NEW DELHI: Indian pubcaster Doordarshan is now confident that it will acquire the capacity of carrying 112 channels on its free-to-air (FTA) direct to home (DTH) service FreeDish by March-end.
DD director general C Lalrosanga told Indiantelevision.com that a meeting had been held recently by the engineering team in FreeDish and Doordarshan with experts from the Bangalore based ByDesign India.
DD is acquiring ByDesign’s conditional access system (CAS) so as to increase its channel offerings from the current 64 by the end of March 2016.
The meeting was primarily aimed at assessing the requirement of CAS-enabled set top boxes (STBs) that will be needed to cover all regions of the country.
Lalrosanga said the DTH player will switch over to MPEG4 from the current MPEG2 in two phases. “The first phase may begin this month,” he informed.
Late last year, the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) approved a proposal by ByDesign India to develop an Indian conditional access system. ByDesign was to receive a support amount of Rs 19.79 crore from DeitY to develop the new system in association with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
The ByDesign model is totally indigenous and built for DVB-C setup. This CAS solution will enable broadcasters to control access to their services by viewers, and thereby enabling them to extend their business models to subscription based schemes.
This will mean that the FreeDish will become encrypted but will remain FTA. In addition to helping increase the number of channels on the platform, this will enable FreeDish to gauge the exact number of households relying on FreeDish as encrypted STBs will only be available with authorised dealers.
Lalrosanga went on to add that many homes were gradually switching over to FreeDish as they could then get their entire entertainment for a one-time fee of purchasing a dish, which costs as low as Rs 700 to Rs 1200.
Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar had said early last year that FreeDish’s aim was to reach 112 channels within a year or so.
At present, there is no vacant slot on Freedish since all channels that were on the platform and whose licences had expired have come back through the 24 e-auctions conducted over the past year.
Interestingly, two new entrants on the platform – Aaj Tak and Big Magic – are pay channels, which are being run as FTA on FreeDish.
DD sources said that the reference interconnect agreement signed by these two channels no longer carries any non-discriminatory clause as it refers to FreeDish.
Tag: Prasar Bharati
-
DD confident of achieving 112-channel target on FreeDish by March-end
-
DD Freedish sets reserve price of Rs 4.3 crore for 25th e-auction
NEW DELHI: After several auctions, Doordarshan has raised its reserve price to Rs 4.3 crore for the 25th e-auction for its free-to-air DTH platform Freedish. The auction will be held on 18 January in an attempt to touch the target of 112 television channels in the next few months.Doordarshan had until now set a reserve price of Rs 3.7 crore per slot (as in the last few auctions) for the online e-auction, though Indiantelevision.com had learnt that the bid amount went up to Rs 4.7 crore in earlier e-auctions. The reserve price in the 15th e-auction was Rs 3 crore and was raised to Rs 3.7 crore in the 16th auction.DD sources refused to divulge the number of slots being auctioned to prevent bidders forming consortia to bid or resort to other malpractices.These sources told this website that Freedish will be encrypted shortly from Mpeg2 to Mpeg4 to keep a tab on the number of subscribers, but it would remain free-to-air.The e-Auction will be conducted by C1 India, Noida which also conducted the first stage of the FM Radio Phase III auctions on behalf of Prasar Bharati.Currently, Freedish has 64 channels including its own channels, and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV.The participation amount (EMD) in the e-auction is Rs 1.5 crore, which will be deposited in advance before or by 12 noon on 18 January along with processing fee of Rs 10,000 (Non-refundable) in favour of PB (BCI) Doordarshan Commercial Service, New Delhi.Incremental amount for the auction will be Rs 10 lakh and the time for every slot e-auction will be of fifteen minutes duration. This may be extended by five minutes if a bid is received before the closing time.Of the reserve price, Rs 1.1 crore will be deposited within one month of placement and another Rs 1.1 crore within two months along with service tax of 14.5 per cent on the bid amount.The balance bid amount will be deposited within six months, failing which the deposited amount will be forfeited and the channel discontinued after a 21-day discontinuation notice. -
Inflation, 6th Pay Commission taking toll on Prasar Bharati: Rathore
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati earned Rs 604 crore in revenue as against expenditure of Rs 1187.44 crore up to October this year for the financial year 2015-16.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told the Parliament today that the revenue in 2014-15 was Rs 1124.43 crore as against expenditure of Rs 2132.98 crore, in 2013-14 it was Rs 1295.96 crore against expenditure of Rs 1945.84 crore and revenue in 2012-13 was Rs 1298.16 crore as against expenditure of Rs 1883.19 crore.
