Tag: IMCL

Hinduja Group media head Mansukhani spells out priorities

NEW DELHI: The new CEO & MD of Hinduja Media Group Ashok Mansukhani, a veteran of Indian media industry, has already got his priorities etched out and expressed willingness to work along with all stakeholders of the sector for the overall growth and mutual benefits.

Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, the bureaucrat-turned-corporate-executive Mansukhani said priorities included getting digital rollout of Indian TV services “back on track”, push for promotion of digitisation and increased education of consumers, explore how some of his cable segment colleagues could benefit from digitisation and last, but not the least, to work towards bringing other segments of the media and entertainment sector, including regulators and policy-makers, together so a conducive environment for a mature dialogue could be created.

Indirectly admitting that digitisation had hit roadblocks in the last 12-18 months owing to several reasons, Mansukhani said while the third phase of digitisation is coming to an end, edges in the fourth and last phase need to be ironed out. “At the end of the day, it’s a matter of 73 million homes in small towns and hamlets in the last phase of digitisation and we cannot take the task lightly,” he explained.

Mansukhani, a former Indian Revenue Service government official, has seen the Indian media industry (specifically the electronic medium) grow from staid Doordarshan days to the present vibrant — and possibly a bit chaotic — stage of evolution when the country has over 800 private sector licensed TV channels, several distribution platforms and approximately 50,000 cable operators. His stints at the pubcaster’s headquarters in New Delhi’s Mandi House area, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and later in the private sector with the Hinduja Group, puts him in a unique position.

According to Mansukhani, who now will be heading the media assets of the multi-billion dollar Hinduja Group, including MSO company IndusInd Media and Communications Ltd (IMCL) and the HITS venture, the Indian media and TV industry is at a critical stage of development and hinted increased litigation and face-off with the regulator and policy-makers could be detrimental for the industry, which needs to come together to voice the genuine and common concerns of the industry.

“I would also like to see and explore how we can help cable operator colleagues and others benefit from digitisation,” Mansukhani said, adding that a more concerted effort needs to be put in by stakeholders, including broadcasters, distribution platforms and the regulator, to educate consumers, especially those in small towns, about the long term benefit of digitisation despite the monthly outflow in subscription fee increasing a bit.

“Consumer education is very important in general and especially for the fourth phase (of digitisation) homes. All of us need to support this education process as it would be beneficial for all stakeholders,” he said.

Mansukhani comes in place of Tony D’Silva, who joined the Hinduja Group on 1 August 2012 as the president of Hinduja Ventures Limited and strategised the group’s media businesses. D’Silva had expressed a desire to demit office after completion of his contract on 31 January 2017 to pursue “other interests and spend more time with his family,” according to an official statement from the Hinduja Group.

However, it needs to be seen how Mansukhani grows the comparatively new HITS business carried out under a separate group company, apart from tackling the challenges of IMCL, an MSO.

ALSO READ:

Ashok Mansukhani takes over as IMCL CEO & MD

Distribution vet Tony D’silva departs from IMCL

February 1, 2017
Ashok Mansukhani takes over as IMCL CEO & MD

MUMBAI: Hinduja Ventures Limited (HVL)’s whole-time director Ashok Mansukhani will take over from Tony D’Silva aftre the latter completes necessary formalities.

D’Silva, after being with the Hinduja group for over four and half years, since August 2012, had expressed his desire to demit office in order to pursue other interests and spend more time with his family.

On 1 August, 2012, D’Silva took over as the HVL president and strategised the group’s media business. He went on to head Hinduja Group companies — IndusInd Media Communications Limited and Grant Investrade Ltd. – as their MD and CEO, where he completed his service contract on 31 January ’17.

D’Silva, in a span of around five years, overhauled the group’s media businesses in a challenging and changing environment and put it on a strong platform for growth. Under his leadership, the business conceived and launched the unique Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) platform, designed to boost the digitisation of local cable operators and MSOs.

