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Tag: Star India

  • Dolby Institute’s sound designing techniques to help broadcasters

    Dolby Institute’s sound designing techniques to help broadcasters

    MUMBAI: A movie experience is usually about compelling video effects that has the power to blow one’s mind away. But have you ever paid attention to the sound of an aeroplane crashing into a building or a fast moving car bashing against another one. The effort that a sound designer puts into layering sounds and making it sound real is hardly ever recognised.

    In order to create more awareness about sound designing, two renowned sound designers from the US are undertaking a unique teaching model along with Dolby Laboratories. The Dolby Institute, created over a year ago, is a non physical place that aims to reach out to producers and writers both professional and budding. As part of this training, Dolby Institute director Glenn Kiser and supervising sound editor Steven Cahill are traveling to various countries.

    Currently amazed with the Indian culture as they tour film schools and broadcasters, the duo are trying to spread the word about the opportunities sound designing can provide to film and TV. In its India leg, they are meeting students at FTII and Whistling Woods as well as providing insights to broadcasters such as Star India, Viacom18, Epic TV, Zee Network etc. “We are presenting case studies where sound was used creatively to enhance quality. The idea is to bring rich experience from outside to India,” says Kiser.

    While students get an introduction into the sector, broadcasters will learn the aesthetics and nuances of the technique. This apart, the Dolby Institute has tied up with the Sundance Film Festival to provide aid to low budget movie producers who have the idea but not the technique to execute it.

    According to them, VFX has made its mark as to how fulfilling it is for storytelling and the institute’s hope is to get sound designing to the same level. However, while sound has been created in 3D for nearly five decades, it is actually picture that has taken time to change from SD to HD.

    It was in the 1990s when sound became an important aspect of storytelling but in India it is only now that some directors have started giving it a thought. “Between Indian personality driven stories and music being so overly thought of before, the chances are that they would be less apt of sound driving at the moment,” says Cahill.

    The four day workshop will demonstrate how to use sound as a budget saving device as well as script writing and directing with sound in mind. “The entire sound budget of a film could be less than five VFX shots,” says Cahill adding that it constituted just 1 per cent of the budget of blockbuster Avatar.

    In the American television scenario, a lot of film directors shifted to TV in the 1990s, primarily due to HBO, bringing along with them their teams and sophistication. “The technology and aesthetics of a film director made an immersive experience on both broadcast as well as OTT,” says Kiser naming NCIS, True Detective, House of Cards, 24 and Game of Thrones as examples of fantastic sound designing.

    Action, thriller and horror lend themselves as most apt for good sound designing. Kiser adds that it is also possible to alter sounds so that the viewer can experience it from the character’s point of view. With lesser processes and people, sound can have the same narrative impact as visuals, he says. This was adapted by Pixar in its animated movies where they built a whole realistic audio world that could be experienced with closed eyes.

    However, the challenge that sound designers face is about being the last in the chain of processes. “The best ones were where the scriptwriter and sound designer would collaborate to imagine the sound while the script was made,” says Kiser. Usually, sound is added once the entire film is cut so the options are limited. He adds that scenes have to be thought of by the director and executed by the sound designer.

    Nowadays, too little time is allotted for post production, so this crucial part gets pushed to the end. “If you don’t give sound its full due, it’s only 50 per cent good because you aren’t giving it even 50 per cent of the time or talent,” says Cahill.

    The duo seem to be elated with the response they have been receiving from India and will be looking forward to return and check some of the students’ projects to provide tips and criticism.

     

  • I&B Ministry to study why MSOs are not taking indigenous STBs

    I&B Ministry to study why MSOs are not taking indigenous STBs

    NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) will facilitate a meeting of manufacturers of indigenous set top boxes (STBs) and multi-system operators (MSOs) next week in view of complaints by the manufacturers that no orders were being placed for their STBs.

     

    This was decided at a meeting of the Task Force which will oversee the next two phases of digital addressable system (DAS) and which met under the chairmanship of Ministry Additional Secretary J S Mathur here today.

     

    Earlier this week, the manufacturers had met Ministry secretary Bimal Julka and made the same complaint.

     

    The participants were apprised that around 3.5 households had to be covered in the third phase of digitisation.

     

    A Ministry source told indiantelevision.com that the meeting discussed various roadblocks on the road to full digitisation and ways to overcome these hurdles.

     

    Star India legal & regulatory senior vice president Pulak Bagchi, who is also the representative of the broadcasters said emphatically that broadcasters would support voluntary transition to DAS as long as there were some ground rules.

