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Tag: pay TV

  • Netflix available in more than 300 mn pay-TV households

    Netflix available in more than 300 mn pay-TV households

    MUMBAI: A new report from UK research firm Ampere Analysis has said that Netflix is available in more than 300 million pay-TV households. It also added that more than 50 million of those have come during 2019.

    The reach through Pay TV partnerships is almost double the company's current global subscriber base of 158 million. Netflix has been active in signing deals with pay-TV operators to extend its global reach. This year also, Netflix has signed more than 15 deals with major international pay-TV operators.

    While Western Europe has highly contributed to the growth, Netflix is available in about 86 per cent of all pay-TV homes in North America. The report also found that the streaming platform was available in about one-quarter of pay TV households in the Middle East and North Africa at the end of 2018, driven by its regional partnership with operator OSN. However, the partnership ended in August 2019, leaving Israel as the only market in the region with existing deals.

    The scenario is different in Central and South America, Asia Pacific and Central and Eastern Europe are blank canvases for Netflix. There are 400 million pay-TV subscribers in the region excluding China but Netflix has availability to about 40 million of those. While India is a key market for Netflix, fewer than one per cent of all pay-TV households in India subscribe to the OTT platform.

    “These onboarding deals give Netflix pay TV reach in every region bar SubSaharan Africa, while the Western European pay TV market has shown the most rapid growth for these deals,” the report said.

  • The Q India hopes to cross 75 million Pay TV households, plans to launch regional version in 2020

    The Q India hopes to cross 75 million Pay TV households, plans to launch regional version in 2020

    MUMBAI: Even as most new media entrepreneurs are going the digital way, The Q India is taking a different approach. The Q India’s first focus is traditional pay TV where it feels this audience is still underserved.

    As the completely owned subsidiary of QYOU Media, the channel has been targeting the Hindi speaking audience in the age group of 20-30 years. To address this need gap, not only has it ramped up distribution but is also going to extend the channel with regional languages by 2020.

    The Q India co-founder, MD and Locomotive Global Inc (LGI) co-founder and partner Sunder Aaron in an interaction with Indiantelevision.com’s Gargi Sarkar spoke on the network’s content strategy, expansion plans outside India and future goals.

    Edited excerpts:

    Please elaborate on The Q India’s content strategy and partnership deals.

    The Q India was launched a couple years ago, and has become a fully Hindi language channel in the course of the past year. The content strategy is simple: we want to work with the best digital content creators in India who are also social media stars and media influencers, and create a channel that is relevant for young Indians. We've fashioned the channel to appeal directly to Hindi-speaking young Indians, 20-30 years old, who, we feel, are under-served in the Indian pay TV landscape. Of course, The Q India is available across platforms. So while pay TV is our immediate focus, we are also widely distributed on OTT and mobile platforms. These digital platforms are of vital importance to us, and will only grow in value and primacy over time. It may take a few years, so until that time, we are going to make sure that the linear TV channel continues to grow and improve. Since the channel is a Hindi language general entertainment channel, we apply to our FPC some basic principles for programming broadcast channels. As we get more and more info and data about our audience and their viewership patterns, we are able to tweak and refine the programming offering and schedule. We've seen rapid growth in our audience and viewership over the past year, so we seem to be doing something right! 

    We have a number of partnerships with leading distribution platforms including Tata Sky and Airtel Digital for Pay TV, and MX Player, Zee 5, Sony LIV, Dish Watcho, and Jio for mobile and OTT. 

    We have got terrific content partnerships as well, including with Pocket Aces, Culture Machine, Miss Malini, Nirvana Digital, Arre, Spot Boye and AajTak, to name a few. 

    What is the target audience you are looking at?

    Young Indians, 20-30 years old. While our flagship channel, The Q India, is Hindi language, we are aiming to launch regional versions of The Q starting in 2020. 

    What do you want to achieve by the end of 2019?

