ITV

Tag: Hathway Cable & Datacom

  • Hathway delayed agreement on signals of Zee and Turner: Taj Television

    Hathway delayed agreement on signals of Zee and Turner: Taj Television

    NEW DELHI: In today’s hearing in the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), Taj Television counsel contended today and blamed Hathway Cable & Datacom for the delay in an agreement to Zee and Turner channels. She also claimed that Hathway had falsely written in its letter to Taj TV on 23 July that no negotiations were held and presented to TDSAT the dates on which meetings were held between the parties with regard to Zee TV signals.

     

    Counsel Pratibha Singh told the TDSAT today that Hathway had admitted that it had not paid for the Zee TV channels distributed between 1 April and 23 July.

     

    In the ongoing hearing before the Tribunal in the cases linked to Taj TV signals for Turner and Zee, Singh said three meetings had been held to sort out the issue, the last being on 16 June after which Taj TV had sent a copy of the agreement under the reference interconnection offer (RIO) to Hathway. A letter was also sent to Hathway in this connection on 26 June.

     

    Earlier, the Tribunal had fixed for final disposal from 25 August the ‘deep-rooted’ dispute between Hathway and Taj TV, noting that this would require interpretation of certain clauses of some of the statutory regulations.

     

    TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh had said: ‘unfortunately, the dispute between the two sides is playing out in highly aggressive way and one may add in a rather unpleasant manner. It seems to be affecting a large number of people in viewing their favourite TV channels. The disputants themselves are approaching the Tribunal on a weekly basis complaining against the actions of each other and seeking some interim directions of the Tribunal consuming a lot of time on arguments on miscellaneous applications.  It is, therefore, in the larger interest to finally dispose of these cases after hearing all sides at an early date.’

     

    The Tribunal noted that the dispute had arisen at a stage when the earlier fixed fee agreement between the parties has come to end and they are unable to come to agreed terms for a fresh agreement and under the circumstances the MSO has no option but to take the broadcasters’ channels on their RIO terms.

     

    When talks between the two parties failed, he said the RIO was forwarded on 25 January and was to be effective from February.

     

    Further arguments will continue tomorrow with counsel for Zee expected to conclude her arguments and Hathway responding to them.

  • RIO forms basis for final deal, agree Taj and Hathway

    RIO forms basis for final deal, agree Taj and Hathway

    NEW DELHI: Taj Television contended before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal today that though initial signals can be given by the broadcaster or distributor to the multi system operator initially on the basis of mutual negotiation, but this ultimately has to translate into an agreement under the Reference Interconnection Offer (RIO).

     

    Responding to an argument by Taj Television that the RIO had to be signed within 30 days, counsel for Hathway said that the date limit applies to modifications in existing RIO agreements, but the deal between Taj and Hathway had to be a new one since MediaPro had stopped distribution of Zee TV and Turner channels.

     

    Earlier, the Tribunal had fixed for final disposal from 25 August the ‘deep-rooted’ dispute between Hathway and Taj, noting that this would require interpretation of certain clauses of some of the statutory regulations.

     

    TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh had said: ‘Unfortunately, the dispute between the two sides is playing out in highly aggressive way and one may add in a rather unpleasant manner. It seems to be affecting a large number of people in viewing their favourite TV channels. The disputants themselves are approaching the Tribunal on a weekly basis complaining against the actions of each other and seeking some interim directions of the Tribunal consuming a lot of time on arguments on miscellaneous applications.  It is, therefore, in the larger interest to finally dispose of these cases after hearing all sides at an early date.”

     

    The Tribunal noted that the dispute has arisen at a stage when the earlier fixed fee agreement between the parties has come to end and they are unable to come to agreed terms for a fresh agreement and under the circumstances the MSO has no option but to take the broadcasters’ channels on their RIO terms.

     

    Hathway counsel Arun Kathpalia who concluded his initial arguments today said Hathway has only 10 per cent of the total collections that Taj Television makes from different MSOs. Hathway was paying Rs 85 crore for all channels including Turner (while the figure excluding Turner was Rs 62 crore).

