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Tag: MSO

  • Ashok Mansukhani takes over as IMCL CEO & MD

    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.

  • No DAS III extension beyond 31 Jan, reiterates MIB

    No DAS III extension beyond 31 Jan, reiterates MIB

    MUMBAI: Cable Subscribers in DAS Phase III urban areas, who have not yet taken set-top boxes, are advised to obtain the same from the MSO/cable operators in their areas immediately, failing which they would not be able to watch TV services through Cable TV Networks after 31 January, 2017.

    It is brought to the notice of all concerned that Ministry of I&B would not grant any extension beyond 31 January, 2017 to switch off analog signals in Phase III urban areas. In this connection, Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs have been requested recently to ensure that the Authorized Officer get acquainted with their powers and specified rules to enforce them against defaulters if they continue to carry analog signal in Phase III urban areas after 31 January, 2017.

    The Ministry had issued instructions to all the broadcasters, multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) to ensure that no analog signals are transmitted over the cable networks in Phase III urban areas after 31st January, 2017. “Authorised officers” under Sec 11 of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act can seize the equipment of the MSOs/Cable Operators, if they continues to carry analog signal in Phase III urban areas after 31 January, 2017.

    On account of court proceedings, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had earlier given time up to 31 January, 2017, to switch over to digital mode of transmission in Cable TV Networks in Phase III urban areas.

    Also Read:  MSO registrations remain slow even as DAS deadlines approach

    Also Read:  Slow pace of court cases, MSO registration may delay DAS deadline

  • No DAS III extension beyond 31 Jan, reiterates MIB

    No DAS III extension beyond 31 Jan, reiterates MIB

    MUMBAI: Cable Subscribers in DAS Phase III urban areas, who have not yet taken set-top boxes, are advised to obtain the same from the MSO/cable operators in their areas immediately, failing which they would not be able to watch TV services through Cable TV Networks after 31 January, 2017.

    It is brought to the notice of all concerned that Ministry of I&B would not grant any extension beyond 31 January, 2017 to switch off analog signals in Phase III urban areas. In this connection, Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs have been requested recently to ensure that the Authorized Officer get acquainted with their powers and specified rules to enforce them against defaulters if they continue to carry analog signal in Phase III urban areas after 31 January, 2017.

    The Ministry had issued instructions to all the broadcasters, multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) to ensure that no analog signals are transmitted over the cable networks in Phase III urban areas after 31st January, 2017. “Authorised officers” under Sec 11 of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act can seize the equipment of the MSOs/Cable Operators, if they continues to carry analog signal in Phase III urban areas after 31 January, 2017.

    On account of court proceedings, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had earlier given time up to 31 January, 2017, to switch over to digital mode of transmission in Cable TV Networks in Phase III urban areas.

    Also Read:  MSO registrations remain slow even as DAS deadlines approach

    Also Read:  Slow pace of court cases, MSO registration may delay DAS deadline

  • Ortel plans Rs 300 cr investment to improve efficiency & reach

    Ortel plans Rs 300 cr investment to improve efficiency & reach

    MUMBAI: Odisha’s largest multi-system operator (MSO) Ortel Communications plans to invest Rs 300 crore on expansion over the next two years. Ortel CEO BP Rath said it would utilise IPO proceeds, internal accrual, debt and equity to meet its need.

    Ortel, a regional cable television service-provider, is engaged in the distribution of analog and digital cable television services, high-speed broadband services & Voice over Internet Protocol services. Currently focused in the states of Orissa, Chhattishgarh, Andra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh & West Bengal, Ortel focuses on building a two-way state-of-the-art communication network enabled for ‘Triple Play’ services (video , data, and voice capabilities) with control over the ‘last mile’ .

    Rath said that Ortel would be making the investment on upgrading and expansing its infrastructure. The investment would help strengthen Ortel’s efficiency, reach and competitiveness. Ortel, which manages 90 per cent of its subscribers directly, in September last year, had a subs base of around 805,000.

    Also Read:

    BSNL leader in wireline b’band subs addition in Oct-16; Jio joins top five wireless list

    MSO Ortel strengthens digital payment services

    Q1-17: Infrastructure leasing segment pulls down Ortel’s numbers

     

  • Ortel plans Rs 300 cr investment to improve efficiency & reach

    Ortel plans Rs 300 cr investment to improve efficiency & reach

    MUMBAI: Odisha’s largest multi-system operator (MSO) Ortel Communications plans to invest Rs 300 crore on expansion over the next two years. Ortel CEO BP Rath said it would utilise IPO proceeds, internal accrual, debt and equity to meet its need.

