ITV

Tag: pay TV

  • Despite roadblocks, India attains 48% digital pay-TV penetration in 8 years: MPA

    Despite roadblocks, India attains 48% digital pay-TV penetration in 8 years: MPA

    MUMBAI: Following a blitzkrieg of cable set-top box (STB) deployment, the digitisation process is taking a breather as operators shift focus from deployment to monetisation in order to ensure growth with profitability. 

     

    As per a recent Media Partners Asia (MPA) report, the pace of India’s pay-TV growth story may appear to be in trouble. However, the report also points out that the process of profitable digitisation typically takes 15-20 years. “In this context, for a market characterised by low average revenue per user (ARPUs), absence of tiering and fragmented last mile cable distribution, India has done well to attain 48 per cent digital pay-TV penetration in eight years,” the report highlights. 

     

    As the industry consolidates and regroups, the current phase of India’s pay-TV industry offers significant opportunities for value creation across various business segments. The key opportunities and levers, according to MPA are as follows:

     

    Cable

     

    Initial STB seeding by cable operators has improved subscriber declarations. Accordingly, with the transition from analog to digital, net ARPUs to multi system operators (MSOs) have grown 10x, to Rs 100 per subscriber per month. However, the current balance sheet position of most MSOs does not justify market expansion. MSOs are therefore compelled to drive operational efficiencies through prepaid services and packages. This helps improve yields from existing digital subscribers. Operators successful in executing such moves will attract refinancing (of existing debt) to expand their consumer offerings with bundled broadband and HD services. Over time, MSOs will also gain more operational control of their networks through majority ownership of joint ventures, and eventually acquire primary points at affordable prices.

     

    At each stage of cable’s evolution, the operating margin for MSOs will grow multifold. The business will remain capital-intensive but as operators grow to become full-service providers, they hold the potential to generate significant returns on capital employed (RoCE). Cable assets should not just be evaluated on reach and the digital subs base but also on their ability to cross-sell high value services such as HD and broadband. Also important is their effective economic interest in the last mile business. As the approach for MSOs shifts from width to depth, structurally, cable platforms will remain concentrated in the top 50 cities. This could change dramatically, however, with the entry of deep-pocketed players such as Reliance Jio and the growth of Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) platforms, which seek to digitise rural markets.

     

    Several international and long-term financial strategics have also been eyeing partnerships with India’s cable and broadband players. This would help expedite capital as well as technical, operational expertise.

     

    DTH

     

    Since its inception, the DTH sector has made cumulative investments of Rs 275 billion and has been primarily responsible for driving penetration of digital pay-TV. With a base of more than 41 million active subscribers, DTH is poised to benefit from greater economies of scale. In 2014, the DTH industry reported an average EBITDA of Rs 38 per sub per month, with margins at 16 per cent. Moreover, two of the leading operators, Dish TV and Airtel Digital, have already started generating positive free cash flow (FCF). 

     

    Over time, MPA expects the DTH industry at large to generate meaningful FCF through: 

     

    (1) EBITDA margin expansion, as operating leverage starts to play out with subscriber acquisitions in Phase III and Phase IV DAS markets; and 

     

    (2) The composition of incremental revenue becoming driven more by ARPU growth rather than subscriber volumes. Leading players will be able to self finance future growth as well as consolidate the market, creating significant value in the process.

     

    Broadcasting

     

    India’s $3.5 billion broadcast industry remains in a sweet spot. The dual revenue stream of advertising and subscription is expected to benefit from a resurgent economy as well as improved structural dynamics anchored to steady growth in the number of TV households (TVHH) and higher digital pay-TV penetration.

     

    At 60 per cent TVHH penetration, India continues to add seven million new TV homes each year. In other words, at an average family size of 4.5 members, TV is gaining more than 30 million potential viewers each year. Television will continue to offer the highest reach to advertisers, relative to other media. As a result, advertisements will remain the major revenue stream for broadcasters, while an increase in affiliate sales will help stabilise the business and drive profitability.