D’Silva and his team established the concept of prepaid model in the cable industry, a revolution in the prevailing system of credit extension which was stressing out business.

January 31, 2017
Ashok Mansukhani takes over as IMCL CEO & MD

MUMBAI: Hinduja Ventures Limited (HVL)’s whole-time director Ashok Mansukhani will take over from Tony D’Silva aftre the latter completes necessary formalities.

D’Silva, after being with the Hinduja group for over four and half years, since August 2012, had expressed his desire to demit office in order to pursue other interests and spend more time with his family.

On 1 August, 2012, D’Silva took over as the HVL president and strategised the group’s media business. He went on to head Hinduja Group companies — IndusInd Media Communications Limited and Grant Investrade Ltd. – as their MD and CEO, where he completed his service contract on 31 January ’17.

D’Silva, in a span of around five years, overhauled the group’s media businesses in a challenging and changing environment and put it on a strong platform for growth. Under his leadership, the business conceived and launched the unique Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) platform, designed to boost the digitisation of local cable operators and MSOs.

D’Silva and his team established the concept of prepaid model in the cable industry, a revolution in the prevailing system of credit extension which was stressing out business.

January 31, 2017
Distribution vet Tony D’silva departs from IMCL

MUMBAI: Tomorrow, Tony D’silva will serve his last day as the MD and CEO of IMCL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hinduja Ventures.

“I have decided not to renew my contract (with IMCL) as I wanted to take a break,” D’Silva told Indiantelevision.com. He denied knowledge of his replacement. “They may announce it tomorrow, or whenever,” he said.

During his stint at IMCL, he helped roll out the Hinduja-promoted headend in the sky (HITS) project NXT Digital, a process which took the group sometime, courtesy regulatory cholestrol. He also rolled out pre-paid subscriptions for the both NXT Digital and the cable network INCable which resulted in a consistent revenue stream for the latter. However, the haphazard management of the DAS III and DAS IV process by the government resulted in idelays. This meant that NXT Digital could not get fair digital content deals with some broadcasters. And this impacted its business planning.

Looking back at the broadcast industry in India, the cable veteran of 20 years said that he witnessed exciting times in the industry. “There were tremendous challenges as well — some were natural and others created,” he remarked.

The cable and broadcast industry was at cusp of a paradigm change, he said. “With new regulations, changes are taking place at least in spirit — if not (practically, or) legally. I hope it changed the course of the industry’s progress,” he said.

With the positive changes — from push to a pull economy, each constituent and stakeholder of the distribution value chain, he said, must be able to sustain on its own. He said he hoped the industry’s fortunes would turn around sooner than later. He would not hazard a guess on the possible changes the budget may bring in.

About the recent development that one MSO licence would permit pan-India service, he said the regulation, rather amendment, had come rather late in the day. “Simply, allowing the MSOs to function across India would not help immediately. From where would they get head-ends or how soon can they lay their fibre connectivity in newer area?” he questioned with a puzzled tone in his voice.

“Until and unless, infrastructure sharing is allowed (and practically operational), there is no point in relaxation of rules which allow a cable operator to operate pan-India with a single licence,” he quipped.

After his break, D’Silva said that he might start a business independently. On prodding about the sector he would be haring into, he shared that he only knew the broadcast industry, with a smile. .

January 30, 2017
Distribution vet Tony D’silva departs from IMCL

MUMBAI: Tomorrow, Tony D’silva will serve his last day as the MD and CEO of IMCL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hinduja Ventures.

“I have decided not to renew my contract (with IMCL) as I wanted to take a break,” D’Silva told Indiantelevision.com. He denied knowledge of his replacement. “They may announce it tomorrow, or whenever,” he said.