     

    He also said that Hathway had been wrongly accused of making changes in the composition of the packages. In any case, the MSO was not offering the channels on a standalone basis and so the provision under the Quality of Services regulations did not apply to them.

     

    When talks between the two parties failed, he said the RIO was forwarded on 25 January and was to be effective from February.

     

    However,Star Sports Counsel Rakesh Dwivedi said the RIO had been accepted by Hathway in November last year which was revised by Hathway in January this year. Dwivedi wanted to know why the RIO should be made effective from February 2014 when the Subscriber Register had been supplied by Hathway in December last year.  Furthermore, no facts had been shown by Hathway to show the end of pleadings.

    Further arguments will continue tomorrow with counsel for Star expected to conclude his arguments and Hathway responding to them.

  • Hathway bags HR Excellence Award

    Hathway bags HR Excellence Award

    MUMBAI: Multi system operator Hathway Cable & Datacom has added another feather to its cap by winning the HR Excellence Award organised by Genius Consultants in association with Times of India.

     

    This was the first time ever that Hathway as an organisation had participated in an HR Award category and its Human Resource VP Sunil Suji bagged the award as “The HR Leader of the Year” in the Large Enterprise category.

     

    Suji commented, “This recognition brings a great sense of achievement along with an added responsibility to excel further. I dedicate this award to my HR team, who has been instrumental for all the achievements in the last year. Along with the team, I look forward to enable movement of the HR function to a business Partner Model by developing Centers of Excellence and an HR strategy aligned to the Business. Various plans towards improving the learning function and compensation strategies are on the cards.”

     

    Hathway MD and CEO Jagdish Kumar said, “My heartfelt congratulations to Sunil for this esteemed achievement.  This is a well-deserved recognition. It should motivate him to achieve greater excellence in making Hathway the most preferred employer. I also appreciate the various HR initiatives taken by him with regards to policies and governances that has made Hathway more organized and distinguished in Cable and Broadband sector.”

     

    About 450 organisations from across the country participated in the event – namely, Mahindra & Mahindra, Exide Industries, L& T Finance, Tikona Digital Networks, Jubilant Food Works, Viom Networks, Berkedia Services, amongst others.

     

    The company’s EVP Jagadesh Babu Botta stated, “I extend my hearty congratulations to Sunil for his exemplary efforts in HR which have led to the receipt of this award. This transformation of the HR functions towards increased partnership with the business, thereby enabling a dynamic work culture. His efforts in developing a vibrant HR team, talent acquisition, learning and employee welfare are highly appreciated.”

     

    Genius HR Excellence Awards was instituted in the year 2011, and the last three years have been very successful wherein blue chip companies across all segments of the industry, have participated on a pan India basis and have won the awards. 

  • Dispute deepens between Star India and Hathway

    Dispute deepens between Star India and Hathway

    MUMBAI: The case is up for a long hearing, with no resolution coming out soon. Star India and Hathway Cable & Datacom have emerged from another round of the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) hearing with just another date in their hand.

     

    While the earlier interim order still applies, the broadcaster feels that there is an issue of under declaration of subscriber numbers. Earlier last week, Hathway had submitted to Star, its subscriber management system (SMS) report for April to July which according to sources is an average of 4.4 million.

     

    However, a Star India executive informs that it wasn’t satisfied with the declaration and had filed a clarification application regarding number of active subscribers. To this, Hathway responded today in TDSAT that the declared numbers were indeed active subscribers. The MSO had also responded to the application that it had already furnished the required SMS report, post which the broadcaster withdrew it.

     

    Hathway had paid Rs 26.5 crore for DAS I areas of Mumbai and Delhi, DAS areas of Kolkata and DAS II areas. However, the Star executive feels that the MSO has omitted the subscribers of its sports packs and the amount paid should be higher.

     

    “We have now given the details to our auditor to evaluate and then we will be raising invoices on the same,” says the executive.

     

    The case has now been postponed to another date.

     

  • TDSAT expresses displeasure over Hathway-Taj TV squabble, agrees to hear matter next week

    TDSAT expresses displeasure over Hathway-Taj TV squabble, agrees to hear matter next week

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT), which earlier this month gave a lengthy order settling a dispute between Hathway Cable & Datacom and Taj Television, has expressed its ‘deep displeasure over the manner in which both sides are sniping and chipping at each other giving rise to completely futile litigations.’

     

    The comment by TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh came following a new miscellaneous application on the issue by Hathway on 8 August and the announcement by Taj Television that it was also filing a miscellaneous application. The Tribunal listed the matter for further hearing on 13 August.

     

    Earlier this month, TDSAT had directed Taj Television to restore with immediate effect the signals of Zee TV channels to Hathway pending the final hearing of the petition by the latter.

     

    It had also directed Hathway as an interim measure to make payment of the monthly subscription fees from 1 April 2014 (in case of Kolkata and Digital Addressable System – II areas) and from 1 May 2014 (in case of Delhi and Mumbai) up to 31 July at the rate of Rs 21.60 cost per subscriber basis.

     

    The Tribunal asked Taj to reply to the petition filed by Hathway in three weeks and asked the MSO to file a rejoinder if any two weeks thereafter.

     

    However, following a new miscellaneous application by Hathway objecting to certain advertisements and scrolls being carried on Zee channels, TDSAT said, “Having regard to the amounts of revenue that is generated by the broadcasting industry, the vast social space occupied by it and the social role it claims to play, one should have expected the two sides, each of them major players in the industry, to act responsibly and show a modicum of restraint in their dealings with each other but they seem to be freely indulging in unseemly squabbles. What is more, they seem to show no regard much less any respect for the proprieties of judicial proceedings.”

     

    While TDSAT noted that Taj Television counsel Pratibha Singh was prepared to withdraw the advertisements and even invited Hathway counsel Arun Kathpalia to have a discussion with her on the issue, she said that distribution arm for Zee was preparing a miscellaneous application for recall or modification of the Tribunal’s order of 1 August.

     

    The Tribunal said: “It is surprising that an application is proposed to be filed for recall/modification of the order even before our signatures on the order are yet not fully dried. The reason stated for filing the application is even more surprising; it is stated that on that date, the local people at Taj Television and the counsel representing it were not fully posted with the facts, especially in regard to the placement agreements between the two sides.”

     

    Noting that “no party can be stopped from filing an application,” the Tribunal insisted that both parties must be present at the next hearing in person. 

     

    Zee Channels were earlier being distributed to Hathway by Media Pro but the latter was not in a position to renew the agreements in view of the regulations issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India around the same time the earlier agreements came to end.

     

    Thus, the Zee group of channels came to be handled by Taj Television. But when discussions between Hathway and Taj Television for Zee TV channels failed to yield any results, Taj Television on 26 June sent the RIO based agreement executed from its side. There was delay on the part of Hathway in executing the RIO based agreement and in the meanwhile Taj Television issued the disconnection notice under regulation 6.1 on 8 July 2014 and the public notice under regulation 6.5 on 11 July 2014. However, Hathway later counter-signed the RIO based agreement and sent it back to Taj Television which refused to accept a cheque sent by Hathway. This led to the petition by the MSO. 

  • Sony seeks ‘Pal’ in housewives

    Sony seeks ‘Pal’ in housewives

    MUMBAI: “I will be seeking the moon,” says Multi Screen Media CEO NP Singh, as he announced the launch of the network’s much talked about new Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC), Sony Pal. The network which had conceptualised the new channel last year is very confident about the channel, its offerings and the packaging. “Now we will see how viewers respond to it,” adds the optimistic Singh.

