ITV

Tag: MSO

  • CAF submissions: Delhi cable TV subscribers get 15-day extension

    CAF submissions: Delhi cable TV subscribers get 15-day extension

    NEW DELHI: Apparently, cable TV subscribers in Delhii called the TRAI‘s and the MSOs‘ bluff and won. After consistently stating that the last date for submitting consumer application forms (CAFs) or channel selection forms (CSFs) to cable TV operators was 25 June, the telecom regulator gave them more time to submit their forms in Delhi.

    TRAI today announced that the last date has been extended to 10 July, but warned that there would be no further extension. Yesterday, MSOs had stated that the process of CAF collection was proceeding smoothly and that they were going to comply with the TRAI‘s orders and disconnect errant subscribers after today (Read: Indiantelevision.com‘s CAF story MSOs say that cable TV customer response positive for CAFs). Today, however, a delegation of them went and moved TRAI to extend the deadline primairly for Delhi..

    The telco regulator noted that though there had been a ‘tangible’ increase in the number of people who had filled the CAF forms, there were still a large number of cable operators and multi-system operators who had informed TRAI that they did not have the full details of their consumers yet.

    Consumers have been asked by TRAI to cooperate in every way to ensure that CAF are complete in every manner.

    However, it was made clear that no further extension would be given and the MSOs would have no option but to disconnect the signals to consumers who fail to give the forms in time.

    Meanwhile, TRAI has launched an SMS service to reach out to consumers about the importance of CAF, even as major channels have jointly launched a television commercial featuring the lead actresses from popular series.

  • 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.”

  • TRAI extends date for comments on consultation paper on monopoly/market dominance in Cable TV Services

    TRAI extends date for comments on consultation paper on monopoly/market dominance in Cable TV Services

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today extended till 1 July the date for comments on its consultation paper on Monopoly/Market Dominance in Cable TV services issued on 3 June.

    At the request of stakeholders, TRAI also announced that counter-comments would be received by 8 July.

    The paper was aimed at wanting to know if stakeholders agree that the State should be the relevant market for measuring market power in the cable TV sector or suggest alternatives.

    In the first place, TRAI which said it had issued the paper at the instance of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, wanted to know if stakeholders agree that there is a need to address the issue of monopoly/market dominance in cable TV distribution and how the ill effects of monopoly/market dominance can be addressed.

    The paper contains a series of fifteen questions touching various aspects.

    TRAI has sought to know whether, to curb market dominance and monopolistic trends, restrictions in the relevant cable TV market should be based on area of operation or based on market share.

    Those who feel it should be based on area of operation will have to specify how the area of a relevant market ought to be divided amongst MSOs for providing cable TV service.

    Those who feel it should be based on market share, what should be the threshold value of market share beyond which an MSO is not allowed to build market share on its own. Furthermore, how this can be achieved in markets where an MSO already possesses market share beyond the threshold value. Furthermore, TRAI wants comments on the suitability of the rules defined in the paper in this connection.

    Stakeholders have to give their views about the threshold values increase indicated by the regulator, or suggest defining restrictions.

    TRAI wants to know if ‘control’ of an entity over other MSOs/LCOs be decided according to the conditions mentioned in the paper or suggestion on alternatives.

    Stakeholders wanting different restrictions to curb market dominance have been asked to suggest these.

    TRAI has also sought to know whether the parameters listed by it in the paper are adequate with respect to mandatory disclosures for effective monitoring and compliance of restrictions on market dominance in Cable TV sector, and the periodicity of such disclosures.

    The regulator wants to know of any amendments to be made in the statutory rules/executive orders for implementing the restrictions.

  • TRAI warns Delhi cable TV customers to speed up on CAF

    TRAI warns Delhi cable TV customers to speed up on CAF

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Authority of India (TRAI) has raised concerns about the slow pace of collection of consumer application forms (CAF) by multi system operators (MSOs) in New Delhi. On 7 June, it had cautioned and warned consumers and cable TV operators/MSOs to get a move on the CAFs, giving 25 June as the deadline, after which the consumers would face the penalty of disconnection.