During his stint at IMCL, he helped roll out the Hinduja-promoted headend in the sky (HITS) project NXT Digital, a process which took the group sometime, courtesy regulatory cholestrol. He also rolled out pre-paid subscriptions for the both NXT Digital and the cable network INCable which resulted in a consistent revenue stream for the latter. However, the haphazard management of the DAS III and DAS IV process by the government resulted in idelays. This meant that NXT Digital could not get fair digital content deals with some broadcasters. And this impacted its business planning.

Looking back at the broadcast industry in India, the cable veteran of 20 years said that he witnessed exciting times in the industry. “There were tremendous challenges as well — some were natural and others created,” he remarked.

The cable and broadcast industry was at cusp of a paradigm change, he said. “With new regulations, changes are taking place at least in spirit — if not (practically, or) legally. I hope it changed the course of the industry’s progress,” he said.

With the positive changes — from push to a pull economy, each constituent and stakeholder of the distribution value chain, he said, must be able to sustain on its own. He said he hoped the industry’s fortunes would turn around sooner than later. He would not hazard a guess on the possible changes the budget may bring in.

About the recent development that one MSO licence would permit pan-India service, he said the regulation, rather amendment, had come rather late in the day. “Simply, allowing the MSOs to function across India would not help immediately. From where would they get head-ends or how soon can they lay their fibre connectivity in newer area?” he questioned with a puzzled tone in his voice.

“Until and unless, infrastructure sharing is allowed (and practically operational), there is no point in relaxation of rules which allow a cable operator to operate pan-India with a single licence,” he quipped.

After his break, D’Silva said that he might start a business independently. On prodding about the sector he would be haring into, he shared that he only knew the broadcast industry, with a smile. .

January 30, 2017
IMCL: Hinduja Ventures divests minority stake

MUMBAI: MSO company IndusInd Media and Communications Limited (IMCL)’s parent Hinduja Ventured Ltd. (HVL) has sold 0.13 equity stake in the company to a non-Hinduja Group company for Rs. 46.6 million (Rs. 4.66 crore).

The buying company bought into the MSO at a price of Rs. 466 per share based on IMCL equity valuation of Rs. 3444.06 crore as per an independent valuation.

The holding of HVL in IMCL after disinvestment will reduce to 446,58,583 equity shares, 60.43 per cent, of the paid up equity share capital of IMCL, according to information provided to the stock exchanges by HVL.

IMCL is an national level MSO that has widespread cable distribution network in the country and has been in the forefront of digitalising its networks to keep pace with changing times and technology.

Meanwhile, apart from divesting a minority stake in IMCL, the Board of Directors of the HVL approved disinvestment of 1,75,00,000 equity shares of Rs. 10 each held by the company in Hinduja Energy (India) Limited as per independent valuation of Rs. 31.58 per share to third party.

December 1, 2016
IMCL: Hinduja Ventures divests minority stake

MUMBAI: MSO company IndusInd Media and Communications Limited (IMCL)’s parent Hinduja Ventured Ltd. (HVL) has sold 0.13 equity stake in the company to a non-Hinduja Group company for Rs. 46.6 million (Rs. 4.66 crore).

The buying company bought into the MSO at a price of Rs. 466 per share based on IMCL equity valuation of Rs. 3444.06 crore as per an independent valuation.

The holding of HVL in IMCL after disinvestment will reduce to 446,58,583 equity shares, 60.43 per cent, of the paid up equity share capital of IMCL, according to information provided to the stock exchanges by HVL.

IMCL is an national level MSO that has widespread cable distribution network in the country and has been in the forefront of digitalising its networks to keep pace with changing times and technology.

Meanwhile, apart from divesting a minority stake in IMCL, the Board of Directors of the HVL approved disinvestment of 1,75,00,000 equity shares of Rs. 10 each held by the company in Hinduja Energy (India) Limited as per independent valuation of Rs. 31.58 per share to third party.

December 1, 2016
DAS cases put off to 23 Nov as legal processes incomplete

NEW DELHI: All legal cases related to third phase of Digital Addressable System (DAS), listed before a division bench headed by Justice G Rohini of Delhi High Court, have been adjourned to 23 November 2016.

