ITV

Tag: Media Nucleus

  • Doordarshan automates its commercial operations

    Doordarshan automates its commercial operations

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan is going full swing on its proposed revamp. And it’s not just the new programming lineup that the pubcaster is looking at.

     

    As reported earlier by indiantelevision.com , DD has been working hard at upgrading its backend services and in the process was looking at moving from its semi-integrated software that handles different departments manually, to Broadcast Air Time Scheduling System (BATS) software, which integrates all the departments online. The software has been provided by Media Nucleus.

     

    In the latest, Doordarshan has officially launched the BATS traffic and billing software which will now connect its Delhi and Mumbai offices. It can be noted that the pubcaster was looking at completing the integration in three phases. “This is the phase I of the process, in which we have integrated Delhi and Mumbai offices. Our aim is to complete the integration of all the 67 kendras by February 2015,” informed Doordarshan deputy director general CK Jain.

       
    The aim of the BATS software is to provide satisfactory services to the pubcaster’s clients and advertising agencies. Inaugurated by Prasar Bharati chairman Dr A Surya Prakash, the application will integrate all the departments of scheduling, sales and billing, which were earlier being handled manually causing delays and several disputes with agencies.

     
    The application will provide an integrated solution for all processes including sales, scheduling, billing and receipts. It is a menu driven enterprise, an ad scheduling and billing software which has been customised to the needs of Doordarshan. It has various modules associated with respective departments involved in ad-scheduling, logging and billing.

     
    The decision of upgrading the backend was taken since Doordarshan with its wide network of kendras and regional channels across the country was facing difficulty to monitor its outstanding revenue initially, as it was done manually.

     

    The chairman appreciating the initiative said, “Doordarshan should have taken this step 10 years ago but nonetheless this would bring much needed fairness and transparency into the system and will improve the overall efficiency and productivity of the organisation. Doordarshan is a media unit and has to function like a professional media unit as its activities are closely watched by all.”  

     
    Once implemented, BATS will bring much needed efficiency into commercial operations. This centrally-monitored software has all the relevant commercial details available on a single webpage for the management to check at one go. It ensures that all the information is relayed in real time across locations and networks.

     

  • Doordarshan gets a technology boost

    Doordarshan gets a technology boost

    MUMBAI: The otherwise quiet Doordarshan is now making headlines, and all for good reasons. The pubcaster that has brought in a slew of new shows to strengthen its programming is now also looking at upgrading its backend services.

     

    In the latest, Doordarshan has decided to move on from its semi-integrated software that handles different departments manually, to Broadcast Air Time Scheduling System (BATS) software, which integrates all the departments online. The software will be provided by Media Nucleus.

     

    The decision was taken after Doordarshan realised that there were too many manual interventions in every department. Unlike private broadcasters like Star and Zee, where every department is interconnected through Broadcast Traffic Signaling System, the pubcaster until now had been working manually in most of the departments.  

     

    BATS is a software that integrates different departments of the broadcaster; right from the administration to the programming, ad sales, marketing and billing among others. The software is useful, since it allows departments to work in their own capacity and yet compile everything to be put on air, without any revenue leakage.

     

    The software ensures accurate billing by effectively managing account hierarchy, different packages and products, pricing plans, library with barcode tracking, content rights management, automated ad booking along with discounts offered on bulk deals, charges, billing cycle, invoicing, payment processing and collections.

     

    “There are chances of huge revenue leakage when billing is done manually,” informs Media Nucleus director Santosh Nair. Doordarshan (finally) realised that with so many Kendras, decentralised operation and regional channels, the outstanding revenue was difficult to monitor since all was done manually. Hence, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (MIB) decided to remove the existing manual system and put in place a new technology which is used by broadcasters worldwide. 

     

    “With BATS, all the management and ministry level officials and director generals working in DD will get up-to-date information of how much revenue is being booked. With this software they do not have to call people from Delhi to Mumbai or send fax sheets of the revenue collected. It is all available on a webpage, which the management can check to get an understanding of what is happening across the 21 channels of DD, how much revenue is coming from each Kendra and which advertiser has got them the maximum revenue,” adds Nair.

