NEW DELHI: The Indian government now is setting up a conditional access system (CAS) implementation committee to monitor the preparedness for a phased out rollout of addressability in cable homes in the four metros.
“The implementation committee would monitor the readiness for CAS rollout in association with all stakeholders of the industry,” a senior information and broadcasting ministry official said today.
Pointing out that the mandate for the soon-to-be-notified body would be to access ground realities, including available infrastructure such as subscriber management system and pricing of pay channels, the official said, “The idea is to meet on a weekly basis before 1 September.”
The implementation committee will include Zee Telefilms CMD Subhash Chandra, Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea, Sony Entertainment TV India CEO Kunal Dasgupta, TV Today Network CEO G Krishnan, Television Eighteen Ltd MD Raghav Bahl, Rajiv Khattar from Siti Cable, Rajeev Vyas of INCablenet, K Jayaraman of Hathway Datacom, cable operators’ representatives Roop Sharma and Anil Parab (representing the independent cable operators from Mumbai) and executives from Sumangali and RPG Netcom.
The first meeting of the implementation panel is likely to be held in Mumbai, according to the government official.
However, there is no consumer representation on this panel and the official said consumer bodies and/or consumer representatives would only be special invitees from time to time
The new panel is being set up, at the behest of I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, to smoothen out any rough edges to the already controversial CAS.
The opposition and even some allies of the coalition government are going hammer and tongs against implementation of addressability in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament which is why Prasad is having a tough time explaining the upside of CAS in both the Houses of Parliament twice a week when issues related to media are discussed.
Tag: Rajeev Vyas
-
Committee to monitor CAS implementation
-
Short film with TV stars selected for US festival
MUMBAI: Kuchh Ruke Hue Lamhe – When Time stood Still, a 50-minute low budget film has been selected for the New York International Independent Film and Video festival 2003. The film stars television artistes such as Simone Singh and Anoop Soni among others.
The festival will feature films and videos from around the world including Australia, Canada, Croatia, Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands, England, Ireland and the United States of America.
Kuchh Ruke Hue Lamhe is based on the story of a young man who loses his wife during childbirth. The film goesto trace the relationship between him and his son. The film has been produced by Rajeev Vyas for Vinar Media (India) Private Ltd. and directed by Prabal Baruah.
“The film has been made entirely on digital media, a medium for independent directors who are looking at a cost effective option. The short film is being considered to be re- shot as a full-length feature film. The whole film cost us only Rs 2,50,000,” says producer Rajeev Vyas. .
“We have made the film for the international market only. However, if it receives a good response we may approach the television channels in India to air it,” he adds.
Vinar media was formed two years ago and has produced many short films and documentaries like a short films on the success story of Amul movement, Madia tribes of Bastar in Madhya Pradesh, short feature film called Bijeta in children category to be aired on ETV Bengali and a one hour film on Indian Railways for Sahyadri Marathi channel, to name a few.
-
ESPN feed back on INCable Net after agreement on declared connectivity
More than three months after the ESPN Star Sports feed to the Hinduja group promoted INCable Net was switched off in Mumbai in a dispute over the declared connectivity that the MSO was willing to accept, the two sides finally thrashed out an agreement in the early hours today at 1:30 am.
An joint press release stated that with the “landmark settlement”, InCable Net and ESPN Software “have resolved all outstanding issues, and entered a new era of cooperation and long-term relationship to the satisfaction of both the parties.” Following the agreement, all outstanding legal cases between the two parties will be withdrawn at the earliest.
The agreement that was reached last night is the outcome of hectic parleys that have been on for the the last few weeks. And the major impetus for the meeting of the minds as it were was, as is to be expected, cricket. India has just embarked on a two-month tour of the Caribbean and the India-West Indies cricket series officially begins 11 April.
As regards the source of the dispute, it was not really the new monthly subscription rate of Rs 24 for the two sports channels that was the core issue but the declared subscriber base that INCable was willing to accede to. The new rates became effective 1 January 2001 and ESPN Software switched off its feed on 5 January.
At the end of last year, 150,000 was the declared subscriber base that ESPN Star Sports had with INCable. Though no one was willing to come on record, industry sources say the new subscriber base that has been agreed to is above 200,000.
Speaking on behalf of INCable, Rajeev Vyas, president, said: The spirit of the agreement encourages cooperation between the service providers and the cable operators, and both parties will work towards enhancing subscriber base at the same time increasing quality of service to consumers.
Sricharan Iyengar, vice-president – affiliate sales ESPN Software India said: A long-term agreement of this nature envisages closer cooperation between the two parties to ensure that all issues are sorted out through discussions and mutual understanding. We believe that such an agreement will immensely benefit the channels, the cable operators and the consumers.
The new contract that has been signed between ESPN Software and InCable is a backdated one that runs for the next two years from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2003. There have been clauses included in the new contract that allow for ramping up of declared subscriber base over the next two years. It is not clear at this stage whether the agreement is based on the present subscription rate being maintained for the full duration of the contract or whether there will be an increase in rates at the beginning of next year as has been the case till now. Another question is whether there is any limit on how much the sports broadcaster can hike its rates.