     

    He also said that broadcasters were prepared to give concessions to operators switching over to DAS provided the operators totally stopped analogue transmission.

     

    Bagchi also said that it should be made mandatory that any MSO or local cable operator who switches over to DAS should switch off analogue and not run both systems.

     

    The meeting was attended by around 20 people and included representatives of trade bodies like FICCI and CII, apart from MSOs, LCOs and DAS advisor Yogendra Pal.

     

  • MSOs to put Star’s popular channels in base pack, regional in a-la-carte

    MSOs to put Star’s popular channels in base pack, regional in a-la-carte

    MUMBAI: As the deadline for signing deals with Star India for its channels on reference interconnect offer (RIO) ended on 10 November, MSOs are preparing various options to deal with the altered business plans.

     

    While the network is providing all its channels only on RIO, MSOs are finding out different ways to package the channels. India’s leading MSO Hathway is currently creating new packages that it will roll out soon. Says a source, “We will be redefining our packs and giving revised rates soon. Marketing on the same will commence as well. It will be something new for the trade.”

     

    While the base pack could include the popular channels from its bouquet, the regional channels will only be on a-la-carte. English, sports and others will be categorised in different packs. The channel had initially disconnected signals in October, but now the channels are switched on again.

     

    IMCL’s InCable on the other hand has also followed a similar pattern. The base pack will consist of Star Plus, Life OK and Star Pravah, the latter due to its large presence in the state of Maharashtra. The regional channels such as Star Jalsha, Star Vijay, Asianet, Suvarna etc will be on a-la-carte.

     

    “We have decided to put the popular channels on the base pack for three months to avoid unnecessary system overload due to people calling for it. Slowly, they will also be moved out into a-la-carte once we educate consumers. Soon we will also have proper EPRS, CAS and also net billing,” says IMCL group MD and CEO Tony D’silva. The MSO has taken Star’s incentives for channel penetration by putting three in its base pack.

     

    According to an official from Den Networks, the MSO has not yet signed the deal and is yet negotiating. Advance Multisystem Broadband Communciation (AMBC) in Kolkata will ensure all 26 channels will be given to consumers while another Kolkata based MSO said that the agreement with Star has been signed but it is evaluating the incentive schemes.

  • TS Panesar quits Star India as EVP Distribution

    TS Panesar quits Star India as EVP Distribution

    MUMBAI: Star India’s EVP for distribution TS Panesar has decided to move on to the company sources told indiantelevision.com.

    He is currently serving his notice period and will move out of the company at the end of the month.

    Panesar had been entrusted with the responsibility of handling distribution for national DTH and digital addressable systems (DAS) earlier this year when the JV between Star and Zee- MediaPro was broken.

    He was earlier ESPN Software India VP for affiliate sales.

    Industry sources hinted that Panesar could be moving to Discovery Networks.

     

  • We are introducing the concept of packaging: Star India

    We are introducing the concept of packaging: Star India

    KOLKATA: Commending the decision of the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal’s (TDSAT) to put Star India channels on a la carte, the network said with this it is likely to introduce the concept of packaging.

     

    Star India legal & regulatory senior vice president Pulak Bagchi and distribution strategy & marketing senior vice president Vivek Takalkar were in the city to explain the benefits of packaging.

     

    The officials from the network highlighted that even though a number of cable TV homes in phase I and II are digitised, the addressability of digitisation has not yet been completed.

     

    They further said that since the main aim of digitisation was to offer choice to the customers in terms of channels they want to subscribe, Star India would offer the bouquet of channels via different packs and thus, offer true benefits of digitisation.

     

    “Customers would get the real choice,” the star official said.

     

    Multi system operators (MSOs) have already met Star India representatives two or three times and are waiting for an “amicable solution”, and if they don’t hear from the Star in next 24 hours, the MSO are most likely to move to the RIO rates options, said Siticable Kolkata director Suresh Sethiya.

     

    “We met with Star India people to find a way out for the RIO rates. The rates should be fashioned in such a way that the broadcaster does not lose revenue and at the same time, consumers do not have to shell out huge amount to watch cable TV,” Sethiya said.

     

    When asked to comment on the TDSAT order which directs the MSOs to put Star channels on RIO from 10 November, Sethiya said the MSOs will have to sign the contract with Star. “MSO would do it in next couple of days and we will run campaign in every media and our channels so that the consumers are well informed,” he concluded.