The Minister added that Prasar Bharati had said that with inflation and rising costs of TV channels, Doordarshan has also experienced gradual increase in operational costs. In addition, the implementation of various recommendations of 6th Central Pay Commission has led to increase in administrative and staff related expenses.
Since Prasar Bharati is a public service broadcaster, its functioning cannot be guided purely by commercial motives.
However, the Minister said Prasar Bharati is adopting an aggressive marketing strategy to increase the revenue receipts besides putting into best use its spare infrastructure available with the field formations across the country.
The Ministry provides financial support to Prasar Bharati under Plan and Non Plan heads, in the form of grants-in-aid. In the current financial year (2015-16), an amount of Rs 605.03 crore has been allocated to Prasar Bharati under Plan Head and Rs 2342.12 crore has been allocated under Non-Plan.
The Ministry has also allocated (through its Office Memorandum dated 27 August, 2015) a sum of Rs 11,116.79 crore [Rs 11,116.76 crore under Revenue Section and Rs 0.02 crore as Token Supplementary and Rs 0.01 crore as Token Supplementary under Capital Section as first batch of supplementary grant 2015-16] to Prasar Bharati subsequent to the approval of Ministry of Finance for the following:
(i) Conversion of a sum of Rs 5684.34 crore towards Loan-in-Perpetuity and Capital Loan into Grants-in-Aid for the period 1 April, 2000 to 31 March, 2010.
(ii) Waiver of an amount of Rs 4082.88 crore towards interest on Loan-in-Perpetuity, interest on Capital Loan and Penal Interests for the period 1 April, 2000 to 31 March, 2010.
(iii) Waiver of a sum of Rs 1349.54 crore towards accumulated arrears of Space Segment and Spectrum Charges accrued to Prasar Bharati up to 31 March, 2011.
-
DD spends 29% of annual expenditure on terrestrial distribution
NEW DELHI: Around 29 per cent of the total expenditure of Doordarshan is spent on terrestrial distribution annually, the Parliament was told today.
However, Prasar Bharati says that the viewership data received at present still does not show the terrestrial viewership for rural viewers separately, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said.
In January 2003, Doordarshan had set up four digital transmitters, one each at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai on an experimental basis using Digital Video Broadcasting Transmission (DVB-T) System to gain experience in digital transmission technology.
As part of the 11th Plan Scheme, four High Definition TV (HDTV) digital High Power Transmitters (HPTs) have been installed at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and are ready for commissioning.
A total of 63 digital HPTs (40 in 11th Plan and 23 in 12th Plan) have also been approved as part of digitisation schemes. Out of 63 digital HPTs, 16 digital HPTs are ready for commissioning and another three digital HPTs are at advanced stage of completion. Action has been initiated for setting up of remaining 44 digital HPTs.
Replying to a separate question, I&B Minister Arun Jaitley said against funds amounting to Rs 155 crore allocated in 2014-15 by the Prasar Bharati from the funds given by the Government for modernization schemes, Prasar Bharati had reported an expenditure of Rs 153.37 crore.
He added that against funds amounting to Rs 237 crore allocated in 2015-16 to the pubcaster, an expenditure of Rs 41.46 crore had been incurred till October 2015.
The Expert Committee for Prasar Bharati had recommended digitisation of Terrestrial TV operations based on commercial viability.
However, Rathore said there is no time-line at present for Analogue Terrestrial TV switch off.