     

    Targeted at women, mostly housewives, in the age group of 15-34 years, in SEC BCDE, Sony Pal was a dream for Singh, which is now finally taking shape. The target audience was chosen after the result of the research which showed that 88 per cent of viewership for a GEC comes from housewives. “The new channel will complement our other offerings,” he says.    

     

    “Today’s women have started realising that they can not only contribute to the society, but also augment family income. Through Pal, we will celebrate these women,” says Singh.

     

    The network did an extensive research before deciding on the content, the channel packaging and the target audience. “Our research showed that there was latent demand for a content which was progressive and positive,” he informs.

     

    The channel is based on the theme ‘Yeh Pal Humara Hai’. “This is the moment to shine, to evolve, to excel and achieve. This moment belongs to her and her alone,” says Sony Pal and Sab senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor while adding that this is not a generic promise, but a personalised one.

     

    The channel will go live from 1 September, with actor Juhi Chawla as its brand ambassador and with content which is empowering and that showcases positive aspects of modern India, while presenting the traditional aspect. “We will showcase family togetherness and not strife, which is what most channels today showcase,” adds Kapoor.

     

    When asked the reason for roping in Chawla, the duo say, “She is a person who is empowered, successful and yet approachable. She was the first name that came to us, and we stuck with her.”

     

    The channel logo, which dons colours pink, purple and yellow and has diamonds, a woman’s best friend, has been designed by an Australian agency.

     

    Sony Pal for Kapoor is mature and the shows will help connect the audience with a life that is beautiful and not a struggle. The channel will initially go on air with three hours of original content, which will be aired from Monday to Saturday between 7:30 pm-10:30 pm. Also, it will have two hours of original programming on Sunday evening. “After a month, we will launch the Balaji Telefilms’ show at the 7pm slot, thus taking original content to 3.5 hours,” informs Kapoor. The slot for the Sunday programming has not yet been disclosed.

     

    The channel launches with nine shows, these include: Simply Baatein which is produced by GR8 Entertainment and  anchored by Raveena Tandon, Dil Hain Chotasa Choti Si Asha, produced by SOL Productions and hosted by Ragini Khanna and Jay Soni, Shashi Productions’ Ek Rishta Aisa Bhi, Miloni Films’ Khushiyon Ki Gullakh Aashi¸ Singhasan Battisi by Creative Eye, Pia Basanti Re by Rashmi Sharma and Pawan Kuma, Tum Sath Ho Jab Apne produced by Sphere Origins, Sister Didi by DJ’s Creative Unit and Yeh Dil Sun Raha Hain by Balaji Telefilms.

     

    All the series are infinite and the channel will take a call on the number of episodes based on its performance. While no advertisers have currently come onboard, the network is positive about its content. “We have showcased our product to them and they have responded positively. They first want to see the shows and the channel and then decide. And we are in no hurry too,” says Singh.

     

    The channel will look at afternoon slots later. “There is a lot of ground to be covered. This is just the beginning,” adds Kapoor. The shows while initially will be shot at outdoor locations of Patiala, Baroda, Lucknow and other HSM cities, will later move to sets.

     

    The soon-to-go air channel is not free to air and will be available on all the four major multi system operators, DEN Networks, Hathway Cable & Datacom, Siti Cable, Digicable and Fastway in Punjab and all the direct to home (DTH) operators.

     

    On the marketing front, a 360 degree campaign has been designed, which will go live from 10 August. “We have designed a five week campaign with a lot of fresh initiative. One of this is forming women’s club, through which women can identify their talent and can celebrate life,” informs Kapoor.

     

    Manjit Sachdev will be the programming head for the new launch. According to an industry source, the investment in the channel could be anywhere close to Rs 90 crore- Rs 110 crore, including marketing spends. As for the ad rates, a media planner says, “Considering all the shows have been brought in the prime time slot, the ad rate for a 10 second slot could be anywhere close to Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.”

