Tag: JS Mathur

I&B asks stakeholders to arrive at consensus on difficult issues for successful digitisation

NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) additional secretary J S Mathur, who heads the Task Force for Phase III and IV of Digital Addressable Systems (DAS) for cable television has urged all stakeholders to come together and resolve issues, if targets have to be met.

Noting in the sixth meeting held on 13 March that only seven out of 100 multi-system operators (MSOs) had given the seeding plans for Phase Ill areas.

The data provided by them indicated that about 3.1 million set top boxes had been seeded by them with about 550,000 STBs in their stock and about 2.35 million STBs under orders of purchase. He remarked that the seeding so far was very low vis-a-vis the target.

He said, “Each day counts towards progress in digitisation.” He also said that progress would be slow without public awareness campaign by the stakeholders.

He said there was lack of mutual connect between broadcasters and MSOs with each stakeholder wanting to maximize self interests. There was need for coming to a consensus.

He added that the data on subscription revenue and carriage fee from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation and News Broadcasters Association was still awaited, despite assurances.

He emphasised that broadcasters have to contribute by mounting awareness campaign on their channels as was done by them during Phase I and Phase II and the MSOs have to contribute in this campaign. He said broadcasters should start a dialogue with MSOs immediately.

He welcomed the initiative taken by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to hold a meeting with broadcasters and MSOs to resolve the issue of interconnect agreements.

However, the stakeholders should themselves get their act together and put in their utmost effort to ensure that such issues do not come in the way of achieving the goal of digitisation.

He said that as pointed out by some members of the Task Force, digitisation has begun to benefit all stakeholders. Activity on the ground needs to be accomplished from now itself as it is not a matter that can be put in place overnight.

Representative of MSOs said there were issues of content costing, due to which they were finding it difficult to plan digitisation in new areas. Seeding plans can be firmed up by MSOs only after knowing content cost. Till then, the MSOs can only give their seeding projections instead of seeding plans.

They also stressed that revenue from Phase Ill and Phase IV areas is about 20 to 30 per cent of the total revenue from the country. So content cost in Phase Ill and Phase IV areas cannot be same as that in Phase I and Phase II areas and this has to be taken into account by all stakeholders.

MSOs also complained that broadcasters were not entering into interconnect agreements with the MSOs for Phase Ill areas.

Unless the input cost is known, MSOs cannot educate the consumers about the rates and there are issues of local taxation levied by some State Governments apart from local cable operators switching over to analogue when the digital signal to them is cut off by the MSO.

Broadcasters’ representatives on the other hand said MSOs had not approached the broadcasters for entering into interconnect agreements in new areas. The broadcasters felt that this was because MSOs do not have concrete plans.

Seeding was done by MSOs in Phase I and Phase II without first entering into interconnect agreements with broadcasters and this should not be an issue now, some of the broadcasters said.

They claimed that channel prices had gone up due to technical upgradation from SD to HD, but there had been no increase in the advertisement rates.

A TRAI representative said that according to a TDSAT judgment, MSO/LCO providing cable TV services were free to provide digital cable service in new areas unless it trespasses other areas. He impressed upon the broadcasters to enter into interconnect agreements with MSOs who approach them for content in Phase Ill and Phase IV areas.

Representative of consumer forums mentioned that pricing is the main issue which the consumers are facing. He added that consumers should know the price before he switches over to digital.

Representative of CEAMA stated that they approached as many MSOs as possible to clear their doubts about indigenous set top boxes. However the response from the MSOs has not been encouraging. He reiterated that they have the capacity to meet the requirements of Phase Ill and Phase IV.

A representative of the Uttar Pradesh Government mentioned that CAF forms should be filled by the MSOs before changing to digital mode in Phase Ill and Phase IV areas. He added that the State Government was not having complete seeding data of Phase II cities.

The representative of Jammu and Kashmir wanted consumers to be informed about the set top box price.

March 24, 2015
Subscription rates in DAS phase III & IV expected to be half of that in first two phases

NEW DELHI: The subscription revenue from phase III and IV areas of Digital Addressable System (DAS) is expected to be between 20 to 30 per cent as compared to 70 to 80 per cent from phase I and phase II areas.

Therefore, channel pricing in phase I and II areas need to be decided for areas under phase III and phase IV so that multi-system operators can plan operation in these areas.

This was stated during the fifth Task Force meeting on phase III and IV held recently under the chairmanship of Information and Broadcasting Ministry additional secretary J S Mathur and attended among others by DAS adviser Yogendra Pal.

Pal informed the meeting that while the centre had sought from all states and union territories (UT) the district wise data of urban areas to be covered in phase III with number of households, only Chhatisgarh and Uttar Pradesh had responded.