     

    As of end-2014, total affiliate sales for broadcasters reached $1.1 billion, according to MPA. Significantly, 80 per cent of affiliate revenues were derived from digital subscribers (cable DAS + DTH), while India’s digital pay-TV penetration stood at 48 per cent for the same period. Digitisation has therefore improved subscription yields for broadcasters.

     

    In 2014, an average broadcaster’s yield from digital subscribers stood at Rs 74 per sub per month, against Rs 18 per sub per month from analog. There is therefore upside on affiliate sales, as analog subscribers in Phases III and IV convert to digital.

     

    Besides leading to greater addressability, digitisation has also improved channel distribution economics by lowering the cost of distribution and allowing multiple modes on content delivery (SD, HD SVoD, TVE etc). Although cable continues to account for more than 80 per cent of the carriage and placement (C&P) market in India, since the roll-out of DAS in 2012, the cable net distribution income (or NDI, which is essentially subscription income minus C&P costs) for broadcasters has grown by 137 per cent, to $218 million. 

     

    Going forward, the growth of the broadcasting industry will be driven by:

     

    (1) Expansion in advertising through sub-segmentation and identifying new genres

     

    (2) An increase in the addressable subscriber base with more digital homes

     

    (3) Growth in subscription yields: MPA projects total pay-TV channel revenues for broadcasters to grow from $3.5 billion in 2014 to $6.1 billion by 2019, and to $7.9 billion by 2023.

     

    Based on the relative growth for other markets in Asia- Pacific (ex-China), India is expected to contribute more than one-third of the total channel revenue business in the region by 2023. India’s strategic importance in the region cannot be ignored. For major international networks,

    India already contributes a significant part of their overall APAC business.

     

    Broadband to sow seeds for new digital assets

     

    Significant investments are also being made in India’s fixed and wireless broadband infrastructure. This will help boost internet penetration and improve average broadband download speeds. To address the challenge of last mile connectivity, the Department of Telecom (DoT) is considering joining forces with cable MSOs and local cable operators to help boost broadband penetration in smaller cities and towns. The above proposal, if implemented, can open new avenues for cable broadband.

     

    MSOs have already increased their investments in broadband. As of end-2014, cable broadband subscribers stood at one million, or only 0.3 per cent penetration of total households in the country. However, the entry of new players such as Reliance Jio could dramatically change the fixed broadband landscape. Having recently secured a pan-India MSO license, the company claims to have built the capacity to serve 20 million fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) customers.

     

    Traditional broadcasters are looking to capitalise on the emerging digital opportunity by investing to create long-term assets. For instance, incumbent broadcasters Zee, Star and Sony have started to aggressively invest in delivering branded OTT services. The belief is that online video consumption will complement the existing linear pay-TV business. Eventually, subscription OTT services will take off as bandwidth costs become more affordable and compelling exclusive content is made available for online audiences. Nonetheless, revenue monetisation will require more scalability, as online video revenues are projected to account for not more than 10 per cent of total video industry revenues over the next decade.

  • MTV India hops on to Hong Kong’s now TV platform

    MTV India hops on to Hong Kong’s now TV platform

    MUMBAI: Starting June, youth entertainment channel MTV India has hopped on to now TV in Hong Kong. Now TV is one of the world’s largest commercial deployments of IPTV and Hong Kong’s largest pay TV provider. It offers a wide range of local and international content on its platform in Hong Kong.

     

    MTV India EVP and business head Aditya Swamy said, “It is extremely exciting for MTV India to enter Hong Kong with now TV. Being the universe of the young, we have never been boxed by geographical boundaries. Our service goes to over 35 countries, broadcasting a heady dose of our local pop culture.  The catchy Bollywood tunes, our original music productions and our super hit reality and drama series will entertain young people across varied cultural backgrounds bringing them together in their love for all things MTV.”

     

    IndiaCast group COO Gaurav Gandhi added, “With the launch of MTV India on now TV, we have further strengthened our relationship with the platform. Together, we look forward to providing the very best of South Asian Entertainment to the diaspora in Hong Kong. This launch increases MTV India’s international footprint to 50 countries as the channel continues to entertain global audiences through its unique offerings including original music programming, Bollywood music and successful fiction and non-fiction format shows targeted to the youth.”