The switch-off is currently happening only in the digital addressable systems (DAS), with the third phase being completed by this month end and the final phase slated for December 2016.
-
Manpower audit required to identify posts in Prasar Bharati that need to be filled: Rathore
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati has been advised to carry out a Manpower Audit to identify posts that actually need to be filled up, the Parliament has been informed.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said in reply to a question that though there are vacancies in All India Radio and Doordarshan Kendras, there is a need to reassess actual requirement of staff in Prasar Bharati keeping in view changes in broadcast technologies.
Earlier this year, a report had shown that although it had stressed the need for a manpower audit in view of technological upgradation, statistics showed that only 30093 of the 46756 sanctioned posts have been filled in the cash-strapped Prasar Bharati.
Of the total, the filled posts in All India Radio are 15538 out of the sanctioned 26129, while 14555 posts have been filled out of the 20627 sanctioned posts in Doordarshan.
In Group A, AIR has filled just 719 of the 2002 posts and DD has filled just 517 of the 1083 sanctioned strength.
After rigorous exercise, the Government had identified 3452 posts as essential category posts for filling up in Prasar Bharati. Out of these, 3067 posts were identified by Government as essential category of posts in Prasar Bharati to be filled up through direct recruitment have been revived.
A Special onetime dispensation was obtained to recruit these through Staff Selection Commission.
Prasar Bharati sources say Staff Selection Commission has already recommended 2367 candidates for appointment. Prasar Bharati is in the process of issue of appointment orders.
In addition, 38 middle/ senior level Programme posts have been revived for filling up on deputation basis.
-
ISRO’s GSAT-15 launch on 11 November; DTH to benefit
NEW DELHI: Even as Indians are celebrating the festival of lights, a new bird from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to be blasted off into geostationary orbit come early 11 November from Kouro in French Guiana. The satellite GSAT-15 – with its 24 Ku-band transponders – is going to provide a lifeline to India’s DTH television operators.
It is currently waiting at the launch pad as a payload of an Ariane 5 Rocket – launch firm Arianespace’s trusted launcher – in launch complex No 3 in Kouru. The satellite cost – including the launch fee – is at Rs 860 crore.
The GSAT-15 will replace two older birds – INSAT-3A and INSAT-4B – both are which are at the fag end of their lives. INSAT 3A will expire in November while 4b will cease functioning later next year.
Most of the transponder capacity on these two satellites is being utilized by Prasar Bharati’s DD and DTH operators FreeDish and Sun Direct, according to satellite TV tracker Lyngsat.
GSAT-15 will thus see these services being shifted to its transponders, which will also serve the needs of VSAT operators who offer Digital satellite news gathering operations to India’s news channels. It will also be carrying as a GPS-Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands as a backup service for airlines and other users of augmented GPS-based system. According to ISRO, it has a design life of 12 years and its weight will be 3,164 kg at lift-off
The Ariane-5 VA-227 launch vehicle, which will launch GSAT 15, will also carry Arabsat-6B for Arabsat, Saudi Arabia. Arabsat-6B, to be renamed BADR-7 once in orbit, will be the ninth satellite orbited by Arianespace for use by the operator Arabsat, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the initial sixth-generation satellite for Arabsat’s fleet, providing broadcast, broadband and telecommunications services over the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.
The Ariane 5 mission will have a total payload lift performance of 9,810 kg, Arianespace said. This includes the two satellites’ mass at liftoff – 5,798 kg for Arabsat-6B and 3,164 kg for GSAT-15 – along with launcher integration hardware and Ariane 5’s dual-passenger deployment system, it added.
The launch is planned to take place during a launch window of 21:34 and 22:17 pm coordinated universal time (around 03:04 am IST).
Interested viewers can watch it live on http://www.arianespace.tv.
-
FM Phase III: MIB outs agreement formats to be signed with Prasar Bharati
NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has made available the formats of the agreements to be signed with Prasar Bharati by fresh Letters of Intent (LOI) holders in FM Phase III and those who had sought migration from Phase II.
The agreements also contain a list of obligations of the licensor and the licensee of FM Radio Phase III.