    TRAI says that despite that warning only 50 per cent of consumers in Delhi have submitted details and choice of channels to cable operators and MSOs until 21 June.

    It says the Digital Addressable Cable TV System Regulations 2012 mandate that CAFs have to be first collected before the activation of set top boxes and transmission of digital signals.

    Come 25 June the cable TV remotes may no longer function in Delhi if the customer forms are not submitted – warns TRAI

    It has therefore once again warned MSOs and cable TV operators that they would have to perforce switch off subscribers who do not send in their CAFs by 25 June 2013 or they “will be in breach of law.”

    Says the TRAI: “We have been issuing public notices on this from time to time to sensitise consumers that they have to submit their CAFs. Broadcasters and the cable TV service providers have also been running scrolls and video programmes on major news and entertainment TV channels for the last few months. The authority has reviewed the progress and observed that even though there has been an increase in the number of subscribers who have provided their details, still there is pendency in respect to the availability of complete consumer details with the cable operators/MSOs.”

  • MIB cancels licences of 20 MSOs

    MIB cancels licences of 20 MSOs

    MUMBAI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (MIB) has cancelled the licences of 20 Multi System Operators (MSOs) for not meeting the conditions for providing digitised cable services.

    The ministry is working towards a switchover of the cable services from analogue to digital by 2014-end across the country.

    The deadline for phase II of the digitisation in 38 cities ended on 1 April and the disqualified MSOs were not providing services under the new digital regime.

    An official said that setting up a digital head-end was one of the conditions for MSOs to comply and the MSOs whose licenses were cancelled did not meet these conditions.

    MSOs in broadcasting are entities which receive the signal from broadcasters and then pass it on to local cable operators.

    Here is the complete list of the 20 MSOs

  • TRAI extends last date for comments on interconnect agreement draft order

    TRAI extends last date for comments on interconnect agreement draft order

    MUMBAI: For all those in the cable and satellite TV industry, you can take a breather. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) which had issued the draft digital addressable system (DAS) interconnect agreement regulations on 5 June 2013 has extended the last date that they can send their comments.

    At the time of issuing the order, the last date was 18 June 2013, that is today. Under the extension, industry stakeholders can send their written comments in by 26 June 2013.

    The Draft Interconnection agreement for DAS seeks to do away with carriage fees under the must-provide clause, forces MSOs to telecast channels under the must carry provision; compliance of MSOs with the twin conditions as specified in the earlier versions of the same order.

  • Govt launches SMS campaign to sensitise people to fill consumer application forms for DAS

    Govt launches SMS campaign to sensitise people to fill consumer application forms for DAS

    NEW DELHI: With the pace of consumers entering into agreements with local cable operators (LCOs) moving at a snail‘s pace, the government has decided to launch an SMS campaign in order to sensitise Cable TV subscribers in Phase-I and Phase-II cities about the need to fill the consumer application form (CAF).

    The consumers are required to fill the CAF in order to exercise their choice of channels and make the payment for the channels of their choice only.

    The Information and Broadcasting ministry has been monitoring the availability of set top boxes (STBs) with the multi system operators (MSOs). Broadcasters are already running scrolls on TV channels to inform the public about the importance of filling CAF forms. MSOs are also giving messages on their local TV channels. Analogue signals have already been switched off by almost all the MSOs and digital signals are generally being encrypted.

    As part of the process, over 80 fresh provisional registrations were issued to MSOs for operation in one or more cities of Phase-II, with the condition that they would operationalise their digital head-end before the cut-off date.

    After technical inspection of all the concerned MSOs which showed some had not operationalised their set ups, the ministry issues 48 show cause notices, and cancelled the provisional registration of 15 defaulting MSOs.

    The ministry has been consistently monitoring the progress made towards digitization during Phase II of the process. According to the data received from the MSOs and direct-to-home Operators, 22 cities have already achieved 100 per cent target of digitisation. Another 14 cities have shown considerable progress and the achievement remains less than 50 per cent only in Coimbatore and Vishakhapatanam.

