ITV

Tag: MG Azhar

  • DEN Networks CEO SN Sharma resigns

    DEN Networks CEO SN Sharma resigns

    MUMBAI: DEN Networks CEO SN Sharma has decided to quit from his current position. Sharma, one of the founding members of DEN, resigned today, which was accepted with immediate effect.

     

    The announcement was made on the BSE, which read: “Den Networks Ltd has informed BSE that Mr. S. N. Sharma, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company, has resigned due to personal reasons with immediate effect.”

     

    Confirms DEN Networks COO MG Azhar to indiantelevision.com, “He has resigned for personal reasons. We have accepted his resignation with immediate effect.”

     

    On the next CEO, Azhar says, “As they say, watch this space for more.”

     

    Sharma’s vision of growth through consolidation and digitisation had laid the foundation for the company. He has also spearheaded the company’s rapid growth with his visionary leadership and unparalleled execution abilities. He has also been the driving force behind taking the company into the digital era.

     

    He has nearly three decades of experience during which he has been associated with the electronic media industry for over 20 years.

     

    Prior to DEN, Sharma has held key positions in Hathway Cable & Datacom.

  • DEN Networks selects STMicroelectronics for STBs

    DEN Networks selects STMicroelectronics for STBs

    MUMBAI: Enhancing its set top boxes (STBs) and gateways for its six million subscribers, DEN Networks has tied up with STMicroelectronics (ST), the global semiconductor manufacturer and supplier of system on chip (SoC) ICs.

     

    Using this technology in DEN’s new HD zapper boxes, it is looking at growing its customer base and revenues as well. The STiH273 (Palma) integrates a field-proven and widely deployed digital video broadcast-cable (DVB-C) demodulator that has been optimised to work with high-performance external controller area networks (CANs) and silicon tuners to meet the stringent RF-performance requirements of the Indian cable networks.

     

    The STiH273 (Palma) also delivers high-quality Faroudja video, 3DTV support, connectivity, and advanced security schemes with all the latest conditional access system (CAS) support, including NSK2.

     

    Manufactured in 40nm process technology, the chipset supports an enhanced processing engine with integrated on-chip features that simplify set-top box design, enable operators to take advantage of lower-cost memories, and minimize system power consumption.

     

    “Our new high-definition digital set-top boxes leverage STMicroelectronics’ feature-packed and flexible SoC ICs, providing an ideal platform for us to deliver innovative value-added services to our customers,” said DEN Networks COO MG Azhar.

     

    He further added: “The STiH273 SoC is clearly the right choice for our latest generation of set top boxes with the right power, versatility, and features to meet our market needs. We are confident that the chipset will help us in creating both enhanced customer satisfaction and sustaining our leadership edge in India.”

     

    “As a leading Cable MSO in India, DEN Networks sets the trend for technology, modernisation, and radical transformation, and ST is proud to contribute to DEN’s strategic intent. DEN Networks’ selection of ST’s technology underlines our core competencies and reiterates our commitment to this fast-growing market through localization and cooperation with our India partners,” said STMicroelectronics regional vice president for greater China and south Asia region and director for India Design Center Vivek Sharma.

  • MSOs say that cable TV customer response positive for CAFs

    MSOs say that cable TV customer response positive for CAFs

    MUMBAI: Tomorrow is an important day for TRAI chief Rahul Khullar. Reason: the deadline for cable TV subscribers to send in their customer application forms (CFAs) ends then. And like in the past, it is quite likely that he will summon the heads of the major cable TV MSOs to his office and ask them for their latest update on the situation.

    But before that many a cable TV subscriber who has been lax about submitting his CAF to the LCO or the MSO will find his or her analogue connection cut off. Because under cable TV DAS regulations that is the only way TV distribution will function in phase I metros (read Delhi and Mumbai), going forward.

    Delhi, especially has been a worry for those in the digitisation value chain as LCOs and customers there (less than 50 per cent had sent in their CAFs as recently as two weeks ago) were taking the requests for CAFs lightly.

    TRAI then cracked the whip on MSOs hoping to speed up customer response. Broadcasters – even GECs – were roped in to carry interesting promotional ads informing customers about the imperative for submitting CAFs. In fact, even as recently as four days ago, TRAI warned customers that there would be no change of date, so their CAFs would have to come in.

    Indiantelevision.com spoke to some MSO heads to get its own update on how things have been progressing on this front. And most said things were looking up.

    Says DEN Networks COO MG Azhar: “The process has been positive as we have already collected 75 per cent of applications.” Azhar supports the move by TRAI to disconnect customers. “At some point, pressure is good,” he points out. “We are positive that once we undertake all the activities including disconnection of non-complying customers, we will receive 100 per cent applications within a week.”

    Hathway Cable MD & CEO Jagdish Kumar G. PiIlai reveals that the company has received around 80-90 per cent CAFs for subscribers in Mumbai and Delhi. “Tomorrow we have a meeting with TRAI and let’s see how it goes. We are really happy that the response from both LCOs and consumers has been so positive. We hope that by 1 July. we can bring in retail billing.”

    Says InCablenet CEO Nagesh Chhabria: “The collections are still under process, we have managed to collect around 80 per cent in Mumbai and just about 65-70 per cent in Delhi.” Naresh did add that the connections of the non-complying customers will be cut from tomorrow. “The ads currently running across TV sets is spreading awareness about the CAFs and we are confident that the customers will soon comply with the submissions of the forms.”