of the cut-off date.

    Welcoming the judgement, SITI Networks Limited executive director and CEO VD Wadhwa said, “This is a landmark moment in the Digital India journey as it will also clear the passage for timely implementation of DAS Phase 4 of digitisation. The industry had been suffering due to pending litigation, and with this welcome move, all hurdles have been cleared. It is now obligatory on part of broadcasters and other players to disconnect analogue signals within two weeks.”

    All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), the industry body representing Digital Multi System Operators (MSO), has asked all its members to work with broadcasters to switch off analogue signals and implement digitisation is DAS Phase III markets immediately. This will also pave the way for digital revenues to flow in from these areas as per the directives of the TRAI.

    AIDCF has also urged all local cable operators, MSOs, broadcasters and government bodies to help complete digitisation at the earliest. Federation president VD Wadhwa said: “On behalf of AIDCF, I urge all MSOs, cable operators, broadcasters to switch off analogue feeds in two weeks to comply with the honorable court’s order. We would also request government bodies to extend their good support in meeting the digitisation deadlines.”

  • Cable TV distribution to get fillip from demonetisation

    Cable TV distribution to get fillip from demonetisation

    MUMBAI: The cable television distribution business, a section of which has been infamous for dealings in unaccounted money, will have to upgrade addressability in the backdrop of the decision to demonetise higher value currency. It is estimated that the analog subscriber base will come down by 37% this year as they switch over to digital cable under DAS III and IV, according to sector estimates.

    According to a FICCI-KPMG report, there are approximately 65 million analog cable television subscribers in India, around 37 million digital cable television subscribers, 44 million pay DTH (direct-to-home) subscribers and some 15 million free DTH (FTA) subscribers. The benefit of dealing in cash prompts most operators to under-report subscriber numbers and eventually revenue. However, this may substantially reduce with the new government move, experts said.

    KPMG partner – media & entertainment Jehil Thakkar said that, with digitisation (under DAS III and IV), TRAI has proposed new pricing for TV channels. The purpose was to make it affordable. With demonetisation, the cable operators may have to clean up their operations so that there was transparency in dealings with broadcasters.

    DAS could act as a catalyst for cable operators to reduce under-reporting. Demonetisation, experts said, could become a trigger for the switchover. Under-reporting of subscription revenue by the cable operator per individual or household had been estimated to be 15-20%. DTH, however, has overcome this issue by using a pricing strategy based on the number of channels seen by a consumer.

    Meanwhile, the release of a number of Telugu films including Intlo Deyyam – Nakem Bhayam and Ram Charan Teja’s Dhruva have been postponed. Box office earnings have gone substantially down for Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films owing to demonetisation. Producers are being forced to defer releases due to low turnouts.

    Several film shoots have been suspended, and many theatres in Kerala are planning to shut shop owing to non-availability of low denomination notes. Work on national award-winning director Sidharth Siva’s new movie Sakavu too has been deferred.

    Income Tax officials meanwhile raided the house of the campaign manager of Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy and ex-MLA A John Kumar, seizing Rs. 14 lakh in cash. The ex-MLA of Nellithope, whose business is cable TV distribution, real estate etc, is also the manager of Narayanasamy’s campaign.

  • Cable TV distribution to get fillip from demonetisation

    Cable TV distribution to get fillip from demonetisation

    MUMBAI: The cable television distribution business, a section of which has been infamous for dealings in unaccounted money, will have to upgrade addressability in the backdrop of the decision to demonetise higher value currency. It is estimated that the analog subscriber base will come down by 37% this year as they switch over to digital cable under DAS III and IV, according to sector estimates.

    According to a FICCI-KPMG report, there are approximately 65 million analog cable television subscribers in India, around 37 million digital cable television subscribers, 44 million pay DTH (direct-to-home) subscribers and some 15 million free DTH (FTA) subscribers. The benefit of dealing in cash prompts most operators to under-report subscriber numbers and eventually revenue. However, this may substantially reduce with the new government move, experts said.

    KPMG partner – media & entertainment Jehil Thakkar said that, with digitisation (under DAS III and IV), TRAI has proposed new pricing for TV channels. The purpose was to make it affordable. With demonetisation, the cable operators may have to clean up their operations so that there was transparency in dealings with broadcasters.

