ITV

Tag: J Jayalalithaa

  • AIADMK to launch Amma TV to promote govt schemes

    AIADMK to launch Amma TV to promote govt schemes

    MUMBAI: The current ruling government of Tamil Nadu has decided to launch its own news channel and newspaper to propagate government schemes.

    The matter was decided at a party legislators’ meeting chaired by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy CMO Panneerselvam.

    When J Jayalalitha ruled the state, Namathu MGR and Jaya TV served as mouthpieces for the party, but after the ousting of VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran from AIADMK, both platforms have become too critical of the ruling government.

    The name of the newspaper would be Namathu Amma and will launch on 17 January while the TV channel is probably named as Amma TV, Jayalalitha’s moniker and is in the works.

    In November, income tax raids under Operation Clean Money targeted shell firms belonging to 10 groups, including those run by members of Sasikala’s family and associates. The raids that went on for five days were also conducted at Jaya TV premises and at the residence of its managing director Vivek Jayaraman, another nephew of Sasikala.

  • How ‘internet’ mourned Jayalalithaa’s death

    How ‘internet’ mourned Jayalalithaa’s death

    MUMBAI: 5 December, 2016, was a dark day. Not just for Tamil Nadu politics, but for everyone inspired by and believing in the strength of a self-made woman who rose to the senior ranks of leadership.

    Tamil Nadu’s former chief minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa’s death was a shock to the entire nation.

    The announcement itself shrouded in doubts, rumours, misreporting and impending fear of rioting, it set India, and even people abroad, talking about it through social media.

    So much so, that between 4 and 8 December ‘Jayalalithaa – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’ was the most searched topic on Google search, according to data collated by the digital marketing enterprise Liqvd Asia.

    Mention of ‘Jayalalithaa’ also surged during this span of time.

    ​public://jaya1.jpg​

    If one were the spread out the reception/ reaction of her death on the internet into various platforms, it was clear that most people were mourning her death on Twitter. Twitter lead the discussions with a staggering 97.2 per cent, followed by comments. A total of 609K conversations on her were recording online during this time, as per the data provided by Liqvd Asia.

    ​public://jaya2.jpg​

    Going by regions, Puducherry showed complete interest in the matter with 100 per cent of its online conversation surrounding Jayalalithaa’s death. It followed naturally by Tamil Nadu. 36 per cent of the conversation coming from Andaman And Nicobar Islands too were about Jayalalithaa’s death.

    ​public://jaya3.jpg​

    Globally, while almost 75 per cent of the conversation recorded in India was about Jayalalithaa, the U.S., Malaysia and the UK too were talking about the same.

    ​public://jaya4.jpg​

    (The above story is based on the info-graphics provided by Liqvd Asia)

  • How ‘internet’ mourned Jayalalithaa’s death

    How ‘internet’ mourned Jayalalithaa’s death

    MUMBAI: 5 December, 2016, was a dark day. Not just for Tamil Nadu politics, but for everyone inspired by and believing in the strength of a self-made woman who rose to the senior ranks of leadership.

    Tamil Nadu’s former chief minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa’s death was a shock to the entire nation.

    The announcement itself shrouded in doubts, rumours, misreporting and impending fear of rioting, it set India, and even people abroad, talking about it through social media.

    So much so, that between 4 and 8 December ‘Jayalalithaa – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’ was the most searched topic on Google search, according to data collated by the digital marketing enterprise Liqvd Asia.

    Mention of ‘Jayalalithaa’ also surged during this span of time.

    ​public://jaya1.jpg​

    If one were the spread out the reception/ reaction of her death on the internet into various platforms, it was clear that most people were mourning her death on Twitter. Twitter lead the discussions with a staggering 97.2 per cent, followed by comments. A total of 609K conversations on her were recording online during this time, as per the data provided by Liqvd Asia.

    ​public://jaya2.jpg​

    Going by regions, Puducherry showed complete interest in the matter with 100 per cent of its online conversation surrounding Jayalalithaa’s death. It followed naturally by Tamil Nadu. 36 per cent of the conversation coming from Andaman And Nicobar Islands too were about Jayalalithaa’s death.

    ​public://jaya3.jpg​

    Globally, while almost 75 per cent of the conversation recorded in India was about Jayalalithaa, the U.S., Malaysia and the UK too were talking about the same.

    ​public://jaya4.jpg​

    (The above story is based on the info-graphics provided by Liqvd Asia)

  • Arasu reports Rs 181.91 crore revenue in 2014-15

    Arasu reports Rs 181.91 crore revenue in 2014-15

    MUMBAI: J. Jayalalithaa owned Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation’s (TACTV) revenues have seen an upward trend after it was revived by the present AIADMK regime. The multi system operator (MSO) has reported revenue of Rs 181.91 crore in 2014-15 from Rs 2 crore it had reported in 2010-2011.

     

    As per the Information Technology Department policy note tabled in the State Assembly, Arasu’s revenue rose by 64.3 per cent between 2011-2012 and 2014-15, in view of growing subscriber base, a PTI report said. The MSO had reported revenue of Rs 64.8 crore in 2011-12. 

     

    The increase in revenue, as per the report, was due to increasing subscriber base and tapping revenues from private local channels.

    While the MSO has so far not been granted the licence to operate in the DAS areas, its cable subscribers have grown manifold. Arasu, which in September 2011 had 4.94 lakh subscribers in Tamil Nadu, currently serves 70.52 lakh subscribers through 26,246 local cable operators (LCOs). 

     

    Additionally, realizing the need for having a broadband base in order to grow the average revenue per user (ARPU), Arasu entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with RailTel Corporation for providing broadband and internet services through LCOs. 

     

    As per the PTI report, the Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has granted the Unified License—ISP Category ‘B’ authorisation for offering the broadband and internet services.

     

    As a pilot project, around 1000 internet connections, through 35 LCOs have been provided and the service quality is being closely monitored. The government is taking steps to popularise internet service through LCOs in order to increase connections in the state.

  • Chennai: A story of failed digitisation attempts

    Chennai: A story of failed digitisation attempts

    MUMBAI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) has a long wish list for the cable TV sector and one among them is the timely completion of digitisation of phase III and phase IV. While stakeholders have taken up the challenge to ensure that they meet the deadline, what remains to be seen is how will the Ministry deals with the southern cities of Chennai and Coimbatore, which fall in phases I and II respectively and still needs to see complete digitisation.

     

    While other metros like Mumbai and Delhi have seen 100 per cent digitisation, Chennai falls way behind. An I&B report in 2012 had said that close to 62 per cent of the homes in Chennai were digitised. Rubbishing the report, the Chennai Metro Cable TV Operators’ Association said that the reality was far from the figures released by the Ministry.

     

    “There are close to 30-35 lakh cable TV homes in Chennai and of this, only five lakh have been digitised,” a multi system operator (MSO) operating in the city tells Indiantelevision.com.

     

    There are six MSOs operating in Chennai and each of these MSOs have converted only 10 per cent of their consumers to digital TV homes. “We had placed orders for close to one lakh set top boxes, but have seeded only 25,000. The reason behind this is the pending Arasu case in the court,” says the MSO.

     

    Another problem, which MSOs are facing is that of pay TV channels being available to Arasu Cable for free, while the other operators are paying for it. “About 33 pay channels are available to Arasu Cable for free, but we are paying for those 33 channels. It is a big hurdle in the path to digitisation,” adds an MSO.  

     

    As for the ongoing case against Arasu, the court asked the I&B Ministry to submit its Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) report, which hasn’t been submitted as yet. “Not only this, almost 125 cases have so far been filed in the court regarding analogue switch off. The MSOs want to seed set top boxes, but we cannot move forward till the court comes up with a decision on Arasu,” informs the MSO.

      

    The MSOs in Chennai are preparing themselves for the competition they face from the direct to home (DTH) players. For the same, they are now looking at installing hybrid HD boxes and also pushing broadband to their subscribers. “We want to maintain the digital subscribers and so we are now moving to HD boxes,” he says.  

     

    The condition of Coimbatore, which falls under phase II, is no better. So far the city has not seen any analogue cable TV home being converted to digital home.

     

    Also pertinent to not here is that after several failed attempts at getting the DAS license, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had resorted to writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to issue the DAS license to the state owned cable operator. In the letter, Jayalalithaa had requested the Inter Ministerial Committee to submit its final report too.

     

    Complete digitisation spanning 100 per cent homes in Chennai and Coimbatore is possible only after the court gives its final verdict on the state owned Arasu Cable. If the I&B really wants its vision for cable TV digitisation to be complete, it will have to fast track the case.

  • 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.

     

  • Tamil cinema industry goes for silent fast for Jayalalithaa

    Tamil cinema industry goes for silent fast for Jayalalithaa

    MUMBAI: Expressing their solidarity with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and a former actor J Jayalalithaa, members of the Tamil cinema industry on Tuesday embarked on a day-long silent fast on 30 September.

     

    Over 300 Tamil film actors, directors, producers and more than 3000 film workers have gathered at Marina beach to join the protest. Various industry associations, including Tamil Nadu Producers’ Council (TPFC) and South Indian Artists’ Association (SIAA) besides others and small screen personalities also participated in the fast.

     

    Noted actors taking part in the protest include R Sarath Kumar, directors Vikraman and Liaqath Ali Khan, producers S Thanu and T Siva among others.

     

    All theatres in the state will also be shut down and films will only be screened only after 6 pm on Tuesday.

     

    Jayalalithaa was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore on 27 September by a Bangalore special court judge, who found her guilty in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.

  • Arasu Cable to now foray into broadband service with Railtel

    Arasu Cable to now foray into broadband service with Railtel

    MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa owned Arasu Cable may be struggling with getting the licence to operate in the digital addressable system (DAS) areas, but it is now gearing up to launch its broadband service in collaboration with Railtel Corporation of India.

     

    With this, the Chennai based multi system operator (MSO) will give its customers affordable broadband services, through cable TV connection.

     

    It was in August, when during the Assembly session, Jayalalithaa declared that Arasu Cable, which currently provides cable TV connections at Rs 70 per month to its close to 70 lakh customers, will foray into broadband.

     

    The service, according to Tamil Nadu Information department secretary T K Ramachandran will start in a couple of months.

     

    The interested cable operators are currently being trained about the new service. The government plans to complete the training in every district by the end of the month.

     

    The pilot project was conducted in Vellore with around 1,000 subscribers being given access to the service. The tariffs have not yet been fixed, but the schemes are in place. 

  • 106 MSOs registered says Javadekar; Arasu application under review

    106 MSOs registered says Javadekar; Arasu application under review

    MUMBAI: The government is doing well in the area of registering multi system operators (MSOs), especially in those areas where digitization has been implemented. This was stated by information & broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar in a written reply in th Rajya  Sabha. He revealed that 106  MSOs have  have been granted permanent registrations by his ministry to enable them to operate in digital addressable system (DAS) zones.

     

    He added that the I&B ministry had received a letter from the Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to also register the government run MSO the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corp  Ltd to allow it to operate in the DAS notified areas of the southern state.

     

    He disclosed that his ministry was examining Arasu’s application in the light of the TRAI’s recommendations regarding the entry of government entities in the broadcasting and distribution activities.

     

    The TRAI has been consistent in its stand that state government entities should not be allowed to enter the business of broadcasting and distribution of TV channels. It had made these recommendations in its paper on Issues related to entry of certain entities into Broadcasting and Distribution Activities in December 2012, and reiterated them in its consultation paper on monopoly/market dominance in cable TV in June 2013.

  • Tamil Nadu local cable ops refuse to pay more to Arasu

    Tamil Nadu local cable ops refuse to pay more to Arasu

    MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has been constantly requesting the centre to approve the DAS licence for her state owned multi system operator (MSO) Arasu Cable. However, due to TRAI regulations, it is stuck with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).

     

    Recently, the MSO sent out a letter to its local cable operators (LCOs) demanding more money from them on the premise that LCOs have been under declaring their subscriber base. At a meeting held earlier this week in Chennai, three LCO association bodies met and informed the cable ops to be wary of this demand.

     

    Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Chennai Metro Cable Operators Association general secretary MR Srinivasan says, “Firstly Arasu doesn’t have a licence and yet it is operating. The MIB needs to decide whether or not it wants to give it a licence. Because of this, we aren’t able to enter into any business agreements with them even though TRAI has said that there should be a valid contract between the MSO and the LCO.”

     

    Arasu has asked its cable operators to have a fixed subscription fee of Rs 70. While keeping the subscription fee intact, Arasu has asked the LCOs that were so far paying Rs 20 per subscriber to it, to increase it to Rs 30 per subscriber. The extra Rs 10, according to Arasu is for maintenance.

     

    Srinivasan says that though the LCOs want to enter into formal agreements, the fact that Arasu is devoid of a DAS licence is keeping them at bay.