    We have started distribution of The Q with cable operators, so we hope to cross a reach of 75 million pay TV households as we enter the new year. We have just started our ad sales efforts in earnest, so would also love to start adding some blue chip advertising partners going into 2020. Of course, our expectations and objectives for 2020 are expansive, so finishing 2019 on a high note will give us the platform we need from which we can really take off as a business and brand!

    Are you looking at expanding The Q India outside India?

    Yes, in fact, our strategy in India for The Q is the same approach that we expect to take as we enter other Asian and European markets. We have been eying local versions of The Q in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam as well as Germany and the United Kingdom. 

    You have partnered with a few OTT platforms. What has been the content consumption trend from the feedback you received from the platforms?

    We are still newly-launched on most of our partners' OTT platforms. The early feedback has been positive, and it's clear that we are a good fit, since we share the same target audience as our OTT platform partners.

    What are the major challenges right now is the ecosystem which may impact you as well?

    It would be great to have an independent ratings service (equivalent to BARC for TV) for digital viewership. Once we have a trusted currency for this space, it will help really grow the market adoption of advertising on digital platforms. While digital advertising continues to grow every year, it's still dominated by Facebook and Google. It will be a challenge but a big step forward when agencies, advertisers and companies begin to widen and diversify their media plans. 

    The economy has also been a challenge for advertising-supported businesses. While India is generally fine, the market has been a little slower and festive period less robust than expected. While all the signs seem to indicate that the summer will see a more robust market, we will have to wait and see. 

    Meanwhile, marketing costs continue to be high. It's difficult and costly to build a brand in India (especially in the metros). We expect to start investing more resources into brand building and activations (e.g. Q FEST) so that The Q will grow and expand across India's young people. Fortunately, we own a television channel ourselves, which is the best possible vehicle to rely upon to create profile and familiarity for a new brand! 

  • TRAI releases amended interconnection regulations aimed at fully-compliant audit regime

    TRAI releases amended interconnection regulations aimed at fully-compliant audit regime

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday released the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019. The authority said during the consultation undertaken to prepare the Audit Manual certain comments and observations reflect some issues in the Schedule III of the Interconnection Regulations 2017.

    Earlier, a Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019 was issued in August. TRAI received comments of the stakeholders and held an Open House Discussion (OHD) which was attended by a large number of stakeholders. The regulations have been revised based on the comments received and analysis of the developments in the market. Regulations the authority has amended Schedule III of the Interconnection

    The authority has amended Schedule III of the Interconnection Regulations 2017, mainly on the following:

    ·  Scheduling and Scope of Audit

    ·  Transactional capacity of Conditional Access System (CAS) and Subscriber Management System (SMS)system

    ·  Support for Overt and Covert fingerprinting in Set-Top-Boxes

    ·  Watermarking network logo for all pay channels

    TRAI said in a release that the scheduling has been so amended that the distributor of Pay TV broadcasting services will keep a minimum gap of six months between the two annual audits and the maximum time gap is eighteen months. Similarly, the minimum transactional capacity required for CAS and SMS systems has been revised to five per cent instead of earlier ten per cent.

    The authority is of the view that amended regulations will help in establishing a fully compliant trust-based audit regime conducted as per extant regulations by the empanelled auditors.

  • SVoD-Pay TV combined households increasing

    SVoD-Pay TV combined households increasing

    MUMBAI: With the advent of subscription-based video-on-demand services (SVoD), Pay-TV households are declining globally. But numbers of SVoD only households along with SVoD-Pay-TV combined households are increasing, according to a report from Ampere Analysis.

    As per the report, a combination of pay-TV, premium channel and SVoD is the most common among television service subscribers, followed by pay-TV and SVoD and SVoD-only.

    While the proportion of Pay-TV-only households are down four points, proportion of households combining pay-TV, premium channel and SVoD services has increased four points in the last 12 months. Although SVoD and pay-TV is the most common service combination among internet users, the proportions range between 55 per cent in Turkey to 14 per cent in Japan.

    “While there are markets such as Australia, Italy and Japan where SVoD-only is becoming the norm, this data reinforces pay-TV’s position in the market, and its continued importance to consumers in the viewing mix,” Ampere Analysis consumer research lead Minal Modha said.

  • TRAI clarifies network capacity fee for additional TV connections not mandatory

    TRAI clarifies network capacity fee for additional TV connections not mandatory

    MUMBAI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asserted that Network Capacity Fee (NCF) for second or additional TV connections is not mandatory after many subscribers raised the issue. The regulatory body has also made it clear that the new regime does not prohibit the service providers to offer discount or lower NCF for second or additional connections in the same location or home.

    After the new tariff regime for cable and broadcasting sector came into effect from 1 February, TRAI earlier on Wednesday interacted with the media in New Delhi to discuss a wide array of concerns facing consumers when TRAI also discussed the same issue.

    With many households in India boasting of more than one TV connection, subscribers prefer a cheaper scheme for the second TV. To keep it same under new regime, TRAI sought details of special schemes for provision of second or subsequent connection after a number of subscribers raised the issue. The regulatory body said on Wednesday that it expects DPOs to declare special schemes for multiple connections within a TV home in a day or so. TRAI said it is keeping an eye on the development and will intervene if required.

    The new regulation provides a capping of Rs 130 as NCF for 100 SD channels and Rs 20 for the slab of next 25 SD channels. TRAI added the preliminary data analysis reflects actual savings by subscribers under new regulatory framework to the tune 10 to 15 per cent in metro towns and between 5 to 10 per cent in non-metro (DAS 3 and DAS 4) areas.

  • TRAI expects DPOs to declare special schemes for multiple TV connection households

    TRAI expects DPOs to declare special schemes for multiple TV connection households

    MUMBAI: After Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s new tariff regime empowering citizens to choose channels, came into effect from 1 February, consumers as well as distribution platform operators (DPOs) are facing several issues. To address such concerns, the authority held a press conference at TRAI headquarters in New Delhi.

    One topic discussed was the presence of multiple TV households. These subscribers prefer a cheaper scheme for the second TV. To keep it same under new regime, TRAI has sought details of special schemes for provision of second or subsequent connection. The regulatory body expects that DPOs will declare special schemes for multiple connections within a TV home in a day or so. TRAI said it is keeping an eye on the development and will intervene if required.

    While TRAI has always promoted the view that the new order will put power in the hands of consumers, there have been speculations that it will actually increase the monthly pay TV bill. Recently, ratings agency Crisil also published a report on price hike along the same line. TRAI refuted the report saying it is not based on focused analysis and research.

    “The report is based on choosing top rated channels on all India basis and considers only one weekly report dated 25th January 2019, from TV Rating Agency, BARC. The selection of channels by subscribers is primarily driven by language, genre, region and culture. The report fails to appreciate that even among top three channels, that is Sun TV, Zee Anmol and Star Maa, the language is Tamil, Hindi and Telugu respectively,” TRAI commented.

    TRAI has claimed so based on the logic that it is unlikely to expect one family to choose Tamil, Hindi and Telugu channel simultaneously. The regulatory body added that this is more glaring in the scenario where TV channels of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla, Malayalam and English have been considered together.

    Apart from lashing out at the report for “misleading subscribers”, TRAI added the preliminary data analysis reflects actual savings by subscribers to the tune 10 to 15  per cent  in metro towns and between 5 to 10 per cent in non-metro (DAS 3 and DAS 4) areas.

    TRAI has again assured that subscribers availing pre-paid services will face no disruption, if there is a credit balance available in the subscriber’s wallet/ account.

    “The authority received information that while migrating consumers, one large service provider has caused blackout on the TV screen of a few-thousand subscribers. Taking a serious view, the authority has issued show cause notice to that service provider,” it added. DPOs were strictly told to cause no disruption in services. 

  • 2019 OTT TV trends in Asia and India

    2019 OTT TV trends in Asia and India

    MUMBAI: 2018 wrapped up as a fascinating year for OTT TV in Asia, with global content owners, Pay TV operators, and OTT players all ramping up their direct-to-consumer OTT offerings. With falling smartphone prices, OTT content market saw a boom in India as players across the spectrum set up shop. Original content was a game changer over the last few years, with OTT players outdoing the Bollywood big studios in their budgets. Netflix is investing Rs 500-600 crore per year into original content in India whereas Amazon Prime has announced that it would be investing around Rs 2000 crore in the same. In contrast, the budget of a Bollywood blockbuster like Padmaavat (2018) was merely Rs 200 crore.

    As content owners and pay TV operators launch — or even revamp — their direct-to-consumer OTT TV services, it’s an ongoing race to establish a business model that includes the right content, pricing, and user experience. Here’s my take on the top six trends that will shape OTT TV in India this year.

    1. Focus on the viewing customer

    While previous years have been dominated by conversations about tech or monetisation, 2019 will be dominated by a focus on the customer and enabling their access to great content. Disney’s Kevin Mayer puts this succinctly in a recent interview: “Having a better relationship with our consumer puts us in control of our own destiny.”

    2. Enabling access on every device

    Consumption trends are plotting a chart upward and to the right. Not all of this consumption is sensitive to copyright ownership, but it’s clear that video viewers have multiple devices and an internet connection, which facilitates increasing consumption. However, there’s a great deal of friction preventing these viewers from watching the content they want or even being offered the option of paying for the content they watch.

    3. Consumers want flexible payment options

    According to our OTT research, consumers have varying views across the region about whether they’re willing and happy to pay with their time (through watching advertising) or their money (subscriptions).  In 2019, we’ll see platforms using their understanding of their consumers’ preferred content to deliver premium experiences. Business model choices also need to be flexible for the consumer. In India and Asia, OTT providers could take a cue from the FMCG marketing playbook by offering sachet pricing. OTT TV providers can also offer small, low-priced subscription plans that are valid for a weekend or a week. The aim here is to enable users to sample the content and eventually convert the consumer into a more long-term subscriber.

    4. Does OTT advertising remove friction?

    Advertising paying for TV content is a contract the viewer is already familiar with. The benefit for the viewer is that they ‘pay’ with their attention. And they should receive more relevant, well-targeted ads than they would on a broadcast channel.

    Because of its highly targeted nature, ease of measurement, and tendency to have higher ad completion rates, OTT advertising is opening up new revenue streams for OTT TV providers — while also offering a highly engaging environment for brands. For advertisers, who tend to go where their audiences are, OTT TV is a beautiful mix of engaging content and addressability. It’s encouraging that agencies are seeing ad rates hit a plateau in the traditional, linear channels, while CMOs are excited by the high viewability of OTT TV services.  

    5. The content viewing experience guides OTT strategy

    According to Brightcove's OTT TV research with YouGov, trials and promotions tend to drive users to sign up for OTT services, but it’s the content itself that drives retention. We see many OTT providers not just investing in content, but also making their content work harder with content discovery and recommendation features. The research also sheds light on the importance of accessing content on mobile, which forces OTT providers to consider how their mobile OTT app could or should enhance the viewing experience. Features like offline download, which allows users to watch content when they’re not on wifi or a mobile network, and video continuity, which allows users to continue where they left off or ‘travel’ in between devices, remain desirable. All of these features are designed to increase stickiness to the service, as they allow for increased view times and encourage binge-watching habits.

    6. Pay TV operators experiment with OTT solutions

    Asia Pacific pay TV annual growth is slowly grinding to a two percent compound annual growth rate — from 267 million subscribers in 2018 to 288 million subscribers by 2023. Such low growth means that pay TV operators need to adapt to changing viewer habits by exploring the extension of their pay TV service to OTT TV services. Skinny bundles are an emerging product offering in Asia, with HOOQ launching skinny bundles in Indonesia that are targeted to tap into the 90 percent of Indonesia’s population who do not already access pay TV services. These kinds of content offerings acknowledge the difference between the buffet of the pay TV mega bundle and the a la carte personal choice of OTT TV. Understanding the context-driven difference in consumer preferences will allow pay TV operators to thrive in the OTT space.  