The bench comprising Justice G Rohini and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal did not hear the various cases as it was informed that some legal processes relating to the cases had not been completed. Earlier on 18 October 2016, the division bench had taken cognisance of all cases that challenged any constitutional norms.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva had issued notice in September on two more petitions — filed by Om Systems of Mumbai and Digiana— related to Phase III of DAS. The cases also include an application by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation for being impleaded in the case.

Earlier, on 26 September 2016, the division bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal had held that two matters, filed by Indusind Media & Communication Ltd and Bhima Riddhi Digital Services, were challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of Maharashtra Entertainment Duty Act, 1923 as amended by Maharashtra Entertainment Duty (Amendment and Continuance) Act, 2014 and not the validity of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012.

The Supreme Court had on 1 April 2016 this year accepted the plea of the Central Government that “it would be just and proper” to transfer to Delhi High Court all cases pending in different High Courts, many of which had given injunction orders.

A total of 62 cases had been filed by some multi-system operators (MSOs) in various courts in the country for extension in the deadline of Phase lll. Out of these 62 cases, 12 cases had been disposed of by respective courts and three cases had been withdrawn by the petitioners.

ALSO READ: DAS petitions challenging constitutional provisions listed for 3 November

Several DAS III petitions may be transferred to Division Bench of Delhi High Court

Two more DAS cases put off to Oct. in Delhi HC

November 3, 2016
DAS cases put off to 23 Nov as legal processes incomplete

NEW DELHI: All legal cases related to third phase of Digital Addressable System (DAS), listed before a division bench headed by Justice G Rohini of Delhi High Court, have been adjourned to 23 November 2016.

The bench comprising Justice G Rohini and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal did not hear the various cases as it was informed that some legal processes relating to the cases had not been completed. Earlier on 18 October 2016, the division bench had taken cognisance of all cases that challenged any constitutional norms.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva had issued notice in September on two more petitions — filed by Om Systems of Mumbai and Digiana— related to Phase III of DAS. The cases also include an application by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation for being impleaded in the case.

Earlier, on 26 September 2016, the division bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal had held that two matters, filed by Indusind Media & Communication Ltd and Bhima Riddhi Digital Services, were challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of Maharashtra Entertainment Duty Act, 1923 as amended by Maharashtra Entertainment Duty (Amendment and Continuance) Act, 2014 and not the validity of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012.

The Supreme Court had on 1 April 2016 this year accepted the plea of the Central Government that “it would be just and proper” to transfer to Delhi High Court all cases pending in different High Courts, many of which had given injunction orders.

A total of 62 cases had been filed by some multi-system operators (MSOs) in various courts in the country for extension in the deadline of Phase lll. Out of these 62 cases, 12 cases had been disposed of by respective courts and three cases had been withdrawn by the petitioners.

ALSO READ: DAS petitions challenging constitutional provisions listed for 3 November

Several DAS III petitions may be transferred to Division Bench of Delhi High Court

Two more DAS cases put off to Oct. in Delhi HC

November 3, 2016
NXT Digital-InCable merger gets shareholder nod; D’Silva bemoans lack of ecosystem support

MUMBAI: Hinduja Ventures Ltd’s (HVL’s) proposal to demerge its NXT Digital headend in the sky (HITS) business from its subsidiary Grant Investrade Ltd (GIL) and merge it into its cable TV MSO offshoot Indusind Media & Communications Ltd (IMCL) got the thumbs up from its shareholders at its AGM yesterday.

The cable veteran and IMCL MD & CEO Tony D’Silva says that IMCL is now on the road to fully digest NXT Digital. “We are following the legal process and have already applied to the Bombay High Court and we have also informed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.”