  • Hathway to raise Rs 300.80 crore from FIIs

    Hathway to raise Rs 300.80 crore from FIIs

    Updated: 04:32 PM

    MUMBAI: It continues to be the darling of investors globally. On 6 August 2014, the Indian MSO Hathway Cable & Datacom  got board approval to raise Rs 300.80 crore through a preferential allotment to two foreign institutional investors – the SmallCapWorld Fund (SWF) and American Funds Insurance Series. While it is proposing to allot  70,50,000 shares to SmallCapWorld Fund, American Funds Insurance is expected to mop up 23,50,000 equity shares.

     

    The price that has been fixed is Rs 320 per share and the preferential issue is subject to shareholder and other necessary approvals and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

     

    Last year, Hathway had raised funds from Steadview Capital Mauritius, LTR Focus Fund, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (collectively Rs 100 crore), P6 Asia Holding Investment IV (Mauritius) (Rs 109.90 crore) at a share price of Rs 284 and the promoter Rajan Raheja group (around Rs 40 crore).

     

    Prior to that, in March 2012, Providence Equity Advisors and Macquarie Bank had bought out  News Corp’s 17.3 per cent stake in the MSO at collective a cost of Rs 358.39 crore through secondary market transactions.

     

    Hathway had in June announced the induction of four new independent directors on its board including private equity firm founder and CEO  Bramal Vasudevan, early stage VC firm Kae Capital head Sasha Mirchandani, law firm Trilegal’s partner Sridhar Gorthi and back office administrative services Lexvia Inc founder Devendra Shrotri. The four have been appointed for a five year term.

     

    The MSO has been amongst the more proactive players in the cable TV distribution, broadband and ISP spaces and is seen as a bellwether for the sector. It currently boasts of a cable TV subscriber base of 11.5 million with more than 8 million of them being digital. Its broadband reach is more more than 1.8 million Indian homes and it has more than 400,000 broadband subscribers.

     

    In the year ended 31 March 2014, Hathway notched up revenue of Rs 988.14 crore with a net loss of Rs 125.5 crore on a standalone basis.

  • Hathway can bundle Star channels: TDSAT

    Hathway can bundle Star channels: TDSAT

    MUMBAI: The Star India and Hathway Cable & Datacom case regarding the former’s various channels has got an interim relief from the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). 

     

    As per the order passed on 28 July, TDSAT has asked both Hathway and Star India to enter into cost per subscriber (CPS) deals, starting August. According to this deal, the multi system operator (MSO) will pay Rs 27 per subscriber to the broadcaster for its entire bouquet, which includes entertainment and sports.

     

    It can be noted that earlier Hathway had two separate deals with the broadcaster- one for its sports channels handled separately and the other for the entertainment channels, which was handled by the now dissolved joint venture MediaPro.

     

    The Rs 27 CPS deal is a mid way arrangement proposed by TDSAT as against Hathway’s demand for Rs 22 per subscriber deal and Star’s Rs 31 per subscriber deal.  This means that the MSO has to pay an additional amount for the sports channels now, on a set top box deal, as compared to the RIO deal earlier.

     

    In its interim order, TDSAT has also clarified that Hathway has all the right to bundle the channels the way it feels right. However, the MSO will have to include at least one channel in one/any bouquets that it offers to its subscribers. 

     

    The issue had gained magnitude when Hathway decided to remove Star Sports channels from its base pack to create a separate sports pack and also provide them a-la-carte. The broadcaster objected to this move and took the MSO to the court.

     

    Meanwhile, the court has asked Hathway to clear its dues from April to July this year. This can be calculated at Rs 23 per subscriber for its entertainment channels and RIO for its sports channels together. While Star claims that this amounts to a total of Rs 27 crore, according to Hathway officials, the price is still being worked out. The total amount has to be paid by 30 August. A Hathway official says, “We are disappointed with this particular point as we believe that Rs 23 is much higher than the amount we would have actually paid to Star India as per the agreement between Star and Zee for price sharing after the split of MediaPro.”