  • MSOs to crack the whip on LCOs on customer forms issue

    MSOs to crack the whip on LCOs on customer forms issue

    MUMBAI: India‘s multisystem operators (MSOs) got a dressing down yesterday from TRAI boss Rahul Khullar about the lack of KYC or CRF forms giving details about their subscribers. Khullar ordered them to get their acts together, giving a deadline of 30 June 2013 for the forms to come in, failing which they would be prosecuted.

    With the proverbial Damoclean sword hanging over their heads, they have decided to fall in line.

    Says DEN Networks CEO S.N. Sharma: “We are all working together, to follow the directions given by TRAI. We are already in the process of collecting customer data and are positive that we will be able to meet the 30 June deadline.”

    According to sources, the four MSOs got together post the TRAI meeting and have agreed to act in coordination with each other. The idea is to switch off all the set top boxes for which the MSOs don‘t have the customer details. The switch-off will be done area wise and hopefully this will force local cable operators to share the forms with MSOs. The latter have also agreed to not allow cable TV operators to switch MSOs or play one MSO against the other.

    “Subscribers are bound to suffer during this exercise as they may have given the details to their operator but would have not been forwarded to the MSO. They should contact the MSOs directly to ensure that their details are registered or they can face a switch off,” emphasises InCablenet MD Ravi Mansukhani.

  • TRAI gets tough on MSOs on DAS customer forms

    TRAI gets tough on MSOs on DAS customer forms

    MUMBAI: That TRAI boss Rahul Khullar means business; that he does not mince any words; that he can make you squirm when he wants to is something all – who have been at the receiving end at one time or the other – know. But the heads of India‘s leading MSOs got another taste of that just yesterday, if sources are to be believed.

    Khullar had summoned the heads of Siti Cable, Incable, Hathway, DEN and Digicable to the TRAI headquarter in Delhi. Four of them landed up; Digicable‘s Jagjit Singh Kohli requested to be excused. Hathway‘s Jagdeesh Kumar; Incable‘s Ravi Mansukhani; Siticable‘s Wadhwa and Anil Malhotra, and DEN‘s SN Sharma Sameer and Manchanda landed up in his chamber. They had earlier been pulled up similarly in end-March and had been warned that strict action against them would be taken under the TRAI act.

    But this time it seemed as if Khullar had apparently reached the end of his patience. He did not let them get a word in – even edgewise.

    “I have only 10-15 minutes to talk to you,” he thundered. “Where is the cable TV customer data that I have been demanding from you? It‘s been months since I should have got it; your deadline has long past. Now let me make it very clear to you: I will prosecute each one of you if I don‘t get it.”

    Khullar went on to blast the MSOs further and set the deadline for collection of the DAS Phase I customer forms for Mumbai and Delhi. “You have till 30 June to submit those forms; failing which you can be sure you will be prosecuted under the required laws. DAS and SMS billing have to move ahead,” he urged.

    Khullar apparently has also permitted the MSOs to disconnect local cable TV operators and subscribers who are continuing to play truant in the submission of the KYC (know your customer) forms.

    The government mandated phase I of cable TV digitisation – with the switch-off of analogue TV signals and installation of set top boxes – which covered the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata was to be completed by 31 October. As part of that process MSOs and cable TV operators were instructed to collect information from their customers and submit the forms to the authorities.

    However, sources indicate that MSOs have been rather tardy in the submission of these forms as local cable TV operators have not been complying with their continuous and repeated requests.

  • Netflix dominating the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) subscribers market

    Netflix dominating the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) subscribers market

    NEW DELHI:The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) seems to be getting hyperactive. Just like its head the ever so aggressive Rahul Khullar.

    In the past month or so it has been releasing consultation papers and regulations like it is in a hurry. Today, it released another two draft regulations. Both relate to the interconnection agreements that broadcasters sign with distributors such as Cable TV, DTH and IPTV operators.