  • “Star’s new RIO: The way forward for DAS”

    “Star’s new RIO: The way forward for DAS”

    The industry, even after the digitisation in phase I and phase II areas has not yet moved to complete addressability. Channels today are still being offered as a single bundle and negotiations have happened on one aspect only, and that is price. There is differential treatment of small and big operators. The concept of packaging has not been implemented yet and as a result of which the true benefits of digitisation have remained unlocked.

    In this scenario now, Star India has come up with a plan which has got everyone thinking. The new Star RIO promises flexibility to the operator to choose channels, and enables them to showcase channels as per consumer demand.  The offer for the distribution fraternity nationwide, is a single, transparent, non-discriminatory one – a standard offer that is open to all cable operators.

    The new RIO allows tiering of customers through a structure that does not push all channels in the base pack. Instead, it encourages operators to create packaging tiers based on consumer profile

    The network in order to align both the operators’ goal and its own aim has now come up with incentives, which allows discounts on all Star channels. The multi system operator (MSO), if agrees to take the incentives can get extremely high discounts on the base price of the channel.

    The incentive could also give benefits to the end-consumers. While currently, a consumer has to pay for all the channels, Star’s modified RIO enables the cable operator to offer his subscribers as per the customer profile / demand. This places the power in the hands of the consumers – they choose their required channel packages and pay only for those channel packages.

    The incentives, which vary for each channel, are non-discriminatory, pre-stated and available to all DAS cable operators. Operators are free to opt for incentives as per their discretion.

    The scenario now is that many MSOs have said they want to go with the old RIO and on an a la carte basis only.

    Indiantelevision.com speaks to Star India EVP distribution Krishnan Kutty on the whole Star RIO deal, the incentives and the reaction from the MSOs and distribution community on the new RIO deal.

    Excerpts:

    What are the salient points of the TDSAT order for your new RIO and MSOs? Are you happy with the order? Will you disconnect any MSO if it does not sign the new RIO?

    We are taking an unequivocal stand before the industry that we will behave in a completely transparent manner, which is why we filed the affidavit.

    Going forward, we will sign only the new RIO with all MSOs.

    We are attempting to create a structure which will lead to better choice for consumers, healthier overall industry economics and this a positive step towards the same.

    We believe the true value of digitisation will get unlocked for stakeholders including consumers, with this structure.

    In line with the TDSAT order, MSOs will have to sign the new RIO before 10 November, failing which we will be left with no choice but to switch them off. 

    Why do you think some MSOs are saying they will go with the old RIO?

    With anything new there will be a time of adjustment. A lot of the issues that have been raised is I think driven by a worry about the change. The change will need all stakeholders to make adjustments and readjust their business models moving forward.  We genuinely believe that this will lead to a far healthier digital ecosystem over a medium term.

    What are the issues Star India is facing in making the MSOs understand the incentive scheme? Why do you think they are facing issues with implementing the RIO?

    We have had positive discussions with a lot of operators and have been signing contracts at a steady pace.  I think the discussions that we have had in the context of this model have been the richest ones we have had for the longest time. It has been a genuine discussion about what is the best consumer offering to be created, what do consumers value and what should be the business design moving forward. There are of course concerns about the transition. Which we should all work towards solving.

    During a recent meeting of the MSOs, three crucial points were raised, that the incentives are unachievable and that there are technical challenges in meeting the RIO deal. What’s your reaction to all this?

    The scheme has been modelled on basis of the consumer demand for various Star channels; consumer profiling for each of the channels and the current economics of the cable industry. We believe the scheme is extremely realistic and achievable.

    As for the technical issues, one of the mandatory conditions of DAS implementation is that each individual consumer should be addressable – in essence, every MSO should be capable of administering changes in consumer account, including package/ channel addition or removal as required.

    DAS has been implemented two years ago, and we see no reason why there should be technical problems in implementing something which was to be done at the on-set of DAS itself. 

    MSOs are saying that the viewer’s cable bill will go up as now the MSOs will have to pay 100 per cent more to the broadcaster. Is this correct?

     We have already communicated to viewers that each of our entertainment channels are available like almost in the range of 30 paise per day, our sports channels are available like at around 50 – 60 paise per day. With the new incentives in place , these are likely to go down even lower. Compare this with the price that one has to pay for newspapers, or for a movie ticket or for attending a stadium for a live match.

    Then, why would the MSOs have to pay 100 per cent more to Star? Why would the cable viewer’s cable bill go up?

    Can you elaborate ways of creating packages, how your new RIO is platform-friendly, and how it will help MSOs to create viewer-needs-based offerings?