     

    Pay TV PCCW’s executive vice Loke Kheng Tham said, “now TV is Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV provider, offering more than 190 top-class channels to our 1.2 million customers. Adding MTV India to our lineup further demonstrates now TV’s commitment to providing all customers with a wide range of program choices. Indians in Hong Kong can now watch their favorite shows exclusively on now TV as part of the Indian Pack.”

     

    Currently, MTV India is available in 49 countries including the US, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Nigeria, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Singapore among others.

  • Digital penetration of pay-TV subs in APAC to reach 90% by 2023: MPA

    Digital penetration of pay-TV subs in APAC to reach 90% by 2023: MPA

    MUMBAI: The Asia-Pacific pay-TV industry will grow at a 6.6 per cent average annual rate from 2014 to 2019, according to a new report, Asia Pacific Pay-TV & Broadband Markets, released by Media Partners Asia (MPA).

     

    MPA projects industry sales to climb from $52 billion in 2014 to $72 billion by 2019 and to $84 billion by 2023. Despite robust growth, the region’s pay-TV industry is under pressure however, as the pace of both subscriber and revenue growth decelerates.

     

    In Southeast Asia, a significant slowdown in Indonesia and Thailand will apply the brakes to regional momentum, partially offset by significant expansion in the Philippines and decent gains in Malaysia.

     

    Revenue growth will be at its most robust and scalable in large territories such as India, Korea and China as well as smaller markets such as Hong Kong and the Philippines. Australia will offer much improved subscriber momentum, although revenue expansion will lag.

     

    Ex-China, which remains a utility oriented and highly regulated pay-TV market, Asia added10.8 million net new pay-TV customers in 2014, slower than the 11.2 million added in 2013 and significantly slower than the average 15-18 million net additions that occurred between 2008-11.

     

    MPA projections indicate a spike in net additions will occur in 2016, due to India’s next phase of cable digitalization, with a steady deceleration likely to follow. Including China, MPA sees total pay-TV subscribers in Asia-Pacific growing from 500 million 2014 to 598 million by 2023.

     

    Adjusted for multiple connections in a household, pay-TV penetration of TV households will grow from 54 per cent in 2014 to 61 per cent by 2023. In Asia ex-China, adjusted pay-TV penetration is expected to grow from 55 per cent to 60 per cent over the same period.

     

    Digital penetration of pay-TV subs in Asia-Pacific will increase from 70 per cent in 2014 to 90 per cent by 2023 as all major pay-TV markets covered in the report go 100 per cent digital except for India (70 per cent),Pakistan (32 per cent), Sri Lanka (94 per cent), and Thailand (53 per cent).

     

    HD penetration of total digital pay-TV subs will grow from 24 per cent to 44 per cent over the same period, with penetration between 50-90 per cent in Australia, China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Singapore.

     

    Over 2014-19, value-added services (VAS), driven by VOD, will be the fastest growing segment for Asia’s pay-TV industry, as revenues climb at a 13.2 per cent CAGR from 2014-19.Key market drivers of VOD include Australia, China, Japan and Korea, while Malaysia and Hong Kong lead amongst smaller markets.

     

    MPA projects that authenticated TV Everywhere (TVE) services will not generate meaningful revenue but remain a churn reducer in most markets.

     

    In standout pay-TV markets such as India and Korea, a combinationof high volume and a level of ARPU upside (partially off set by price competition), inaggregate, will drive subscription revenue growth. Higher yields will also boost growth in Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

     

    According to MPA, pay-TV advertising will grow from $10 billion in 2014 to $14.3 billion by 2019, with growth driven by high base markets such as India and Korea along with China. Australia, Japan and Taiwan will remain material, although growth in each of these markets will soften.

     

    The pay-TV ad opportunity in Southeast Asia will remain under-exploited, partially due to limited penetration in most markets, but also because of poor execution.

     

    MPA executive director Vivek Couto said, “Pay-TV operators are striving to either reignite growth or sustain existing momentum with a new cycle of value creation. A number of operators are repackaging products with improved price points (i.e. Australia), tiering (i.e. Hong Kong) and slimmer, low-ARPU packs (i.e. Philippines). Most players have invested to enhance programme windows and offer more VOD. Others are climbing the curve of product innovation with all-HD platforms, with more local and Asian content, as well as live sports, a key mainstay for pay-TV.”

  • Dish Network Q1-2015 revenue up 5.3%; income doubles despite losing subscribers

    Dish Network Q1-2015 revenue up 5.3%; income doubles despite losing subscribers

    BENGALURU: US subscription Pay TV service company Dish Network Corporation reported 5.3 per cent growth in revenue for the quarter ended 31 March, 2015 (Current quarter, Q1-2015) at $3724.23 million as compared to the $3594.20 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Dish Network’s income almost doubled (up 99.8 per cent) to $358.49 million in the current quarter as compared to the $175.93 million in Q1-2014. Consequently diluted earnings per share (diluted EPS) doubled to $0.76 from $0.38.
     

    The company activated approximately 554,000 gross new Pay-TV subscribers compared to approximately 639,000 gross new Pay-TV subscribers in the prior year’s first quarter. Net Pay-TV subscribers declined by approximately 134,000 or 21.8 per cent in Q1-2015. The company closed the current quarter with 13.844 million Pay-TV subscribers, compared to 14.097 million Pay-TV subscribers in Q1-2014.
     

    Pay-TV ARPU (average revenue per user) for the first quarter totalled $86.01, 4.4 per cent higher as compared to Q1-2014 Pay-TV ARPU of $82.36. The company reveals that Pay-TV subscriber churn rate was higher at 1.65 per cent versus 1.42 per cent for Q1-2014.
     

    Higher ARPU meant that subscriber revenue increased 3.7 per cent to $3688.92 million in Q1-2015 from $3556.19 million in the previous year. Equipment related revenue was almost flat at $22.47 million in Q1-2015 as compared to the $22.24 million in the corresponding quarter of last year. Echo Star revenue (Equipment sales, services and other revenue) declined 18.6 per cent in Q1-2015 to $12.84 million as compared to the $15.77 million in Q1-2014.
     

    Subscriber related expenses rose 4.5 per cent to $2162.77 million in Q1-2015 from $2069.13 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Satellite and transmission costs in the current quarter rose 25 per cent to $186.84 million from $149.5 million in Q1-2014. Subscriber acquisition cost declined 11.6 per cent to $396.92 million in Q1-2015 as compared to $449.15 million in the year ago quarter.

  • Biggest threat to Indonesia’s DTH & Pay TV market is piracy: Tanoesoedibjo

    Biggest threat to Indonesia’s DTH & Pay TV market is piracy: Tanoesoedibjo

    MUMBAI: While there may have been disruptive pricing and piracy issues that haunt the Indonesian pay TV market, the potential in the country is enormous.

     

    According to Indonesian satellite Pay TV company MNC Sky Vision’s president and director Rudy Tanoesoedibjo, the industry faces three key hurdles, which are stagnating growth. Outlining the three key points he says that piracy has been the biggest threat to the pay TV and Direct to Home (DTH) market.

     

    “We work very hard to fight piracy and we get very good support from the channels to stop piracy,” Tanoesoedibjo says. He was speaking at the recently held Asia Pacific Operators Summit (APOS) 2015 in Bali.

     

    Tanoesoedibjo further adds that the other two reasons are inter related to the content of the channels in Indonesia. “We are experiencing what India was experiencing in the past. In India, it was called call rotational subscribers while we call it recycle subscribers. The same set of new subscribers come in once again every three to four months, as new subscribers like a rotational churn thanks to an ‘unhealthy’ free offering for new subscribers. A single subscriber jumps from one operator to another,” he says.

     

    The third reason behind the stagnant growth, according to Tanoesoedibjo, is severe because of a new practice adopted by some operators in the country. “Operators do not shut off non-paying subscribers. We have had instances where people only pay one time and continue with the service. This threatens the growth,” he laments before adding, “this is a structural problem and we can only solve it with the participation of the channels.”

     

    To battle the menace of piracy, MNC Sky Vision is currently fighting approximately 36 cases in court. The company has three brands namely Indovision, Top TV and Oke Vision under its umbrella. The good news here is that MNC Sky Vision has managed to crack one the biggest player, which had 75,000 subscribers.

     

    Talking about the scale of opportunity for DTH players in Indonesia, Tanoesoedibjo opines that the opportunity is large enough with a market size of 40-50 million subscribers and the pipe can grow further. “Currently the pipe is stagnant,” he informs.

     

    Going forward, MNC Sky Vision is planning to offer more High Definition (HD) channels in the country and will also be moving soon to MPEG-5.

     

    “It doesn’t matter if the Set Top Box (STB) is MPEG2, MPEG 3, MPEG 5, HD or even Standard Definition (SD), as the price difference is only one or two dollars. We will be move to MPEG 5 by the end of the year,” he says.

     

    Throwing light on the dilemma of whether Over the Top (OTT) and DTH players can co-exist peacefully, Tanoesoedibjo says that DTH operators need to evolve in order to survive. “DTH operators think with a traditional mindset that they just provide access to content via their technology for customers. We should not forget that at the end of the day, we do not have control of content. We are only a pipe,” he informs.

     

    Calling new technology that can deliver content faster, efficiently and cheaper than a DTH operator, a threat, Tanoesoedibjo says that in that scenario operators will have to expand, introduce better technology and new means of delivery such as OTT platforms.

     

    “We have already launched our alternate OTT, and are also preparing our stand alone OTT services next. But maybe in the next five months there will bea new means of delivery,” he mulls.

     

    On a concluding note Tanoesoedibjo says that operators need to pay attention in creating their own content. “We now have our own content for 20 channels. At the end of the day we deliver content. But if someone else finds an easier way to deliver it, then DTH needs to watch and be more effective,” he cautions. 

  • IPTV to drive growth of global pay-TV market

    IPTV to drive growth of global pay-TV market

    MUMBAI: The worldwide pay-TV market is expected to have grown five per cent in 2014, surpassing 924.4 million subscribers. “IPTV is expected to grow a market leading 14 per cent in 2014, followed by satellite TV platform at seven per cent. The growth rates of cable and terrestrial TV platforms are expected to slow to around three per cent,” said ABI Research VP and practice director of core forecasting Jake Saunders.

     

    Global cable TV market growth is driven by the Asian-Pacific and Latin American markets. A combination of the two regions is likely to add over 13 million subscribers in 2014 while the cable TV market in North America is expected to decline approximately one per cent in 2014. In 3Q 2014, major cable TV operators in North America lost over 400,000 TV customers, although cable companies are doing well in broadband.

     

    Video streaming services such as Netflix and TiVo, which cost less than $10 in monthly fees are attractive alternatives for pay-TV customers. Traditional pay-TV operators are now trying to compete with these services by developing their own video-streaming products or by integrating these services in their existing services. Online video service Netflix has agreed to deals with some of the pay-TV operators in Europe to offer its streaming service to European broadband customers. Canadian companies such as Cogeco, Rogers Communications, and Shaw Communications also recently announced deals to offer Netflix’s video streaming service to their own broadband customers.

     

    Bundled packages help pay-TV operators try to reduce churn. In addition, HD channels, advanced PVR services and premium content such as sport content contribute to increased ARPU. “The worldwide HD subscriber base is growing on all pay-TV platforms. Approximately 57 per cent of total pay-TV subscribers will be HD subscribers by 2019. ABI Research forecasts the global pay-TV market will generate $324 billion in service revenues by 2019,” added industry analyst Khin Sandi Lynn.

  • Cisco partners with Videocon d2h for advanced video services

    Cisco partners with Videocon d2h for advanced video services

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) operator Videocon d2h will deploy advanced video solutions from the Cisco Videoscape product portfolio to enable it to deliver an innovative, high quality television viewing experience to its customers.

     

    Cisco will collaborate with Videocon d2h to create an infrastructure that supports advanced services like 4K, Over The Top (OTT), Video On Demand (VOD), multi-screen video and multi-room Digital Video Recorder (DVR), on a high definition platform.

     

    Cisco is at the forefront of changing the way people experience TV entertainment through its Videoscape platform, which offers best-in-class content management and exceptional user interface capabilities. Cisco Videoscape enables consistent video experiences across multiple devices including TVs, tablets, PCs, mobile phones and gaming consoles. Cisco and Videocon d2h are uniquely positioned to offer an immersive video experience coupled with an array of value-added services and applications on multiple screens.

     

    Videocon d2h director Saurabh Dhoot said, “We pride ourselves in being a frontrunner in bringing futuristic technologies to India, some of which are yet to be experienced in even the most advanced countries. Our collaboration with Cisco will present our customers with the latest and best technology in the DTH industry and will introduce them to a whole new range of next-gen applications. We believe that this partnership will redefine the overall viewing experience through our varied product portfolios and service offerings. We continuously endeavor to provide top quality services to our consumers.”

     

    Videocon d2h chief executive officer Anil Khera added, “As part of our commitment to our consumers, we will be providing an advanced TV-viewing experience with many more interactive services and applications, in keeping with global trends. We are confident that our collaboration with Cisco will provide a greater range of services to our customers. Cisco’s expertise in delivering end-to-end solutions and world-class technology will support us in our vision of being an innovator in the DTH market with the most advanced products and services.”

     

    Cisco Service Provider Video Software Solutions VP sales Asia Pacific Sue Taylor said, “Our mission is to continuously partner with operators who value innovation and strive to offer a wide range of differentiated and superior video experiences to their subscribers. Our expertise in the successful rollout of high-end features and services will enable Videocon d2h to deliver video in more exciting, more engaging and more impactful ways.”

  • Cesar Diaz launches 7A Media

    Cesar Diaz launches 7A Media

    MUMBAI: Cesar Diaz has announced the launch of 7A Media, a company based in Miami, Florida that is dedicated to developing content, international sales and consulting. Its operations are split into two main areas: Latin America, where Diaz has a very broad knowledge and recognition, and the rest of the world.

     

    Diaz, who recently left his position as VP of sales at Cisneros Media Distribution (formerly Venevision International), has over 40 years of experience in various TV companies in Latin America. “In my career I have had precious moments to share with many customers around the world and some of these clients have become friends and will help make this transition very special to me,” Diaz said of his new endeavour.

     

    7A Media will engage in three specific areas: The first is consulting for international entities with an interest in entering the Latin American market, and for Latin producers wanting to have a greater presence outside LATAM. For the former, 7A Media has signed an agreement with a Canadian company looking to enter the LATAM TV market.

     

    Second is building a solid content catalog for all platforms: broadcast, pay-TV, Internet, OTT, VoD, etc.

     

    Third is a content “developer,” establishing itself as a “facilitator” or “broker” between the TV outlet, producer and financier, with the intent of forging co-productions for the international market.

     

  • Dish Network launches Sling TV for on the go devices including tablets and smartphones

    Dish Network launches Sling TV for on the go devices including tablets and smartphones

    BENGALURU: Sling TV L.L.C., a subsidiary of Dish Network Corporation announced that it will launch Sling TV, a live, over-the-top television service, to customers in the US, in the first quarter of 2015. Sling TV will deliver live sports, lifestyle, family, news and information channels, Video-On-Demand entertainment and the best of online video to broadband-connected devices at home and on-the-go. Priced at US$20 per month, the service will require no commitment, contract, credit check or hardware installation, says a Dish Network release.

    At launch, subscribers can watch live TV by downloading the app to supported versions of iOS and Android, or by visiting the upcoming Sling website from Macs and PCs. Sling TV is designed to deliver a high-quality television experience inside and outside the home, anywhere a wired, Wi-Fi or mobile broadband connection is available. The service is delivered over an IP-based content delivery system that leverages adaptive bitrate streaming technology. This allows for the highest quality streaming experience possible regardless of network quality fluctuations or location says Dish Networks.

    “Sling TV provides a viable alternative for live television to the millennial audience,” said Dish Network President and CEO Joseph P Clayton. “This service gives millions of consumers a new consideration for pay-TV; Sling TV fills a void for an underserved audience.”

    “Consumers can now watch their favourite shows on their favourite devices that they already use to watch video. Live television, including ESPN, for $20 per month with no commitment or contract, is a game changer,” said Sling TV CEO Roger Lynch. “The arrival of Sling TV lets consumers, who’ve embraced services like Netflix and Hulu, take more control of their video entertainment experience.”

    Supported internet-connected devices for Sling TV are expected to include Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google’s Nexus Player, select LG Smart TVs, Roku players, Roku TV models, select Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Mac and PC. Sling TV expects to announce its availability on additional streaming devices and smart TVs in the coming months.

    At launch, Sling TV is offering a core programming package with live and Video-On-Demand shows, sports, movies and online video, as well as two optional add-on packs. Customers will be able to pause, rewind and fast-forward most live channels and Video-On-Demand content. For certain channels, the service includes a 3-day replay feature that gives customers the ability to watch some shows that have aired in the past three days; no DVR is needed. Sling TV’s features are available across all supported platforms.

    Priced at US$ 20 per month, ‘The Best of Live TV’ core package includes 12 Nielsen-rated sports, lifestyle, family and news networks: ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, ABC Family and CNN. This package additionally features an array of Video-On-Demand entertainment and the best of online video with unique content from Maker Studios, the global leader in online short-form video.

    Consumers can tailor their experience with add-on packs for access to additional programming, at US$ 5 per month. Sling TV will offer a ‘Kids Extra’ add-on with Disney Junior, Disney XD, Boomerang, Baby TV and Duck TV, and a ‘News & Info Extra’ add-on with HLN, Cooking Channel, DIY and Bloomberg TV. A ‘Sports Extra’ package is coming soon says the company. Sling TV expects to expand its core package, Video-On-Demand content, online video and add-on packs throughout 2015.
     
    Sling TV is an emerging over-the-top service that is independent from Sling Media’s line of Slingbox products and services. Sling Media is the leading provider of multi-screen TV solutions giving consumers the ability to access their live and recorded traditional pay-TV service anywhere in the world, on any connected device.
     

     

  • Delhi based cable operators form new body to represent case of smaller LCOs

    Delhi based cable operators form new body to represent case of smaller LCOs

    NEW DELHI: Soon after the south based independent multi system operators (MSOs) decided to come together as one to ensure that they were well represented and could reap the benefits of digitisation, the Delhi based cable operators have decided to follow their path.

    A total of 16 registered associations of Delhi cable operators have jointly formed the Cable Operators Welfare Federation. While A S Kohli from west Delhi has been elected chairman, Bhai Surjeet Singh will be the president of the newly formed association.

     

    Singh told indiantelevision.com that the body had been formed to give a better representation to smaller LCOs so that the government does not ignore their pleas for justice while implementation of digital addressable system.

     

    It is also learnt that a memorandum will be sent shortly to Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley seeking a common tariff for the rates charged by the multi-system operators in Delhi. Furthermore, the memorandum is expected to point out that while the MSOs receive carriage fee, the LCOs should get a share of this, and the LCOs should also be paid a share by broadcasters of pay channels who are earning huge revenue through advertisements.

     

    The vice-presidents of the association are Raj Kumar Thappa, Dharmesh, Ashok Pandit, Kuldeep Rawal and Satish Bhatia. Vineet Kumar is the general secretary while the joint secretaries are Sudhir Kumar, Narinder Bhagdi, Prem, and Rajesh Pandit. Ramesh Duggal has been appointed as the treasurer.

     

     The legal advisors are A K Uppadhay, Romesh Zadoo and Jayant Chadda and the media advisors are Parveen Arora, Ram Kishen Tomar and Sanjeev Bhatti.