    DAS could act as a catalyst for cable operators to reduce under-reporting. Demonetisation, experts said, could become a trigger for the switchover. Under-reporting of subscription revenue by the cable operator per individual or household had been estimated to be 15-20%. DTH, however, has overcome this issue by using a pricing strategy based on the number of channels seen by a consumer.

    Meanwhile, the release of a number of Telugu films including Intlo Deyyam – Nakem Bhayam and Ram Charan Teja’s Dhruva have been postponed. Box office earnings have gone substantially down for Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films owing to demonetisation. Producers are being forced to defer releases due to low turnouts.

    Several film shoots have been suspended, and many theatres in Kerala are planning to shut shop owing to non-availability of low denomination notes. Work on national award-winning director Sidharth Siva’s new movie Sakavu too has been deferred.

    Income Tax officials meanwhile raided the house of the campaign manager of Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy and ex-MLA A John Kumar, seizing Rs. 14 lakh in cash. The ex-MLA of Nellithope, whose business is cable TV distribution, real estate etc, is also the manager of Narayanasamy’s campaign.

  • DAS III: IBF welcomes Delhi HC order

    DAS III: IBF welcomes Delhi HC order

    MUMBAI: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has welcomed the order passed by the Delhi High Court on 3 November 2016 dismissing nine DAS-related petitions. The petitions dealt with the time extension for implementing digital addressable system (DAS) in certain areas of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Uttar Pradesh under Phase-III, the deadline for which had expired on 31 December 2015.

    There is no change in DAS Phase IV deadline, which continues to be 31 December 2016.

    With the dismissal of these petitions, the stay granted by various high courts in areas covered by the above-mentioned nine cases stands vacated and will no longer apply.

    The Delhi High Court, dismissing these petitions, has also directed the petitioners to switch over to digital addressable systems within three weeks i.e. by 24 November 2016 and inform the subscribers by running a scroll on their networks about the digital switchover deadline

    The high courts in various parts of the country had earlier granted stay in certain matters on DAS Phase III deadline. The stay orders had stalled the implementation of DAS Phase III in those areas. This prompted the MIB to move the Supreme Court to get all the cases transferred to the apex court.

    The SC made Delhi High Court as the designated court for all cases related to DAS Phase III. The above-mentioned order of the Delhi High Court has removed the impediments in implementation of DAS in Phase – III areas.

    The IBF has advised all its member-broadcasters to apprise all its affiliate multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators about the said switchover deadline of 24 November 2016 in these Phase – III areas and make it clear that after the said date the channels can be received only through a digital set-top box. The subscribers in these areas are advised to immediately contact their respective local cable operators (LCOs)/MSOs to ensure the installation of STBs before the expiry of the above-mentioned deadline.

  • DAS III: IBF welcomes Delhi HC order

    DAS III: IBF welcomes Delhi HC order

    MUMBAI: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has welcomed the order passed by the Delhi High Court on 3 November 2016 dismissing nine DAS-related petitions. The petitions dealt with the time extension for implementing digital addressable system (DAS) in certain areas of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Uttar Pradesh under Phase-III, the deadline for which had expired on 31 December 2015.

    There is no change in DAS Phase IV deadline, which continues to be 31 December 2016.

    With the dismissal of these petitions, the stay granted by various high courts in areas covered by the above-mentioned nine cases stands vacated and will no longer apply.

    The Delhi High Court, dismissing these petitions, has also directed the petitioners to switch over to digital addressable systems within three weeks i.e. by 24 November 2016 and inform the subscribers by running a scroll on their networks about the digital switchover deadline

    The high courts in various parts of the country had earlier granted stay in certain matters on DAS Phase III deadline. The stay orders had stalled the implementation of DAS Phase III in those areas. This prompted the MIB to move the Supreme Court to get all the cases transferred to the apex court.

    The SC made Delhi High Court as the designated court for all cases related to DAS Phase III. The above-mentioned order of the Delhi High Court has removed the impediments in implementation of DAS in Phase – III areas.

    The IBF has advised all its member-broadcasters to apprise all its affiliate multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators about the said switchover deadline of 24 November 2016 in these Phase – III areas and make it clear that after the said date the channels can be received only through a digital set-top box. The subscribers in these areas are advised to immediately contact their respective local cable operators (LCOs)/MSOs to ensure the installation of STBs before the expiry of the above-mentioned deadline.