    Ortel, a regional cable television service-provider, is engaged in the distribution of analog and digital cable television services, high-speed broadband services & Voice over Internet Protocol services. Currently focused in the states of Orissa, Chhattishgarh, Andra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh & West Bengal, Ortel focuses on building a two-way state-of-the-art communication network enabled for ‘Triple Play’ services (video , data, and voice capabilities) with control over the ‘last mile’ .

    Rath said that Ortel would be making the investment on upgrading and expansing its infrastructure. The investment would help strengthen Ortel’s efficiency, reach and competitiveness. Ortel, which manages 90 per cent of its subscribers directly, in September last year, had a subs base of around 805,000.

    Also Read:

    BSNL leader in wireline b’band subs addition in Oct-16; Jio joins top five wireless list

    MSO Ortel strengthens digital payment services

    Q1-17: Infrastructure leasing segment pulls down Ortel’s numbers

     

  • DAS III extension leads to payment tiff; MSO blacks out Star channels in WB

    DAS III extension leads to payment tiff; MSO blacks out Star channels in WB

    MUMBAI: The multi-system operator in West Bengal Manthan continues to black out Star TV channels over a payment dispute since last Friday. Over five and a half lakh reported Manthan subscribers in Kolkata did not have access to over 45 channels such as Star Plus, National Geographic, Star Jalsha, and Star Sports.

    The Phase III extension of cable network, earlier set for completion by 31 December 2015, postponed by 13 months. The current blackout is the fourth one on Manthan since June 2016.

    With a number of interesting sporting events scheduled this week, the deprivation could seriously hit subscribers who felt cheated. On 15 January, Virat Kohli’s team is scheduled to face England in ODI match. Reportedly, neither Manthan nor Star India on Monday took an initiative although talks were due, and subscribers continued to be deprived of the channels for more days.

    Manthan executive Sudip Ghosh told Times that though they would like to have the channels back soon, there were issues between them to be resolved. He said they already paid 13 months’ subscription for Phase III extension of cable network in advance. But, the government deferred the extension till 31January, which meant they paid in excess. If that money was adjusted against their dues, there would be no arrears on their part. Star India however claimed an immediate payment of subscription dues from the MSO.

    Also Read:

    TV industry gives mixed reaction to MIB’s DAS III & IV extension

    DAS 4 deadline extended to 31 Mar

    Extend DAS deadline to Dec ’17 for fiber expansion, Andhra CM writes to MIB

  • DAS III extension leads to payment tiff; MSO blacks out Star channels in WB

    DAS III extension leads to payment tiff; MSO blacks out Star channels in WB

    MUMBAI: The multi-system operator in West Bengal Manthan continues to black out Star TV channels over a payment dispute since last Friday. Over five and a half lakh reported Manthan subscribers in Kolkata did not have access to over 45 channels such as Star Plus, National Geographic, Star Jalsha, and Star Sports.

    The Phase III extension of cable network, earlier set for completion by 31 December 2015, postponed by 13 months. The current blackout is the fourth one on Manthan since June 2016.

    With a number of interesting sporting events scheduled this week, the deprivation could seriously hit subscribers who felt cheated. On 15 January, Virat Kohli’s team is scheduled to face England in ODI match. Reportedly, neither Manthan nor Star India on Monday took an initiative although talks were due, and subscribers continued to be deprived of the channels for more days.

    Manthan executive Sudip Ghosh told Times that though they would like to have the channels back soon, there were issues between them to be resolved. He said they already paid 13 months’ subscription for Phase III extension of cable network in advance. But, the government deferred the extension till 31January, which meant they paid in excess. If that money was adjusted against their dues, there would be no arrears on their part. Star India however claimed an immediate payment of subscription dues from the MSO.

    Also Read:

    TV industry gives mixed reaction to MIB’s DAS III & IV extension

    DAS 4 deadline extended to 31 Mar

    Extend DAS deadline to Dec ’17 for fiber expansion, Andhra CM writes to MIB

  • MSO registrations remain slow even as DAS deadlines approach

    MSO registrations remain slow even as DAS deadlines approach

    NEW DELHI: The registration of multi-system operators (MSOs) remained slow with 71 provisional clearances in December 2016 and up to 4 January 2017 taking the total to 1130 despite the fact that less than a month is left for Phase III analogue switch-off and two months before the final phase of digital addressable system DAS deadline gets over.

    The number of permanent MSOs (with 10-year licences) remained static at 229, while the number of cancellations remained at 44 as intimated on 30 November 2016. Of the 71 entrants, 21 were registered in the first four days of January 2017.

    The total number of MSOs is miniscule when compared to the information and broadcasting ministry’s own estimate that there are an estimated 6000 MSOs in the country. A ministry official however said that many of these unregistered MSOs were in effect local cable operators who retransmitted signals to other LCOs.

    With the home ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs not communicated in writing to the MIB, confusion prevailed over slowing down of the registration processes of MSOs for delivering services in DAS areas. The Government already deferred to 31 January 2017 the sunset date for Phase III (from 31 December 2015) and 31 March 2917 for Phase IV (from 31 December 2016).

    Minister of state Rajyavardhan Rathore had attributed the delay in response to a question in the last session of the Parliament to legal cases, filed mostly by cable operators relating to some phases of digital rollout.

    An MIB official pointed out after the DAS Task Force Meeting in November 2016 that cash crunch due to demonetisation of high-value currency notes has only added to the problem on the ground slowing down the rollout.

    The cancellations exclude four cases – Kal Cables of Chennai, Godfather Communication Pvt. Ltd of Amritsar, Digi Cable Network (India) Pvt Ltd of Mumbai, and Intermedia Cable Communication Pvt. Ltd of Delhi — in which provisional or permanent registrations were issued after High Courts stayed the cancellation orders in petitions filed by these MSOs. Most of the other cases in the list of cancelled registrations had failed to get security clearance from the MHA. However, there are cases of many MSOs holding provisional licences not completing certain formalities relating to shareholders and other details.

    According to the latest list, the areas of operation of one MSO in the provisional list has been revised after 30 November 2016.

    Of the new licensees, eight have got pan-India licences. These are Rajesh Fun Square, and  Aeon Communication Pvt. Ltd.of Mumbai; Superhits Digital Technologies Limited of NOIDA; Ozone Media.Comm Private Limited of Delhi; Hathway Datacom Central Private Limited of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, and three MSOs in Uttar Pradesh: Juber Cable Network in Gonnaur, Nucast Media Private Limited in Mathura; and Garvit Digital Services Private Limited in Agra.

    The other new registrations after November 2016 include state-wide licences or for specific districts in Bihar, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Delhi and West Bengal.

    ALSO READ:

    Slow pace of court cases, MSO registration may delay DAS deadline

    DAS 4 deadline extended to 31 Mar

  • MSO registrations remain slow even as DAS deadlines approach

    MSO registrations remain slow even as DAS deadlines approach

    NEW DELHI: The registration of multi-system operators (MSOs) remained slow with 71 provisional clearances in December 2016 and up to 4 January 2017 taking the total to 1130 despite the fact that less than a month is left for Phase III analogue switch-off and two months before the final phase of digital addressable system DAS deadline gets over.

    The number of permanent MSOs (with 10-year licences) remained static at 229, while the number of cancellations remained at 44 as intimated on 30 November 2016. Of the 71 entrants, 21 were registered in the first four days of January 2017.

    The total number of MSOs is miniscule when compared to the information and broadcasting ministry’s own estimate that there are an estimated 6000 MSOs in the country. A ministry official however said that many of these unregistered MSOs were in effect local cable operators who retransmitted signals to other LCOs.

    With the home ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs not communicated in writing to the MIB, confusion prevailed over slowing down of the registration processes of MSOs for delivering services in DAS areas. The Government already deferred to 31 January 2017 the sunset date for Phase III (from 31 December 2015) and 31 March 2917 for Phase IV (from 31 December 2016).

    Minister of state Rajyavardhan Rathore had attributed the delay in response to a question in the last session of the Parliament to legal cases, filed mostly by cable operators relating to some phases of digital rollout.

    An MIB official pointed out after the DAS Task Force Meeting in November 2016 that cash crunch due to demonetisation of high-value currency notes has only added to the problem on the ground slowing down the rollout.

    The cancellations exclude four cases – Kal Cables of Chennai, Godfather Communication Pvt. Ltd of Amritsar, Digi Cable Network (India) Pvt Ltd of Mumbai, and Intermedia Cable Communication Pvt. Ltd of Delhi — in which provisional or permanent registrations were issued after High Courts stayed the cancellation orders in petitions filed by these MSOs. Most of the other cases in the list of cancelled registrations had failed to get security clearance from the MHA. However, there are cases of many MSOs holding provisional licences not completing certain formalities relating to shareholders and other details.

    According to the latest list, the areas of operation of one MSO in the provisional list has been revised after 30 November 2016.

    Of the new licensees, eight have got pan-India licences. These are Rajesh Fun Square, and  Aeon Communication Pvt. Ltd.of Mumbai; Superhits Digital Technologies Limited of NOIDA; Ozone Media.Comm Private Limited of Delhi; Hathway Datacom Central Private Limited of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, and three MSOs in Uttar Pradesh: Juber Cable Network in Gonnaur, Nucast Media Private Limited in Mathura; and Garvit Digital Services Private Limited in Agra.

    The other new registrations after November 2016 include state-wide licences or for specific districts in Bihar, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Delhi and West Bengal.

    ALSO READ:

    Slow pace of court cases, MSO registration may delay DAS deadline

    DAS 4 deadline extended to 31 Mar

  • MSO flat fee a hurdle, says CTMA while backing TRAI & WB’s underground cable

    MSO flat fee a hurdle, says CTMA while backing TRAI & WB’s underground cable

    MUMBAI: The West Bengal government is preparing to build an underground network of cable TV lines in an attempt to keep the city clean, a state minister has said. Urban development minister Firhad Hakim said, in New Town, they had done it and would start soon in Bidhannagar. In Kolkata, they would as early as possible start a pilot project for underground laying of cable TV lines.

    It was part of a plan by the chief minister Mamata Banerjee who wants the city to look more beautiful without wires, Hakim said while inaugurating a three-day Cable TV Show 2017 from 4 January 4 — the 20th annual show arranged by the Kolkata-based Cable TV Equipment Traders & Manufacturers Association (CTMA).

    Over 10,000 cable operators, manufacturers, traders, channel partners, broadcasters, distributors, and multi-system operators (MSOs) from India and abroad are participating in the show.

    CTMA secretary K K Binani said the plan would minimise possibilities of outside disturbances in connectivity as sometimes wires get damaged during calamities. The industry body said that flat licence fees for multi-system operators had become an entry barrier for small entrepreneurs.

    Cable TV Show 2017 Kolkata, one of the biggest shows on satellite and cable television & broadband in India, was flagged off at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. Hakim inaugurated the event in the presence of minister-in-charge, housing & youth affairs, West Bengal, Aroop Biswas. There are 20 pavilions and 70 stalls erected this year for showcasing a wide range of state-of-the-art products and services related to the cable industry.

    CTMA treasurer & chairman -exhibition Pawan Jajodia said, with the steady digitization of cable television sector and the Digital India campaign, the scope and importance of Cable Television (CATV) had increased manifold. The CATV sector had come a long way to become an organised sector and one that was an important player in promoting digitalisation through the spread of broadband Internet services.

    This event has been sponsored by Darkhorse, and Euro Digital is the co-sponsor. Aishwarya Technologies, Inno Instrument, Globetek Infoway, RailTel, Meghbala, Cloudsky Broadband are associate sponsors.

    Binani said that digitisation of delivery of Cable TV service through set-top box was now in its final and crucial lap as the whole of India would be covered in Phase IV by 31 March 2017. The digital-delivery-enabled networks were now ready to be taken to the next level of delivering value-added services such as broadband internet service, movies on demand, games, pay per view channels, and education etc.

    Binani added that cable TV sector was ready for some sweeping transformation under regulatory intervention. The draft tariff order under consultation by TRAI would bring the addressable services from all delivery platforms such as HITS, MSO, DTH and IPTV under common regulation. The viewer might pay for only the channels that he wished to view/subscribe. Pay channel broadcasters would have to announce a genre and MRP for each of the channels. They must provide channels on terms universal to all delivery platforms. This would make the entry of new entrants feasible. Carriage fee was also proposed to be regulated, Binani said.

    CTMA president Rajesh Doshi said that digitisation has been a game-changer that has transformed the cable sector. The number of licenses issued for downlinking satellite channels into the country crossed 850 channels and the viewer was spoiled for choice with most of the MSOs providing 400 plus channels covering a wide genre and languages. The Cable TV networks in India were ready to play a significant role in helping Internet penetration across India, Doshi added.