     

    Media Nucleus won the bid after a thorough study conducted by Doordarshan. “We undertook a study of the BATS software of Media Nucleus and GEN 21 of Indonesia. While both the softwares were at par, we chose Media Nucleus, because one it is indigenous and two because it has provided us more customisation, which is what we needed,” informs Doordarshan deputy director general CK Jain.

     

    Jain also points out that they chose Media Nucleus despite getting offers from other companies, who were willing to create special softwares for the pubcaster. “But we wanted something that was already tested. Also, a lot of Indian broadcasters were switching from their existing BATS software to the one by Media Nucleus,” adds Jain.

     

    Doordarshan has 400 stations which will be integrated through BATS. “We evaluated the company and its software for six months and then signed the agreement, two months back,” informs Jain. The contract is on a long term basis with no closure date.

     

    The installation of BATS will be done in three stages. In the first stage BATS will integrate the nine marketing division, DD commercial centre and the 17 Kendras. “This should be completed in the next two and a half months. The whole process should be up and running by early 2015,” says Jain.

     

    The hardware installation has already started. “This has been done after completion of the system requirement study. It was through this study that we understood the kind of customisation that was needed for us,” says Jain.

     

    How will this system help DD? Answers Nair, “We have been chosen on the basis of our experience, expertise and deployments. With our software, DD will be at par with any international broadcaster whereby they will be able to provide end to end seamless integration of all departments with live broadcast. This will also augment enhanced revenues with tight check on billing and outstanding increasing the pubcaster’s profitability.” 

     

    The pubcaster through this is looking to be at par with the other broadcasters. “This is a response to the needs of the advertiser. We will surely be at par with other private channels,” concludes Jain. 

  • New technology simplifies collection for cable ops

    New technology simplifies collection for cable ops

    MUMBAI: Even as industry prepares for phase III of digitisation, here comes a technology that is likely to get more than a warm welcome from cable operators.

    UPASS, a front-end automation for the cable sector and mobility solutions provider, has announced that it has successfully integrated with the subscriber management system of Media Nucleus; a development set to change the collection system. While Kottayam-based Star Vision Cable Networks is the first LCO to use the integrated solution, Media Nucleus is in talks with three other operators for installing the solution to their systems.

    It was at the recently concluded SCaT that the collaboration took place. “We finished the integration and also showcased a part of it during SCaT,” informed Media Nucleus director Santosh Nair. He explained the working of the solution as: “Each subscriber will have an ID, subscriber number or name that will be stored in the subscriber database. Once the subscriber pays the monthly fees, the collection agent will type it on the mobile phone that has all the details relating to the package etc. Also, there is a Bluetooth printer connected to this device, which will help him print a receipt immediately.  The same data will also be sent to the database, which clears the subscriber’s outstanding amount.”

    Technically speaking, UPASS’s cloud model acts as data bridge between the mobile device and the SMS server. There is an option for collection entries to be made either in cash or cheque and the relevant data is passed on to the SMS server in real-time.

    UPASS managing director Ravindra Deshmukh said: “We are excited that Media Nucleus and UPASS are collaborating to help operators overcome the challenges of billing and collection hurdles by providing data in real-time as trusted and actionable information. Our system benefits end users quickly and with self-service, regardless of data volumes and variety, or whether the data is on-premise or in the cloud.”

    The advantages of the solution are three-fold. One, it will make the collection process easier. Two, it will make the system more transparent and help MSOs with instant data on subscribers and revenue collected per day. Three, it is more economical, since it can be used even on a simple Rs 500 mobile phone.

    Nair said every operator had collection issues and with this system in place, “MSOs will just have to follow up on the data. They will get instant information, unlike earlier, when LCOs would collect data and sometimes, not even reveal it. The information will give an upper hand to MSOs as well, who can show it to their investors.”

    The new solution will help both the MSOs and LCOs by making collection easier, says Santosh Nair

    Explained Media Nucleus director technology and delivery Rajiv Tomer: “We had been providing the core solution of subscriber management solution and were looking at integration services to enable collection at the ground level become a part of our solution to our clients.  UPASS, having an industry benchmark solution, gave us the right option to be a go-to-market, providing end-to-end technology with a single integrated platform. We have enabled it in such a way that operators can provide the basic handset to the collection agents, which gets integrated with our SMS.”