    It all depends upon the kind of packaging that the operator chooses to do.

    Typical Consumer Packaging Pyramid:

    Also in all this, how does a LCO benefit from the incentives that are being given to the MSO? Will there be talks between the broadcaster, MSO and LCO to ensure that the discounts are being passed at the LCO level as well?

    Star, as a broadcaster, has no direct role in the MSO- LCO deal/agreement. We believe that the key for both MSOs and LCOs is to establish the right value proposition for the consumers. This will be the key to the long term success of their business and we believe they will jointly drive towards the same.

    As a key stakeholder of the industry, we would be more than happy to help partner with both for truly unlocking the value of digitisation for all the stakeholders, including the end consumer.

    Do you think that if MSOs do not implement your new RIO fairly and do not inform their subscribers of the possibilities, it will cause viewers to move to DTH?

    We truly believe that ‘Consumer is the Queen.’ If not offered an appropriate value proposition (content & relevant pricing in this case) the consumer will opt for other service providers .

    We also feel that our new RIO will benefit all stakeholders, if  implemented fairly and in the true spirit of the offering.

    Why do you think are the MSOs opting for selling channels on a la carte basis only?

    We believe that many of the concerns are driven by the worry about change and how does it impact them and how will they transition into a consumer oriented model. We are confident that platforms when they give themselves time will come around and understand that this is for the long term health of the industry.

    While the leading MSOs have said that they would put all Star channels on a la carte, how have the independent MSOs and the newly formed cooperatives have reacted to the incentive scheme?

    We are happy to share that the independent MSOs have applauded the new RIO for its transparent and non-discriminatory offering sign-ups have already begun.

    How many deals have you signed from the time the TDSAT came up with its order? How many of these have opted for scheme?
    We have signed almost 33 per cent of the operators. About 10 per cent had already signed prior to the TDSAT order and will continue on those deals. Of the balance, all have opted for the new RIO incentive offering as it provides them with level playing field as well as flexibility to address their consumer’s needs.

    Star India CEO Uday Shankar had said that meetings will be held with MSOs in various cities to make them understand the whole system, is that happening? Which cities have you covered? Which is the next stop?

    We have had meetings with almost all the MSOs in the DAS markets, except the city of Vizag where we have had telephonic discussions with our customers. We have had one-on-one meetings to explain the new RIO incentive offering and its workings to all our MSOs.

    Star has said that the incentive system will be very transparent. But will the system be transparent to the extent of one MSO knowing the discounts the other MSO is getting by meeting all the criteria?

    This indeed and truly is a transparent system and Yes, one MSO can find out the discount that the other MSO will get by meeting all the criteria – A point to be noted is that, it’s uniform and non-discriminatory and hence the same yardstick applies to all MSOs, making it easy for them to establish and leverage their advantages by meeting all the criterias.

     

  • MSOs to put Star India channels on a la carte

    MSOs to put Star India channels on a la carte

    MUMBAI: The multi system operators (MSOs) are gearing up for the big change. In order to meet the deadline given by the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), the leading MSOs under the umbrella of All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) met in New Delhi today.

     

    “The main agenda of the meeting was to discuss how we will implement the order passed by the Tribunal,” says AIDCF president and Siti Cable CEO VD Wadhwa speaking to indiantelevision.com.

     

    During the meeting, the MSOs discussed the modus operandi for implementation of RIO by 10 November and also the challenges.

     

    “There are three major challenges: at the consumer level, at the local cable operator level and thirdly at the technology level,” adds Wadhwa.

     

    Every MSO, according to Wadhwa has different subscriber numbers. “All the packages have to be upgraded or downgraded. We will have to see if the system can support the changes for millions of subscribers,” he says.

     

    AIDCF has decided to put all the Star India channels on a la carte. “We cannot carry all the Star channels, since it is coming up to be very expensive. So we have decided to put all the Star channels on a la carte and will let the consumer decide which channels they want,” he informs.

     

    Wadhwa says that even after the incentives that Star is offering, the cost for the MSO has doubled. “Even if we take the maximum discounts, the channel prices are going up by 100 per cent,” he says.

     

    Not only this, AIDCF is forming a sub-committee which will be meeting Star India officials early next week. “The committee will meet the officials to explain to them the challenges we are facing. This system is viable for none,” he adds.

     

    All the MSOs will be signing the RIO deals with Star before 10 November and in the meanwhile start working on creating new packages. “We will decide the pricing of the channel based on the consumer demand for the channel,” he concludes.

     

    The MSOs will inform the consumers of the changes at individual level.

     

    The meeting was attended by Siti Cable, Hathway Cable & Datacom, Den Networks, Manthan, GTPL amongst others. 

  • AIDCF to hold a meeting to discuss Star’s RIO deal implementation

    AIDCF to hold a meeting to discuss Star’s RIO deal implementation

    MUMBAI: Just 10 days after its formation, the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) under the presidentship of Siti Cable CEO VD Wadhwa is all set meet for the second time on 31 October in New Delhi. The meeting will be attended by the leading multi system operators (MSOs) and has a set agenda for the day.

     

    The meeting which is being held just a day after the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) accepted Star India’s 10 November deadline for implementation of the RIO deal by MSOs is not co-incidental.

     

    “The platform operators are meeting in Delhi in order to decide on the modus operandi for implementation of the RIO deal, the deadline for which is 10 November,” says a MSO, who is likely to be a participant of the meeting.

     

    The TDSAT in its order has asked the MSOs to sign the RIO deals with Star before 10 November, failing which the broadcaster can disconnect its signals.

     

    The meeting is likely to be attended by Manthan, Siti Cable, GTPL, Hathway among others.

     

  • TDSAT gives a nod to Star’s 10 Nov deadline to MSOs for signing RIO deals

    TDSAT gives a nod to Star’s 10 Nov deadline to MSOs for signing RIO deals

    MUMBAI: In the Hathway Cable & Datacom versus Star India case, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has asked all the multi system operators (MSOs) in the DAS I and II areas to sign the Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) by 10 November 2014.

     

    Failing to comply with the deadline, Star India will disconnect its services from MSOs who do not sign the RIO deal. 

     

    Hathway, which was directed to implement the RIO by the Tribunal had filed a case stating that other MSOs were not following the RIO deal. Subsequently, TDSAT had asked MSOs Den Networks and Siti Cable to implead into the case. The case then came up for hearing on 30 October and has been disposed off without the need for any impleading. 

  • Kolkata MSOs to meet Star officials on 30 Oct, again

    Kolkata MSOs to meet Star officials on 30 Oct, again

    KOLKATA: The cable TV industry is on its way to some major changes. While the industry got a shock, after Star India decided to provide its channels to multi system operators (MSOs) only on the basis of Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO), the immediate reaction that came was of increased prices of cable TV services.

     

    The decision of Star to provide channels on RIO, led to MSOs in Kolkata requesting for a meeting with the broadcaster in order to re-consider the decision as well as for increasing the time frame for implementation of RIO deals.

     

    The meeting which took place on 28 October saw Star India officials proposing their incentive scheme, which the broadcaster had announced on 27 October, to the platform operators in the state. The incentives, as earlier reported by indiantelevision.com will be based on three criteria: the number of channels the MSO takes, the number of subscribers it distributes the channel to and the ease of access that it provides to the consumers for the Star channels.

     

     “We will decide on Star’s incentive scheme in the next two-three days. We will do all the permutation and combination and then take a call on whether we should go with the incentive scheme or opt for normal RIO,” said Siti Cable Kolkata director Suresh Sethiya.

     

    The city based MSOs, who do not want to lose their subscriber base, are currently working on the various modules of the proposed incentive and will meet the Star officials again on 30 October, after thoroughly reading the new scheme internally.  

     

    Sethiya further said, “Star has a bouquet of channels and if a cable TV home in Kolkata, does not wish to watch Marathi channels, he may not pay for it. We are working on the price.”

     

    Another city-based MSO on condition of anonymity said that Star has offered an incentive of around 60 per cent for its Hindi GEC Life OK, 9 per cent for Star Plus and 15 per cent for Star Jhalsa.

     

    Star Network comprising Star Plus, Life OK, Star Jhalsa, Star Movies, Star Sports, National Geographic among others, could lose its viewers in Kolkata, if the MSOs fail to offer the channels at an attractive price. “The ground is not prepared for RIO rates. We will negotiate with Star on 30 October again,” said the MSO.

     

    A local cable operator said that the customers are worried as they will have to pay a hefty price for cable TV services again in a short span of 10 months.

     

    If the MSOs do not agree to the incentives being given by Star, based on the three conditions, the consumer could have to shell anywhere between Rs 35-40 for two Star channels, a source said adding that if the consumer wants more of the broadcasters’ channels they will definitely have to pay more.

     

    With most MSOs removing the Star channels from the different packages and providing the same on a-la-carte, the prices of the package will go down by Rs 9, Rs 12 and Rs18 respectively for their different packages.