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Tag: Telangana

  • DAS Phase III: MIB’s big dilemma

    DAS Phase III: MIB’s big dilemma

    MUMBAI: The past fortnight has seen High Court directives in five different states make a mockery of the 31 December, 2015 deadline set by the government for the Phase III roll out of digital addressable system (DAS).

     

    The courts have urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to not act against multi system operators (MSOs) and cable operators who have not been able to place set top boxes (STBs) in homes for two months. In essence, the DAS sunset date has been extended in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Odhisa, Tamil Nadu and now Guwahati.

     

    The Bombay High Court specifically cited a Supreme Court judgment and noted that a stay granted by a high court on a central notification in one state would be applicable in other states as well. That was the case of Kusum Ingots vs the Union of India, in 2004. (http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1876565/)

     

    The question on everyone’s mind is: would other petitioners in other states under the DAS Phase III ambit also approach their respective High Courts for relief? Hence, did it make sense for broadcast networks to continue with digitally encrypted signals, which they had resorted to once the clock struck midnight of the new year?

     

    Most of them including Viacom18, Star India, Zee and Sony thought it did not. Hence, they have all switched on their analog signals a day or so after switching them off.

     

    Now that has put the MIB in a bit of a quandary. The team lead by MIB secretary Sunil Arora – and including special secretary JS Mathur, and joint secretary RS Jaya apart from other members – have been driving DAS III digitisation and were quite clear that no extension should be given. 

     

    Sources indicate that one line of action being considered by the MIB is to approach the Supreme Court for relief against the restraint orders granted by the various courts. Experts such as Supreme Court advocate KV Dhananjay have argued against the stance taken in the Kusum Ingots case by the courts. (http://www.legallyindia.com/Blogs/some-hc-judges-are-becoming-terribly-ignorant-of-our-constitution)

     

    Whether the MIB will go ahead and approach the Supreme Court or not is a moot point, but the industry is putting its might behind it. Most of the industry associations like the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, the DTH Operators Association and the MSO Alliance have all reportedly urged the ministry to move the apex court.

     

    Industry believes that the extension is unlikely to serve any purpose, as cable operators knew of the phased rollout of DAS as much as for the past three to four years and hence they could have prepared for it. Complaining about a shortage of STBs or interconnect agreements or capital post the sunset date is simply facile, professionals state. 

     

    “The analog switch off is mandatory,” says an industry observer. “Digitally encrypted signals need to be the only mode of television delivery via satellite in India in Phase III areas. Private DTH operators and the government owned FreeDish can deliver television wherever there are signal dark areas courtesy cable TV’s unpreparedness. The government needs to approach the courts to ensure that DAS Phase III proceeds as soon as possible.”

     

    We will have to wait and watch if it does.

  • Over 70% digitisation completed in Phase III across India: Chrome

    Over 70% digitisation completed in Phase III across India: Chrome

    MUMBAI: Amidst huge confusion of how much of the Phase III of Digital Addressable System (DAS) has actually happened on ground, Chrome Data Analytics & Media released extensive data on the status of digitisation.

    Chrome Data Analytics founder Pankaj Krishna says, “The government mandated an extended deadline for DAS Phase III to Dec’15; we witness 70.04 per cent of Phase III as digitised – which I feel is decent progress considering the various challenges that digital comes with. Digitisation is imperative; transparency in transactions, subscription and carriage, entry/existence of more niche channels, consolidation of cable networks (more so in 10lac below population strata), increase in retail, regional, geographical level advertising and marketing, increase in viewership of content as well as an increase in e-commerce/e-transactions (broadband connected homes) will increase as a subset of digitalisation.”

    In terms of households, Bihar leads the tally with 100 per cent digitisation as per the Chrome analysis. Goa too reached the 100 per cent analysis mark, while Punjab successfully digitised 99 per cent of the Phase III areas.

    Telangana, which legally fought its way through to a stay order on DAS, surprisingly has 82.50 per cent of the Phase III areas digitised.  

    Uttar Pradesh, which has the maximum number of cities in it, has over 30 per cent households yet to be digitised.  