    The solution will be available to operators at a one-time investment of Rs 2500. This apart, “the operator will have to pay less than Re 1 per transaction per month,” informed Nair, adding, “We will be meeting operators from Pune next week. We have been getting a good response for the technology.”

    Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president Arvind Prabhoo said the technology would address the biggest problem of digitisation, which is collection. “The cost of collection for the operator is approximately Rs 25. Also, there is a huge process involved with it- right from collecting money from each subscriber to putting the data on computer etc. The solution will reduce this burden and make the system more transparent.”

    “Rs 2500 is just 10 customers for an operator, so it is very economical for them. Also, getting two-three handhelds will also reduce their burden. As for the MSO, they have for long wanted a transparent system, which they can achieve through this,” Prabhoo said.

    The UPASS solution claims that it provides customer data capture and STB activation in real time, channel/package activation from the LMO phone as well.

  • New technology simplifies collection for cable ops

    New technology simplifies collection for cable ops

    MUMBAI: Even as industry prepares for phase III of digitisation, here comes a technology that is likely to get more than a warm welcome from cable operators.

     

    UPASS, a front-end automation for the cable sector and mobility solutions provider, has announced that it has successfully integrated with the subscriber management system of Media Nucleus; a development set to change the collection system. While Kottayam-based Star Vision Cable Networks is the first LCO to use the integrated solution, Media Nucleus is in talks with three other operators for installing the solution to their systems.

     

    It was at the recently concluded SCaT that the collaboration took place. “We finished the integration and also showcased a part of it during SCaT,” informed Media Nucleus director Santosh Nair. He explained the working of the solution as: “Each subscriber will have an ID, subscriber number or name that will be stored in the subscriber database. Once the subscriber pays the monthly fees, the collection agent will type it on the mobile phone that has all the details relating to the package etc. Also, there is a Bluetooth printer connected to this device, which will help him print a receipt immediately.  The same data will also be sent to the database, which clears the subscriber’s outstanding amount.”

     

    Technically speaking, UPASS’s cloud model acts as data bridge between the mobile device and the SMS server. There is an option for collection entries to be made either in cash or cheque and the relevant data is passed on to the SMS server in real-time.

     

    UPASS managing director Ravindra Deshmukh said: “We are excited that Media Nucleus and UPASS are collaborating to help operators overcome the challenges of billing and collection hurdles by providing data in real-time as trusted and actionable information. Our system benefits end users quickly and with self-service, regardless of data volumes and variety, or whether the data is on-premise or in the cloud.”

     

    The advantages of the solution are three-fold. One, it will make the collection process easier. Two, it will make the system more transparent and help MSOs with instant data on subscribers and revenue collected per day. Three, it is more economical, since it can be used even on a simple Rs 500 mobile phone.

     

    Nair said every operator had collection issues and with this system in place, “MSOs will just have to follow up on the data. They will get instant information, unlike earlier, when LCOs would collect data and sometimes, not even reveal it. The information will give an upper hand to MSOs as well, who can show it to their investors.”
     

    Explained Media Nucleus director technology and delivery Rajiv Tomer: “We had been providing the core solution of subscriber management solution and were looking at integration services to enable collection at the ground level become a part of our solution to our clients.  UPASS, having an industry benchmark solution, gave us the right option to be a go-to-market, providing end-to-end technology with a single integrated platform. We have enabled it in such a way that operators can provide the basic handset to the collection agents, which gets integrated with our SMS.”

     

    The solution will be available to operators at a one-time investment of Rs 2500. This apart, “the operator will have to pay less than Re 1 per transaction per month,” informed Nair, adding, “We will be meeting operators from Pune next week. We have been getting a good response for the technology.”

     

    Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president Arvind Prabhoo said the technology would address the biggest problem of digitisation, which is collection. “The cost of collection for the operator is approximately Rs 25. Also, there is a huge process involved with it- right from collecting money from each subscriber to putting the data on computer etc. The solution will reduce this burden and make the system more transparent.”

     

    “Rs 2500 is just 10 customers for an operator, so it is very economical for them. Also, getting two-three handhelds will also reduce their burden. As for the MSO, they have for long wanted a transparent system, which they can achieve through this,” Prabhoo said.

     

    The UPASS solution claims that it provides customer data capture and STB activation in real time, channel/package activation from the LMO phone as well.