     

    A source from Star India says, “Hathway was not paying us because of lack of clarity in the payment deals of sports and entertainment together. With this order, the integrated CPS has been recognised.”

     

    However, both parties agree that this case cannot be taken as a basis for future deals with others. According to officials from both Hathway and Star, the Rs 27 CPS deal cannot be applied to other distribution platform operators.

     

    The case will next be heard on 11 August.

  • Over 100 additional MSOs get 10 year licences, 16 fail to get clearance

    Over 100 additional MSOs get 10 year licences, 16 fail to get clearance

    NEW DELHI: A total of 104 multi-system operators (MSOs) all over the country have been granted permanent registration for 10 years to operate the digital addressable system while the licences of 16 MSOs have been cancelled.

     

    The MSOs in both the approved and the cancelled list had been given provisional permission earlier.

     

    Those who have got permission include IndusInd Media and Communications, Hathway Cable & Datacom, Manthan Broadband, Den Network, Home Cable, Digicable Network, Delhi Distribution Company and Asianet Satellite Communications.

     

    Kolkata based MSO Digicable Communications has been denied permission after the break-up of the joint venture with Mumbai based Digicable Networks, which has received permission for Greater Mumbai, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Greater Kolkata.

     

    Digicable Network India managing director & CEO Jagjit Singh Kohli said that they would ask for a stay on MIB’s decision to cancel the licence in the court. 

     

    Other cancelled permissions include Skynet Digital Services, Jai Maa Vaishno Entertainment, Intermedia Cable Communications, Supersonic Networks and Godfather Communications.

       

    Industry sources said that the approved list was in addition to the 140 whose names had been approved in March last year.

     

    The Ministry website mib.nic.in has added information about the approved MSOs, listing the areas for which they have been given permission.

     

    The website also contains the reasons in brief for the denial of permission to those which have failed to get the licences. In most cases, it is due to failure to get clearance from the Home Ministry.

     

    The new list is the outcome of Open Houses held by the Ministry with various MSOs, while some have come as a result of court cases. 

  • TRAI asks MSOs and LMOs to mutually draft agreement to fast forward billing

    TRAI asks MSOs and LMOs to mutually draft agreement to fast forward billing

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will not see any further delay in implementation of billing. And it is with this aim that the regulator has decided to meet both the last mile owners (LMOs) and the multi system operators (MSOs) at regular intervals. The first of these meetings was held on 3 June in Mumbai, the focus of which remained billing, revenue share and instilling good practices.

     

    TRAI met some 300 cable operators, comprising members of Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) and a few independent MSOs from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune in the morning, while met the national MSOs including: Hathway Cable & Datacom, DEN Networks, Siticable, IMCL and MSOs from Nagpur, Pune among others in the afternoon.

     

    The message from the TRAI officials that comprised GS Kesarwani and SK Singhal was clear. “TRAI has asked the MSOs and LMOs to mutually come up with an agreement clearly defining the revenue share model, billing details etc which then needs to be signed by both the parties. In case the MSOs and LMOs cannot come up with this agreement mutually, TRAI will then draft an agreement, which will have to be followed by all,” informs a MSO who attended the meeting.

     

     No deadline has been set as yet for the two parties to draft the agreement. “TRAI officials also questioned MSOs on the reasons for not complying with the existing regulations,” adds the MSO.

     

    On the other hand, LMOs in their meeting with TRAI brought out issues relating to a few MSOs who indulged in taking the networks forcibly from LMOs, revenue share and billing. “We had a fruitful meeting with TRAI officials and now will wait for what they come up with next,” says MCOF president Arvind Prabhoo.

     

    He informs, “Well! We had reached some kind of agreement on the issue of billing with both Hathway and IMCL four months back, but nothing happened after that. We discussed those issues with TRAI officials as well.”

     

    In the meeting with LMOs, TRAI also discussed issues pertaining to DAS phase III and IV. “We had points about revenue share as well. TRAI has taken notes of the same,” he concludes.