What drove the reorganisation? D’Silva explains: “When we launched NXT Digital, it was incorporated under GIL as an independent company. At that time, we thought it’s better to apply for a licence under GIL and we got the licence. We also thought that it’s better we keep GIL as the company away from IMCL so that no operator will feel that this is a backdoor entry to take over IMCL. But now the time has passed. GIL is an established company and so the NXT Digital move.”

HVL whole time director Ashok Mansukhani adds that work is already on to integrate both NXT Digital and InCable. Says he: “We are starting with the backend. We are already synergising both the services. We have one of the best subscriber management systems (SMS) in HITS – ICC from Hansen Technologies. InCable is using Magnaquest for its SMS it is also migrating towards ICC. They will be kept separate but there will be one front end irrespective of who the operator is. “

D’Silva says that more than 700 cable operator premise equipment (COPEs) have been installed so far. “An estimated three million cable TV subscribers are watching television through our HITS platform,” he reveals. “The philosophy of NXTDigital is very clearly to encourage the cable operator to grow and develop his/her business and also that we are a pure service provider. We don’t want to own any network and that message has gone to all the operators across the country.”

NXT Digital is offering four different packages to MSOs and LCOs who opt for its service. The Gold Cope cost about Rs 13.5 lakh and gives a bouquet of 550 channels, the Silver costs Rs 10 lakh (450 channels) and the Bronze Rs nine lakh (350 channels). A new Eco package has been introduced for Phase IV areas with its price point being Rs 4 lakh (250 channels).

D’Silva points out that almost 60 per cent of the installations are of the Gold Cope Unit in Phase III areas. “Even smaller markets are wanting HD channels,” he says.

But even so the management at NXT Digital is pretty frustrated, and are especially concerned about the future of cable TV digitization. Says Mansukhani: “The final date of digitization is the bottleneck for us. Some 50 cases are pending in the high court. On Monday some cases will be hear. On 26 September there will be five cases in front of a chief justice and on 5 October 35 cases will be heard by a single bench. The chief justice has received these cases and whether they were issued in the constitutional law and interpretation of legislation – that decision will be taken on Monday.”

The nuking of the sunset date for digitization in phase III areas by the various court cases has blown up the progress of NXT Digital. “We had earlier agreed between the IBF, MSOs, TRAI and MIB jointly that till 31 December 2015 the sunset date for Phase III broadcasters would not charge the digital rate to facilitate to process of digitisation,” says D’Silva. “That agreement is valid even today. But broadcasters are charging cable operators analogue rates in Phase III areas and they are slapping us with digital tariffs for the same regions. How is this fair? NXT Digital does not own any network…we are providing services. The same principle should apply to phase IV also where 60 million homes need to be digitized.”

D’Silva exhorts broadcasters and the industry to give it its total support on HITS as it is a step forward in infrastructure sharing (which is a subject of a consultation paper that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India put up recently).

“This must be allowed. How will a big MSO in a small area function when the switchoff happens? He has to come to me. The fact is banks are sharing infrastructure in ATMs. Telcos are doing so too. Why spend money on overbuilding infrastructure,” he asks. “Excepting one broadcaster, all of them are permitting us to provide passive services to MSOs who have a DAS licence and have content agreements with them with the proviso that they pay directly to the broadcaster subject to the SMS report filed by our HITS platform. This one broadcast network is hell bent on undermining our effort to provide television to far flung subscribers in the interiors.”

He further adds” “Then, the subscriber in Phase IV is paying Rs 60-80 for his channels. With a digitized package it could go up to Rs 160 or so. Even otherwise he may have to pay Rs 40 for just a handful of encrypted channels. The beneficiaries are only the broadcasters and they don’t have any digital model for rural India. The BARC ratings shows more and more free to air channel are popular in rural India. Who is going to pay for pay channels?”

Asks Mansukhani: “Are we going to have a digital divide in our country? Digitisation will only be limited to metropolitan India and benefits will not flow to rural India. And going by the current goings-on there is a great danger of that happening.”

September 24, 2016