One thing that appears clear from the new terms that have been worked into the contract is that it will be binding on both sides to adhere to it. By the looks of it, the consumer can expect a far more incident free two years than has been the case till now.
-
ESPN feed back on INCable Net after agreement on declared connectivity
More than three months after the ESPN Star Sports feed to the Hinduja group promoted INCable Net was switched off in Mumbai in a dispute over the declared connectivity that the MSO was willing to accept, the two sides finally thrashed out an agreement in the early hours today at 1:30 am.
An joint press release stated that with the “landmark settlement”, InCable Net and ESPN Software “have resolved all outstanding issues, and entered a new era of cooperation and long-term relationship to the satisfaction of both the parties.” Following the agreement, all outstanding legal cases between the two parties will be withdrawn at the earliest.
The agreement that was reached last night is the outcome of hectic parleys that have been on for the the last few weeks. And the major impetus for the meeting of the minds as it were was, as is to be expected, cricket. India has just embarked on a two-month tour of the Caribbean and the India-West Indies cricket series officially begins 11 April.
As regards the source of the dispute, it was not really the new monthly subscription rate of Rs 24 for the two sports channels that was the core issue but the declared subscriber base that INCable was willing to accede to. The new rates became effective 1 January 2001 and ESPN Software switched off its feed on 5 January.
At the end of last year, 150,000 was the declared subscriber base that ESPN Star Sports had with INCable. Though no one was willing to come on record, industry sources say the new subscriber base that has been agreed to is above 200,000.
Speaking on behalf of INCable, Rajeev Vyas, president, said: “The spirit of the agreement encourages cooperation between the service providers and the cable operators, and both parties will work towards enhancing subscriber base at the same time increasing quality of service to consumers.”
Sricharan Iyengar, vice-president – affiliate sales ESPN Software India said: “A long-term agreement of this nature envisages closer cooperation between the two parties to ensure that all issues are sorted out through discussions and mutual understanding. We believe that such an agreement will immensely benefit the channels, the cable operators and the consumers.”
The new contract that has been signed between ESPN Software and InCable is a backdated one that runs for the next two years from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2003. There have been clauses included in the new contract that allow for ramping up of declared subscriber base over the next two years. It is not clear at this stage whether the agreement is based on the present subscription rate being maintained for the full duration of the contract or whether there will be an increase in rates at the beginning of next year as has been the case till now. Another question is whether there is any limit on how much the sports broadcaster can hike its rates.
One thing that appears clear from the new terms that have been worked into the contract is that it will be binding on both sides to adhere to it. By the looks of it, the consumer can expect a far more incident free two years than has been the case till now.
-
ESPN feed back on INCable Net after agreement on declared connectivity
MUMBAI: More than three months after the ESPN Star Sports feed to the Hinduja group promoted INCable Net was switched off in Mumbai in a dispute over the declared connectivity that the MSO was willing to accept, the two sides finally thrashed out an agreement in the early hours today at 1:30 am.
An joint press release stated that with the “landmark settlement”, InCable Net and ESPN Software “have resolved all outstanding issues, and entered a new era of cooperation and long-term relationship to the satisfaction of both the parties.” Following the agreement, all outstanding legal cases between the two parties will be withdrawn at the earliest.
The agreement that was reached last night is the outcome of hectic parleys that have been on for the the last few weeks. And the major impetus for the meeting of the minds as it were was, as is to be expected, cricket. India has just embarked on a two-month tour of the Caribbean and the India-West Indies cricket series officially begins 11 April.
As regards the source of the dispute, it was not really the new monthly subscription rate of Rs 24 for the two sports channels that was the core issue but the declared subscriber base that INCable was willing to accede to. The new rates became effective 1 January 2001 and ESPN Software switched off its feed on 5 January.
At the end of last year, 150,000 was the declared subscriber base that ESPN Star Sports had with INCable. Though no one was willing to come on record, industry sources say the new subscriber base that has been agreed to is above 200,000.
Speaking on behalf of INCable, Rajeev Vyas, president, said: “The spirit of the agreement encourages cooperation between the service providers and the cable operators, and both parties will work towards enhancing subscriber base at the same time increasing quality of service to consumers.”
Sricharan Iyengar, vice-president – affiliate sales ESPN Software India said: “A long-term agreement of this nature envisages closer cooperation between the two parties to ensure that all issues are sorted out through discussions and mutual understanding. We believe that such an agreement will immensely benefit the channels, the cable operators and the consumers.”
The new contract that has been signed between ESPN Software and InCable is a backdated one that runs for the next two years from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2003. There have been clauses included in the new contract that allow for ramping up of declared subscriber base over the next two years. It is not clear at this stage whether the agreement is based on the present subscription rate being maintained for the full duration of the contract or whether there will be an increase in rates at the beginning of next year as has been the case till now. Another question is whether there is any limit on how much the sports broadcaster can hike its rates.
One thing that appears clear from the new terms that have been worked into the contract is that it will be binding on both sides to adhere to it. By the looks of it, the consumer can expect a far more incident free two years than has been the case till now.