    Finding success in OTT TV services ultimately comes down to the viewing customer. For any global regional broadcaster or direct-to-consumer OTT service to thrive in this highly competitive environment, they must offer the desired elements to consumers.

    (The author is head of media sales, Asia, Brightcove. The views expressed here are his own and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them)  

  • TRAI tariff order, disruption posed challenges to DPOs in 2018

    TRAI tariff order, disruption posed challenges to DPOs in 2018

    MUMBAI: Distribution platform operators (DPOs) in India trod a tricky terrain throughout 2018. Both DTH and cable operators continued to face the heat of Jio FTTH, the rapid growth of over-the-top (OTT) platforms and the uncertainties posed by the implementation of the new tariff regime towards the end of the year.

    OTT platforms and challenge of cord cutting

    With the fall in data triggered by Jio, OTT went beyond male, metro, and millennial which posed a potential threat to the cable and DTH industry. As online viewership increased rapidly, traditional distributors were exposed to the threat of cord-cutting.

    What bothered cable operators more than independent platforms was traditional broadcasters driving the B2C lane. Almost all the major broadcasters strengthened their presence on digital, offering catch-up TV along with original content, thus allowing them to bypass revenue sharing with traditional distributors without having to worry about the tariff order or down-linking permission from the government.

    KCCL CEO Shaji Mathews pointed out that broadcasters are trying to develop OTT platforms in such a way that their dependence on cable and DTH is reduced. He also added that they are developing it to push for additional viewership and to have an alternative medium.

    Jio’s FTTH foray

    After leading the wireless data revolution, Mukesh Ambani-led Jio Infocomm returned with another blockbuster offering last year – Jio GigaFiber. The grand entry in the fixed-line broadband sector was not only a challenge for broadband service providers but for cable, DTH players also as the FTTH service is bundled with additional benefits including TV service. Given that the Jio FTTH service will come at a lower cost as compared to market rates, another price war is likely to be unleashed by India’s richest man. In addition to that, the higher amount of data at better speeds will convert more people into binge-watchers of online content increasing the risk of cord-cutting.

    Jio’s entry in India’s low-penetrated FLBB sector has created opportunities for larger MSOs as the former quickly realised the difficulty of last-mile connectivity.

    “If you talk about Jio coming in the industry, we are very much positive towards it that they have recognised our structure – broadcaster, distributor, MSOs, LMOs. Since they have recognised it and tied up with major players like Den and Hathway, it’s a win-win situation for industry also,” Maharashtra Cable Operators Foundation member Asif Sayed said.

    According to Mathews, it is not the first time that the cable industry has been subjected to disruption. The advent of DTH too was rooted in disruption. According to him, the cable industry is well equipped to face the impending Jio onslaught.

    DD FreeDish growth

    Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s free-to-air (FTA) platform DD FreeDish too became a cause for concern for the distribution industry. The new tariff framework caps monthly cable or DTH bill of television households at Rs 130 (plus taxes) for the first 100 FTA channels. However, DD Free Dish offers the same free of cost. Doordarshan director general Supriya Sahu believes DD FreeDish is not only used by a marginal section of the society but is also evolving as an alternative option which clearly indicates that it could be a potential threat for DPOs. As per consulting firm EY, the number of DD FreeDish subscribers is expected to reach over 40 million by 2020.

    DPOs forged new alliances

    With the threat of disruption looming large, cable and DTH operators adopted new strategies to survive. Major DTH players as well as MSOs signed content deals with popular OTT platforms and rolled out hybrid set-top boxes as a counter.

    Essel group-promoted Siti Networks unveiled “SITI PlayTop” with YouTube and YouTube Kids in-built, its first hybrid set top box, in September 2018. Another leading MSO, Hathway, launched two new products – an OTT set-top box and a cable hybrid box. Mumbai-headquartered MSO IMCL’s group company ONE Fiber also introduced an OTT device. DTH companies too got in on the act. In the first half of 2018, Harit Nagpal-led Tata Sky entered into a strategic partnership with streaming giant Netflix. India’s largest DTH operator Dish TV announced the national launch of its OTT platform and DishSMRT Stick – a streaming device to make any TV smart. Jawahar Goel’s company has also planned new consumer-friendly initiatives including the launch of Hybrid connected box and integration of voice assistance in next-generation smart STB.

    Added focus on broadband

    Realising the importance of online video in the entertainment sector, MSOs and some LCOs with their existing resources focused on broadband business to further cement their positions. Cable operators with a reach of over 100 million households can easily upgrade fixed line coaxial cable to carry high-speed broadband. Fastway CEO Peeush Mahajan said his company expanded its broadband service in new locations in 2018 and the MSO’s focus will be expanding further in as many as areas possible this year. Even DTH operator Tata Sky rolled out broadband service in 15 cities as it remodeled itself as a video and broadband company.

    KCCL’s Mathews said that most major MSOs have now started investing in broadband and FTTH. He also added that the implementation of fixed-line broadband has been hampered because of various governmental issues like lack of coordination between the various ministries on issues like license fee and difficulties in acquiring licenses.

    VAS remained key

    While the ARPU growth was on the lower side across the ecosystem, DTH operators invested in various value-added-services to drive growth. Dish TV launched VAS services for both DishTV and D2H brands such as ‘Bhojpuri Active’, ‘Fitness Active’ among others with an objective of delivering quality content to consumers across regions in their language. Tata Sky too expanded its regional services with the launch of VAS like Tata Sky Telugu Cinema and Tata Sky Tamil Cinema. At the end of year, it also launched Tata Sky ShortsTV, a service dedicated to curated short stories and films.

    DTH sector’s sluggish growth

    The growth of direct to home (DTH) subscriber base of private players in India was the slowest over the last five years for the nine month period ended 30 September 2018 (TQY 2018, TQY period, three quarters of the year under review) as per TRAI. The good news was that the quarter ended 30 June 2018 (Jun-18, last or previous quarter) saw a reversal of fortunes. From a loss of about 30,000 (0.003 crore, 0.3 million, 0.3 lakh) subscribers in the quarter ended 31 March 2018 (Mar-18), DTH subscriber growth was positive 18.4 lakh (0.184 crore, 1.84 million) for the quarter ended 30 June 2018 (Jun-18). However, in the case of the quarter ended 30 September 2018 (Sep-18), subscriber growth has once again nose-dived to just 8,000 subscriber additions.

    New tariff regime

    The most crucial development of 2018 was TRAI’s win against Star India in the Supreme Court with regards to the new tariff order. With the radical change in the overall ecosystem, the organisations sounded cautiously optimistic. The new rule is expected to bring transparency in the value chain along with creating a level playing field for all stakeholders.

    While broadcasters and DTH platforms are likely to be benefitted, LCOs seem highly concerned about what’s in store for them. LCOs feel the 80-20 revenue share will work for DTH operators but not for MSOs. They prefer a share cap for LCOs instead of taking it out from the 20 per cent that MSOs have. While the deadline to implement the order was 28 December 2018, TRAI offered respite to the sector handing an extension until 31 January 2019 to ensure a smooth transition.

    With less than a month to go, DPOs have also started updating new channel prices and packages on their websites to inform consumers. Many large MSOs like Hathway, DEN Networks and Siti Cable have come up with "suggestive packs" bundling popular channels of all major broadcasters. Moreover, as TRAI has withdrawn its appeal before the Supreme Court to reinstate the 15 per cent cap on discounting of channel bouquets under the new regime, DPOs say now the order lacks value. As broadcasters now can give a discount of 50-60 per cent on bouqets keeping the a-la-carte channel price high, DPOs will not be in a position to package their products.

    Given the fact that there will be some time needed for consumers to adjust to the new structure, broadcasters may call for a rating blackout for at least six to eight weeks. However, it will not be the first rating blackout. When the industry went from analogue to digital distribution, the ratings were held back for around nine weeks. Though initially there was chaos, later both cable operators and DTH platforms reaped benefit from digitisation. “TRAI tariff order implementation provides transparency in the system and gives more choice to the consumer. Dish TV has been prepared to implement the new tariff order and stands to benefit with faster and healthier growth,” India’s largest operator Dish TV feels.

    Standing at the next revolution in TV industry, time will tell how the new regime will pan out for stakeholders. 

  • TRAI says no postponement of tariff order implementation in fresh clarification

    TRAI says no postponement of tariff order implementation in fresh clarification

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has clarified that it won't be giving any more extensions to the implementation of the new tariff regime beyond the deadline of 31 January. It has given an additional month for customer migration to new tariff regime after which there have been speculations that the authority may be further postponing or stopping or revising the rule. Quashing rumours, TRAI has issued a press release and clarified that the new framework has come into effect on 29 December itself.

    TRAI also states that  it has been monitoring the progress in regards to availability of consumer corner, choices to the consumers, provision of consumers care channel, percentage of consumers whose choice has been obtained etc. on day to day basis. It even noted that almost all the service providers have started providing consumer care channel on channel number 999.

    The authority further added that the schedule of activities has been properly communicated to all the service providers for reaching out to the consumers and obtaining choices. In addition to that, TRAI is conducting review meetings regularly to monitor the progress.

    TRAI has again advised all the service providers to strictly observe the timelines as provided in the migration plan.

    It has also asked subscribers to exercise their options without waiting for the last minute to avoid any inconvenience and to ensure that they continue to view their favourite channels.

    As the date for implementation of tariff order was nearing, stakeholders were highly concerned how the transition would pan out for consumers. Bringing relief to them, TRAI gave time till 31 January for consumers to opt for channels of their choice under the new regime. Customers will be migrated to new plans as per their choice from 1 February.

    Earlier there were speculations about a complete blackout of TV channels in December as the system allegedly is not ready for such a big move. Then too TRAI asserted in a release that it has advised all the broadcasters, DPOs, and LCOs to ensure there is no disruption of TV services.

    Left with less than one month in hand, DPOs have also started updating new channel prices and packages on their websites to inform consumers. Many large MSOs like Hathway, DEN Networks, Siti Cable have come up with "suggestive packs" bundling the popular channel of all major broadcasters.

    As per TRAI, the new tariff order will give consumers the power to choose and will also lower the prices for TV channels. This new framework allows them to select and pick channels that they like to watch and pay accordingly. It also requires the TV broadcasters to disclose maximum retail price (MRP) of their respective channels and also of the channel bouquets.

  • Pay TV subs show first ever decline globally

    Pay TV subs show first ever decline globally

    MUMBAI: The third quarter of 2018 saw a slight fall in pay TV subscribers, making it the first ever marked changed and probably a point of worry for cable and DTH operators world over.

    The decrease was by 0.11 million, down by 0.02 per cent, as per informitv’s Multiscreen Index reported by Advanced Television.

    Out of the top 100 services, just 43 saw gains including India’s Dish TV where it saw an increase of 200,000. This helped keep up the overall gain in the Asia Pacific region by 1.22 million. With a total of 23.5 million subscribers, Dish TV led the world pack in terms of subscriber numbers with about 23.5 million subscribers after its merger with Videocon d2h.

    Numbers fell for the first time in the Americas, Asia, and MENA regions. Globally, cable saw a cut of 0.22 million while DTH lost 0.9 million.  In the US, AT&T U-Verse was the only one to witness a rise in subscribers by just 13,000.

    Almost all quarters, to date, have seen a 1 per cent rise stay steady. Analysts will continue to see whether coming quarters will see more decline or a revival is in sight.