There are clear provisions for arbitration, jurisdiction etc. The arbitrator will be nominated by Prasar Bharati CEO.
Fresh applicants have licences for 15 years. Under the agreement, they will be at liberty to ask Prasar Bharati to use its tower and other infrastructure facilities under mutually agreed terms and conditions.
The tower aperture fee will be increased by five per cent of the last licence fee paid.
-
HomeShop18 hops on to DD FreeDish DTH platform
MUMBAI: HomeShop18 has hopped on to Prasar Bharati’s direct to home (DTH) platform DD FreeDish.
With this new e-auction win, the channel will reach out to an additional 18 million subscribers of the Indian free-to-air (FTA) DTH broadcasting platform.
The channel has been made available on DD FreeDish from 1 November, 2015.
HomeShop18 CEO Sanjeev Agrawal said, “As the exposure and aspirations of customers in tier II and III geographies evolve, so does their demand for high-quality products. However, due to the limited internet penetration and lack of presence of modern trade there is a gap in latent demand and supply. We have the advantage to cover this gap and reach out to customers across the country through television shopping and our wide range of products. Our association with DD FreeDish is a step towards our commitment to match the HomeShop18 signals to the country’s television penetration and our strong physical reach.”
The channel has shows like 18 Shringaar, Today’s Special Offer amongst others that will provide shoppers with deals, expert advice, a complete new look to women and an assortment of products.
-
Prasar Bharati moves TDSAT against Mumbai based FM radio licensee
NEW DELHI: Indian pubcaster Prasar Bharati has moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against Mumbai based FM radio licensee Pan India Network Infravest Pvt Ltd for not vacating its properties in different cities even after the end of the lease period.
To this regard, Prasar Bharati has admitted eight petitions for hearing to TDSAT.
The petitions have been filed by the pubcaster from Allahabad, Amritsar and other parts of Punjab, Jalgaon, Varanasi, Akola, Agra, and Nanded.
TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava admitted the petition after hearing Government counsel Rajeev Sharma. No one appeared for Pan India Network Infravest.
Pan India Network was directed to file a reply within three weeks and rejoinder by Prasar Bharati, if any, two weeks thereof.
The case was listed for 15 December before the Registrar’s court for getting the pleadings completed.
FM operators were given some land by Prasar Bharati on its land in many cities for putting up transmitters etc under conditions set out in agreements with each of them.
-
DD Freedish nets Rs 57 crore in auction from 14 channels
NEW DELHI: Doordarshan earned a sum of Rs 57.1 crore in the 23rd e-auction of its free-to-air DTH platform Freedish on 19 October, with 14 channels coming into its fold.
Prasar Bharati CEO had said earlier this year that the aim was to reach 112 channels within a year or so, when FreeDish moves from Mpeg2 to Mpeg4, for which official clearance is still awaited.
Doordarshan deputy director general C K Jain told Indiantelevision.com that while 10 television channels had come back, four channels had won bids to fill vacant slots.
Doordarshan had set a reserve price of Rs 3.7 crore per slot (as in the last few auctions) for the online e-auction, but all the bids were between Rs 4 to Rs 4.2 crore.
Sadhana National, which is a new entrant, bid the highest with Rs 4.2 crore. On the other hand, nine channels bid Rs 4.1 crore and four channels bid Rs 4 crore.
The other new entrants are Sony Mix, the Big Magic Ganga, which is a new Bhojpuri channel from the Reliance Group, and Home Shop18.
The channels whose licences had expired and got renewed are: ABP News, India TV, Cinema TV, Enterr 10, 9XM, Dabbang, Masti, Chardhi Kala Times, B4U Movies, and Maha Movie.
In the 22nd auction on 22 September, it managed to auction eight slots for around Rs 31.3 crore.
Jain said Freedish will be encrypted shortly from Mpeg2 to Mpeg4 to keep a tab on the number of subscribers, but it would remain free-to-air.
Currently, Freedish has 64 channels including its own channels, and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV.