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Tag: Task Force Meeting

  • STB shortage, lack of awareness continue to plague DAS implementation, DD & AIR to help in publicity

    STB shortage, lack of awareness continue to plague DAS implementation, DD & AIR to help in publicity

    NEW DELHI: With the third phase of digital addressable system (DAS) expected to be implemented by 1 January 2016, the single biggest challenge facing the government and stakeholders is the dire shortage of set top boxes (STBs).

     

    A senior Information and Broadcasting Ministry source told Indiantelevision.com that the main hurdle was that very few manufacturers were coming forward with proposals despite the government support to the Make in India programme.

     

    This issue and the problem of adequate publicity about the benefits of DAS perplexed those who attended the tenth Task Force meeting on DAS held on 17 August under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary J S Mathur.

     

    Meanwhile, Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) R Jaya said Regional Units were being established at twelve places and these would start operating from September to monitor and report the progress of digitisation in each State/UT. 

     

    While Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) complained that no major orders were being placed with it by multi system operators (MSOs). A representative of the CEAMA said, “This is the time to place orders if they want the STBs, which are required to be delivered before the cut-off date.”

     

    A Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) representative said under the regulations, MSOs and LCOs have to offer STBs to consumers on rent, installment, outright purchase or any other scheme according to the standard tariff package prescribed by it. Any complaint on this issue should be addressed to TRAI. 

     

    A representative of the Uttarakhand Government said adequate number of STBs are not provided by MSOs in the State, resulting in slow progress of digitisation. 

     

    A representative of Maharashtra Cable Operators’ Federation (MCOF) said there are 5000 head-end owners, which are MSOs or LMOs. But many of them had not applied for registration. He apprehended that it may result in some dark areas once the deadline is over. 

     

    Jaya said MSO registrations were still on and any one can apply. She said 349 MSO registrations had been granted till mid-August including 126 provisional ones. Referring to apprehension of dark areas, she said these will be identified through State nodal officers and broadcasters. 

    Meanwhile, there was a lengthy discussion about publicity about DAS. ASSOCHAM with some broadcasters had planned a Chetna Yatra from next month covering 450 cities/towns/villages in the country. 

    Representatives of direct-to-home (DTH) platforms said they were ready to give free publicity regarding cable TV digitisation if asked. 

     

    A representative of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) said there are financial constraints facing broadcasters. However, they will carry advertisement spots and would be preparing these.

     

    The TRAI representative said it had placed an advertisement on mandatory digitisation on its website. It had also planned to come out with a quarter-page print advertisement in newspapers very soon. 

     

    TRAI is holding five consumer outreach programmes per quarter in each region. From its perspective, awareness about digitisation is happening. The TRAI representative said the advertisement could be shared with MSOs for publicity by them. 

     

    All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) have been carrying advertisements on mandatory digitisation for several months. It was suggested that Doordarshan may also give video advertisements on cable digitisation in local languages on their popular regional channels in prime time. The Doordarshan representative agreed to get this done. 

     

    A representative of the Gujarat MSO GTPL said they have been carrying out a publicity campaign through scrolls on their local channels and public gatherings. 

     

    A representative of Indusind-Media said a team of about 300 persons had been deployed on this job to carry the campaign.

     

    On the other hand, a representative of an LCO association from West Bengal said they were unaware of the consumer outreach programme arranged by TRAI. It was suggested that members should regularly check the websites of MIB and TRAI for all such information regarding cable digitisation. 

     

    According to Jaya, four regional workshops were held by the Ministry with the State nodal officers of some of the States/UTs to sensitise them about their role and responsibilities in implementing cable TV digitisation in their States. Registered MSOs permitted to operate in these States were also invited in these workshops. 

     

    She said it was heartening to know from these workshops that State Governments are also gearing up to meet the challenge of cable digitisation in their States. The MSOs participating in these workshops said they were carrying publicity awareness campaign on digitisation on their local channels and through pamphlets being distributed by them. 

     

    She added that seven more regional workshops have been planned by the Ministry in 45 days at different places. Another workshop has since been held with the nodal officers from the states in the North East and the registered MSOs operating there on 21 August at Shillong.

     

    A representative of an LCO association from Assam said broadcasters were not providing content to them and they were being forced to come to Delhi for filing cases in TDSAT. The TRAI representative said this was a matter of dispute and TDSAT was the only appropriate forum. But for issues related to regulations, the TRAI regional office in Kolkata could be approached. 

     

    On signing of interconnect agreements, the IMCL representative said it was working on delivery through headend in the sky (HITS) platform besides cable. It was now in the final stage of negotiations with broadcasters. The TRAI representative said all MSOs who had not received any response to their requests for interconnect agreements from broadcasters had been asked to inform TRAI by 24 August and a meeting had been slated with broadcasters on 28 August. 

     

    A representative of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) said deals are happening and parallel negotiations are taking place.

  • Broadcasters satisfied with inter-connect agreements negotiations with MSOs

    Broadcasters satisfied with inter-connect agreements negotiations with MSOs

    NEW DELHI: Broadcasters, who met officials in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have expressed satisfaction over negotiations with multi system operators (MSOs) for entering into inter-connect agreements with them.

     

    The meeting was in keeping with a commitment made by TRAI at the last meeting of the Task Force for implementation of Phase III of the Digital Addressable System (DAS).

     

    The broadcasters included Star India and TV18, who expressed satisfactory progress in their meetings with MSOs. 

     

    It is learnt that TRAI also met MSOs in this connection.

     

    This was the second meeting with broadcasters after the last Task Force meeting held on 23 June.

  • I&B asks stakeholders to arrive at consensus on difficult issues for successful digitisation

    I&B asks stakeholders to arrive at consensus on difficult issues for successful digitisation

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) additional secretary J S Mathur, who heads the Task Force for Phase III and IV of Digital Addressable Systems (DAS) for cable television has urged all stakeholders to come together and resolve issues, if targets have to be met.

     

    Noting in the sixth meeting held on 13 March that only seven out of 100 multi-system operators (MSOs) had given the seeding plans for Phase Ill areas.

     

    The data provided by them indicated that about 3.1 million set top boxes had been seeded by them with about 550,000 STBs in their stock and about 2.35 million STBs under orders of purchase. He remarked that the seeding so far was very low vis-a-vis the target.

     

    He said, “Each day counts towards progress in digitisation.” He also said that progress would be slow without public awareness campaign by the stakeholders.

     

    He said there was lack of mutual connect between broadcasters and MSOs with each stakeholder wanting to maximize self interests. There was need for coming to a consensus.

     

    He added that the data on subscription revenue and carriage fee from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation and News Broadcasters Association was still awaited, despite assurances.

     

    He emphasised that broadcasters have to contribute by mounting awareness campaign on their channels as was done by them during Phase I and Phase II and the MSOs have to contribute in this campaign. He said broadcasters should start a dialogue with MSOs immediately.

     

    He welcomed the initiative taken by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to hold a meeting with broadcasters and MSOs to resolve the issue of interconnect agreements.

     

    However, the stakeholders should themselves get their act together and put in their utmost effort to ensure that such issues do not come in the way of achieving the goal of digitisation.

     

    He said that as pointed out by some members of the Task Force, digitisation has begun to benefit all stakeholders. Activity on the ground needs to be accomplished from now itself as it is not a matter that can be put in place overnight.

     

    Representative of MSOs said there were issues of content costing, due to which they were finding it difficult to plan digitisation in new areas. Seeding plans can be firmed up by MSOs only after knowing content cost. Till then, the MSOs can only give their seeding projections instead of seeding plans.

     

    They also stressed that revenue from Phase Ill and Phase IV areas is about 20 to 30 per cent of the total revenue from the country. So content cost in Phase Ill and Phase IV areas cannot be same as that in Phase I and Phase II areas and this has to be taken into account by all stakeholders.

     

    MSOs also complained that broadcasters were not entering into interconnect agreements with the MSOs for Phase Ill areas.

     

    Unless the input cost is known, MSOs cannot educate the consumers about the rates and there are issues of local taxation levied by some State Governments apart from local cable operators switching over to analogue when the digital signal to them is cut off by the MSO.

     

     

    Broadcasters’ representatives on the other hand said MSOs had not approached the broadcasters for entering into interconnect agreements in new areas. The broadcasters felt that this was because MSOs do not have concrete plans.

     

    Seeding was done by MSOs in Phase I and Phase II without first entering into interconnect agreements with broadcasters and this should not be an issue now, some of the broadcasters said.

     

    They claimed that channel prices had gone up due to technical upgradation from SD to HD, but there had been no increase in the advertisement rates.

     

    A TRAI representative said that according to a TDSAT judgment, MSO/LCO providing cable TV services were free to provide digital cable service in new areas unless it trespasses other areas. He impressed upon the broadcasters to enter into interconnect agreements with MSOs who approach them for content in Phase Ill and Phase IV areas.

     

    Representative of consumer forums mentioned that pricing is the main issue which the consumers are facing. He added that consumers should know the price before he switches over to digital.

     

    Representative  of  CEAMA  stated  that  they  approached  as  many  MSOs  as possible to clear their doubts about indigenous set top boxes. However the response from the MSOs has not been encouraging. He reiterated that they have the capacity to meet the requirements of Phase Ill and Phase IV.

     

    A representative of the Uttar Pradesh Government mentioned that CAF forms should be filled by the MSOs before changing to digital mode in Phase Ill and Phase IV areas. He added that the State Government was not having complete seeding data of Phase II cities.

     

    The representative of Jammu and Kashmir wanted consumers to be informed about the set top box price. 

  • Subscription rates in DAS phase III & IV expected to be half of that in first two phases

    Subscription rates in DAS phase III & IV expected to be half of that in first two phases

    NEW DELHI: The subscription revenue from phase III and IV areas of Digital Addressable System (DAS) is expected to be between 20 to 30 per cent as compared to 70 to 80 per cent from phase I and phase II areas.

     

    Therefore, channel pricing in phase I and II areas need to be decided for areas under phase III and phase IV so that multi-system operators can plan operation in these areas.

     

    This was stated during the fifth Task Force meeting on phase III and IV held recently under the chairmanship of Information and Broadcasting Ministry additional secretary J S Mathur and attended among others by DAS adviser Yogendra Pal.

     

    Pal informed the meeting that while the centre had sought from all states and union territories (UT) the district wise data of urban areas to be covered in phase III with number of households, only Chhatisgarh and Uttar Pradesh had responded.

     

    Similarly, only around 15 states and UTs had responded to the query about nodal officers, both at State level and district level.

     

    Only Gujarat had responded to the query about nomination of one LCO association from each State and UT for the LCO sub-group.

     

    The states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are still to respond to the query about nomination of a local cable operator association to the Task Force.

     

    Mathur directed that copies of the letters written to State Governments in this regard may be provided to the nodal officers present in the meeting to expedite the pending nominations/data.

     

    Referring to procurement plans and stock of Set Top Boxes (STB) requirements of phase III, the MSOs said they had limited inventory of STBs. Procurement of STBs is taking place according to earlier orders and no new orders have been placed by the national MSOs either with foreign suppliers or indigenous STB companies.

     

    The MSOs stated that they are making arrangements for finances for procurement of STBs for phase III. The position with regard to availability of funds would be clear by the end of February.

     

    At the outset, Mathur said digitisation in phase I and II has been possible due to active cooperation and support of State Governments.

     

    A Representative of Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association stated that they had called a meeting with MSOs in December 2014 but the response was not good. None of the major MSOs attended this meeting. He mentioned that indigenous STB manufacturers are ready to discuss all issues with MSOs anywhere and anytime.

     

    Mathur advised the MSOs to have a meeting with indigenous STB manufacturers to sort out all the issues. He said the Ministry was also planning to hold a meeting with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) on the demand of long-term financing.

     

    When MSOs raised the difficulty of signing agreements with broadcasters, a representative of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) stated that broadcasters cannot deny signal to MSOs once they are DAS compliant. He suggested MSOs should make a formal written request to the broadcasters for the signal according to the regulations. He added that broadcasters should enter into agreements with MSOs for distribution of content without waiting for the cutoff date.

     

    A representative of a consumer forum stated that computerized billing was not happening in phase I and II areas. He added that CAF forms should be filled before installation of an STB.

     

    For publicising the extension in date for applying for MSO registration for operation in phase III areas, it was suggested that broadcasters run a scroll on their channels. It was also suggested that MSOs download a video spot made by the Ministry and play it on their local channels.

     

    The MSO representatives were told to share the data of existing MSOs operating in analogue regime with the Ministry. The representative of ASSOCHAM wanted that the broadcasters should be apprised for the same.

     

    Regarding publicity campaign, Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) R Jaya said all stakeholders must contribute in spreading awareness about ongoing digitisation in the country. She suggested MSOs should run audio visual ads on their local channels. She also suggested spreading awareness through handbill or printed ads on monthly bills issued by LCOs to the consumers. She called upon broadcasters to plan publicity campaign on their channels.

     

    FICCI, Cll and ASSOCHAM were asked to draw up a plan for workshops for public awareness campaign.

     

    Mathur re-emphasized the need to mount an awareness campaign by all stakeholders particularly the broadcasters. He also asked all the MSOs to begin discussions with indigenous STB manufacturers to meet the deadlines of phase III of December 2015 and phase IV of December 2016.

  • MSO’s request govt to set up regional units to facilitate DAS registrations

    MSO’s request govt to set up regional units to facilitate DAS registrations

    NEW DELHI: Even as the government has agreed to consider extension of four to five weeks for registration of multi system operators (MSO), who want to opt for phase III of the Digital Addressable System (DAS), the government has been asked to consider setting up regional units to facilitate such registrations.

    Speaking at the task force meeting last week, several stakeholders also wanted online registration for MSO’s wanting to enter their names for phase III.

    Ministry additional secretary J S Mathur, who chaired the meeting, also said that meetings were being organised between manufacturers of indigenous set top boxes and the Ministry of Information and Technology.

    Mathur responding to queries from some MSO’s wanted them to prepare a list of areas in phase III which were currently not being reached by cable television. A member had pointed out that a Headend In The Sky (HITS) platform could be used in such areas.

    Some consumer organisations which are part of the task force, said they will need to organise workshops in different parts of the country to help people understand DAS.  

    The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) representatives said that the association was planning such workshops in Kerala and Guwahati. Mathur asked CII to give him details of the workshops when they are scheduled.

    Mathur regretted that the number of stakeholders attending the meetings was very minimal and expressed hope that later meetings will be attended by larger number of members.

    In the last meeting it had been announced that the task force would meet every month to ensure deadlines are met and phase III of DAS comes into operation by December 2016.

     

  • MSOs applying for DAS may get extension of four or five weeks, Task Force informed

    NEW DELHI: The deadline for multi-system operators (MSOs) wanting to apply for digital addressable systems (DAS) licence for phase III and IV may be extended by four to five weeks.

     

    This was indicated during the Task Force meeting on DAS held today, presided over by Ministry Additional Secretary J S Mathur and attended among others by the Adviser for DAS, Yogendra Pal.

     

    MSOs were asked to provide detailed seeding plans for the third phase which concludes in December next year.

     

    MSOs who want to complete DAS in their areas even before the last date on a voluntary basis were asked to negotiate directly with broadcasters, and with the subscribers in their respective areas.

     

    When some MSOs and cable operators referred to some ‘cable-dark’ areas – areas not reached by cable operators, the Ministry wanted the MSOs and other stakeholders to identify such areas.

     

    The meeting was held in keeping with an assurance last month that the meeting would be held every month.

     

    In the last meeting that was held on 21 November it was told that a total of 11 crore set top boxes will be needed for the third and final phase of digital addressable system of which only three crore will be for direct-to-home platforms.