    Entitled the “Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2013” and the draft “Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Fourth) (Addressable Systems) Tariff (Second Amendment) Order 2013,” they seek to amend some regulations that TRAI had passed earlier in relation to tariffs and interconnect agreements in earlier years. (Earlier, TRAI had notified the Interconnection Regulations for DAS dated 30 April 2012 as amended on 14 May last year and the Tariff Order applicable for the Addressable Systems dated 21 July 2010 as amended on 30 April last year).

    The amendments it has proposed state:

    * Multi system operators (MSOs) cannot seeks signals of a particular TV channel from a broadcaster under ‘must provide‘ clause while at the same time demanding carriage fee for carrying that channel on its distribution platform.

    * No minimum channel carrying capacity has been prescribed for the MSOs. However, the MSOs are mandated to carry the channels of broadcasters on non-discriminatory basis under the ‘must carry‘ provision.

    * The service providers of the addressable systems are allowed to price and package their offering of channels, however, they are required to comply with the modified twin conditions, as proposed in the draft amendment to the tariff order. These twin conditions are (a) the a-la-carte rate of a pay channel forming part of a bouquet shall not exceed two times the a-la carte rate of the channel offered by the broadcaster at wholesale rates for addressable systems (b) the a-la-carte rate of a pay channel forming part of a bouquet shall not exceed three times the ascribed value of the pay channel in the bouquet. The TRAI says it is doing this to ensure that the a-la-carte rates offered to the subscribers are reasonable vis-? -vis the bouquet/package rates.

    *As in the case of pay channels, operators can specify a minimum subscription period, not exceeding three months, for Free-to-Air (FTA) channels subscribed on a-la-carte basis by the subscribers.

    *Subscribers are free to choose channels on a-la-carte basis or bouquet/package basis or any combination of a-la-carte and bouquet/package.

    *Channels, such as HD orMUMBAI: According to The NPD Group, a global information company, growth in watching television programming is driving subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) viewership, and Netflix continues to clearly dominate the category.

    According to NPD‘s VideoWatch VOD report, in the first quarter of the year the number of viewers watching television shows using SVOD services increased by 34 per cent, compared to the same quarter year-ago. NPD‘s VideoWatch Digital tracking shows Netflix dominating the sector, with a 90 per cent share of video-streaming units during the first quarter, which was four percentage points lower than last year.

    In the TV category alone, which accounts for 80 per cent of streams, Netflix holds an 89 per cent share. HuluPlus showed healthy growth in 2013, with 10 per cent of TV streams in Q1, while Amazon Prime accounts for just two per cent of the overall TV units streamed.

    NPD senior VP of industry analysis Russ Crupnick said, “There‘s no doubt that Netflix is driving the growth in SVOD, particularly with increased attention to television programming. We are also seeing good gains in the streaming numbers from Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime, and while neither pose an immediate threat to Netflix it is interesting to see which services later adopters will try.”

    In the first quarter of 2012, 76 per cent of SVOD subscribers streamed only from Netflix. This year that figure fell to 67 per cent, while 10 per cent of SVOD streamers used both Netflix and Amazon Prime, and eight per cent used both Netflix and Hulu.

    Crupnick said, “Since its launch, Netflix Watch Instantly has enjoyed a virtual monopoly on the SVOD market, and the company still has a quite comfortable market-share lead. While Hulu Plus and Amazon both still have a long way to go before they come close to catching Netflix, we are beginning to see increasing trial of these services, even among some Netflix users.” 3D, requiring special type of set top boxes are to be offered on a-la-carte basis and if such channels are also offered as a part of a bouquet(s), corresponding to each such bouquet, the operator would be required to offer bouquet(s) excluding the HD and 3D channels, at a reduced price, commensurate to the rates of these HD and 3D channels.

    Written comments on these draft amendments have been invited from the stakeholders by 18 June.

    You can download the two new proposed amendment drafts by clicking on the following links:

    Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2013

    Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Fourth) (Addressable Systems) Tariff (Second Amendment) Order 2013