Similarly, only around 15 states and UTs had responded to the query about nodal officers, both at State level and district level.

Only Gujarat had responded to the query about nomination of one LCO association from each State and UT for the LCO sub-group.

The states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are still to respond to the query about nomination of a local cable operator association to the Task Force.

Mathur directed that copies of the letters written to State Governments in this regard may be provided to the nodal officers present in the meeting to expedite the pending nominations/data.

Referring to procurement plans and stock of Set Top Boxes (STB) requirements of phase III, the MSOs said they had limited inventory of STBs. Procurement of STBs is taking place according to earlier orders and no new orders have been placed by the national MSOs either with foreign suppliers or indigenous STB companies.

The MSOs stated that they are making arrangements for finances for procurement of STBs for phase III. The position with regard to availability of funds would be clear by the end of February.

At the outset, Mathur said digitisation in phase I and II has been possible due to active cooperation and support of State Governments.

A Representative of Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association stated that they had called a meeting with MSOs in December 2014 but the response was not good. None of the major MSOs attended this meeting. He mentioned that indigenous STB manufacturers are ready to discuss all issues with MSOs anywhere and anytime.

Mathur advised the MSOs to have a meeting with indigenous STB manufacturers to sort out all the issues. He said the Ministry was also planning to hold a meeting with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) on the demand of long-term financing.

When MSOs raised the difficulty of signing agreements with broadcasters, a representative of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) stated that broadcasters cannot deny signal to MSOs once they are DAS compliant. He suggested MSOs should make a formal written request to the broadcasters for the signal according to the regulations. He added that broadcasters should enter into agreements with MSOs for distribution of content without waiting for the cutoff date.

A representative of a consumer forum stated that computerized billing was not happening in phase I and II areas. He added that CAF forms should be filled before installation of an STB.

For publicising the extension in date for applying for MSO registration for operation in phase III areas, it was suggested that broadcasters run a scroll on their channels. It was also suggested that MSOs download a video spot made by the Ministry and play it on their local channels.

The MSO representatives were told to share the data of existing MSOs operating in analogue regime with the Ministry. The representative of ASSOCHAM wanted that the broadcasters should be apprised for the same.

Regarding publicity campaign, Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) R Jaya said all stakeholders must contribute in spreading awareness about ongoing digitisation in the country. She suggested MSOs should run audio visual ads on their local channels. She also suggested spreading awareness through handbill or printed ads on monthly bills issued by LCOs to the consumers. She called upon broadcasters to plan publicity campaign on their channels.

FICCI, Cll and ASSOCHAM were asked to draw up a plan for workshops for public awareness campaign.

Mathur re-emphasized the need to mount an awareness campaign by all stakeholders particularly the broadcasters. He also asked all the MSOs to begin discussions with indigenous STB manufacturers to meet the deadlines of phase III of December 2015 and phase IV of December 2016.

February 12, 2015
Pitroda Committee: Prasar Bharati should be free of govt hold

NEW DELHI: A high-level committee under veteran technocrat Sam Pitroda set up to review the working of Prasar Bharati has stressed the need for constituting a Parliamentary Committee, as originally envisaged in the Prasar Bharati Act 1990 to ensure that the pubcaster discharges its duties in accordance with the provisions of the Act and Government defined duties.

In the report submitted today to the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Manish Tewari, it has recommended reorganisation of the pubcaster Board to make it a professionally managed body and make it more effective in guiding the organisation.

Noting that Prasar Bharati’s vision must be to become a genuine ‘public broadcaster’ as against a ‘government broadcaster’, Pitroda told a press meet after submission of the report that he would be meeting both Tewari and I&B Secretary Bimal Julka next week to finalise those steps in the report which can be put into effect immediately.

The report said there is need to bring in complete transfer of ownership and management of assets and Human Resource to Prasar Bharati ‘to make the organisation administratively and financially autonomous of Government’.

A Regulatory Body has to be set up to ensure public accountability of Prasar Bharati with respect to all content broadcast on its television and radio networks. The Regulatory Body should be a sub-committee of the Prasar Bharati Board.

Interestingly, the Committee has suggested setting up of Prasar Bharati Connect (PBC) as the third arm of the public service broadcaster, independent of Doordarshan and All India Radio, to expand the social media. PBC should be mandated to manage the various Social Media initiatives of all the wings of Prasar Bharati. It also wants a Social Media Strategy of Prasar Bharati.

The Committee was set up on 28 January last year and had decided to put in place eleven working groups on different issues and has come out with a report on eight main areas: governance and organisation, funding, human resource, content, technology, archiving, social media and global outreach.

It has said that in addition to the public broadcasting function, there is a distinct requirement for the State to broadcast messages and accomplishments of public interest which can be met by using existing Public and Private broadcaster infrastructure.

The Committee suggests amending the 1990 Act where necessary so as to impart genuine and effective autonomy to the organisation.

Apart from Pitroda, who is Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovation and Chairman of the National Innovation Council, the other members of the committee included additional secretary and nominated Prasar Bharati Board member J S Mathur, National Innovation Council member Shekhar Kapur, former I&B Secretary Asha Swarup, Vikram Kaushik who is a business strategist and brand advisor and part-time member on the Prasar Bharati Board; Prof M P Gupta from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, Dr B K Gairola who is Mission Director (e-Governance), and Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar who was the Convenor.

Pitroda said that about 110 persons gave time to the working groups on various issues. There are 26 main recommendations in the two–volume report.

Referring to Funding, the report says there is need to undertake a professional study to develop a funding mechanism for Prasar Bharati that addresses the need for autonomy with financial accountability. Such a funding model should include government funding, internal resource mobilisation and private investment. There is need to monetise all available archival and other assets of Prasar Bharati as soon as possible to enhance funding, and augment funding of social messaging through cross-subsidising such content through entertainment-led programming and by co-opting industry through their CSR budgets.

However, Pitroda said in reply to a question that the time of licensing TV or radio sets as was being done around five decades earlier could not be revived as it was an old concept.

Referring to Human Resource, he said the pubcaster should be enabled with the power to frame rules and regulations for its employees without seeking prior approval of the Government.

When it was pointed out that a similar announcement has been made several times since 1997 when the Act was operationalised, Sircar said the pubcaster cannot frame its own rules.

There was need to undertake a comprehensive manpower audit and HR planning exercise to map workforce requirements for the future in line with Prasar Bharati’s mandate.

It was necessary to supplement manpower audit with a re-deployment plan that addresses training, re-skilling and promotion of existing manpower through an institutionalised modern appraisal system.

The committee said there was need to create an effective recruitment system to attract the best talent and allow the hiring of skilled professionals, and encourage and initiate steps for absorption of Government employees as fulltime employees of Prasar Bharati, after an appropriate screening process. The ones who remain in Government may be considered for absorption in other departments within the government as is done in other cases.

Referring to content, he stressed the need to scale up allocation of funds for content generation to 50 per cent of the total expenditure within a period of 5 to 7 years. The Committee wants a review of all existing channels and content of DD and AIR, based on their relevance, output and viability and phase out those where there is sub-optimal utilisation of resources.

There should be encouragement of outsourcing of content creation to external producers to attract high quality and diverse programming and creation of distinct brand identities for different TV and Radio channels, and define the content strategy for each.

Referring to technology, the Committee wants expansion of the satellite and digital cable TV operations to meet the obligation of public service broadcasting. There is need to digitalise the present AM radio system to a new digital radio transmission after due evaluation subject to cost and availability of DRM receivers. In the transition period, FM may be expanded according to demand.

It stressed the need to selectively digitalise terrestrial TV operations based on commercial viability.

Any further expansion of and investment in digital terrestrial telecast should be suitably evaluated after field reviews and assessment of developments in the telecom sector, it said.

Interestingly, the Committee wanted involvement of the private sector to expand the broadcasting market with a view to effectively utilise the infrastructure being built by Prasar Bharati to enable faster growth in the receiver ecosystem.

On archives, it recommended state-of-the-art digital archives for consolidating and preserving DD and AIR’s content: both existing as well as that being currently generated. There is expansion of scope to make it the National Audio-Visual Archives so as to consolidate and support all other government initiatives.

The Committee wants the creation of dedicated, multi-platform channels for dissemination of Prasar Bharati’s archival products: for both open access and monetisation.

Referring to global outreach, it wanted the creation of a world-class broadcasting service benchmarked with the best in the world using next-generation opportunities, technologies, business models and strategies.

When pointed out that DD India was already working as an international channel, Pitroda said the platform should be designed for new media first and then extended to conventional TV.

There was need to outline an effective content strategy for Prasar Bharati’s global platforms (TV and Radio) focused on projecting the national view rather than the narrow official viewpoint.

In a covering note to the Minister, the Committee said: “Today, we have a unique window of opportunity to transform our broadcasting service (both All India Radio and Doordarshan) into a cutting-edge platform capable of delivering its commitment to public service in the best possible manner, while keeping pace with the competitive needs of the 21st Century. However, as our report suggests, this transformation will require a bold, clear vision, a focus on generational change, and new models and approaches in every aspect of the public service broadcaster’s activities.

January 24, 2014