    Tamil Nadu, which is yet to digitise its Phase III areas, has over 1095 cities in it, while Uttar Pradesh is not far behind with 906 cities.  

    Moreover, with the unprecedented rains and floods in December last year, Tamil Nadu is yet to start digitising the Phase III areas. Uttarakhand has over 54.32 per cent left to be digitised.

  • DAS Phase III implementation extended by 2 months in AP, Telangana; Indore petition dismissed

    DAS Phase III implementation extended by 2 months in AP, Telangana; Indore petition dismissed

    NEW DELHI: Multi system operators (MSOs) in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh got a reprieve of eight weeks from implementing the Digital Addressable System (DAS) in Phase III towns and cities following stay orders issued by the Hyderabad High Court.

    While the Federation of Telangana MSOs got the relief yesterday (30 December), the MSO Welfare Association of Andhra Pradesh received the orders today (31 December).

    Issuing notice to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the judge also turned down an oral plea by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for being impleaded in the case. He said the regulator was free to file an application in this regard.

    Initially, Justice Vilas V Afzalpurkar recalled an order granted by a bench of which he was a part on 20 August, 2013 with regard to DAS Phase II and noted that all the issues being raised by counsel C Ramachandra Raju – who represented both parties – had been raised at that time and should have been dealt with by now.

    However, counsel Raju said statutory powers always come with corresponding responsibilities. He said the government was meant to give facilities to help people and not create more problems by enforcing a deadline without ensuring adequate seeding of set top boxes (STBs). Furthermore, he said the 2013 case was filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by an outside party whereas these petitions have been filed by the major stakeholders – the MSOs. In any case, Raju pointed out that no point of law had been decided in the 2013 case and so that case could not be taken as a precedent.

    He said that even the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh had written to the Centre to say that it was not possible to meet the deadline as STBs were inadequate.

    The judge also heard Assistant Solicitor General B Narayana Reddy on behalf of the government before directing it to file a counter affidavit within eight weeks.

    The Central Government had issued its directive about Phase III on 11 September, 2014.

    MSO Kishna Mohan, who is adviser to the Federation of Telangana MSOs, told Indiantelevision.com that under Phase III, 168 towns with 2.6 million collections were to be covered in Telangana and 178 towns with 3.5 million collections in Andhra Pradesh.

    The 13th Task Force meeting held yesterday was apprised of these cases and of the case in Indore was to be heard today, but assured all stakeholders that the Government will follow the directives of the Courts but will not extend the date beyond today unless directed by any Court to do so.

    Meanwhile, it is learnt that a similar petition by Indore-based MSO Om Systems in the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking a stay on digitisation in Phase III areas of Madhya Pradesh has been dismissed.

    Earlier, the Bombay High Court had declined to stay the deadline but said that interim stop gap agreements could be signed while asking the TRAI to come out with a model interconnect agreement at the earliest.

  • Shop CJ expands to Telugu market; targets Rs 250 crore revenue from AP, Telangana

    Shop CJ expands to Telugu market; targets Rs 250 crore revenue from AP, Telangana

    MUMBAI: Eyeing a 40 per cent growth in turnover at more than Rs 1200 crore this year, home shopping network Shop CJ has expanded to the South Indian market with the launch of its Telugu language channel with original programming in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

     

    Additionally, the company is expecting to generate revenue of Rs 250 crore from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana alone by the next fiscal year 2016.

     

    The company’s recorded sales of Rs 850 crore last fiscal and is poised to grow with the rapid growth of the home shopping market in India. The channel reaches over 6.5 crore households across the country and is currently catering to about 40 per cent of the market.

     

    The new Telugu language Shop CJ channel is available across all major cable and will soon also hop on to the Sun Direct direct to home (DTH) platform.

     

    Shop CJ Network CEO Kenny Shin said, “The home shopping industry is growing rapidly and similar trend is witnessed in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh market. With the launch of 24×7 Telugu home shopping channel, we have begun the process of introducing region-specific niche channels. The Telugu channel will not only enhance our customer base, but it will also offer a great platform for regional brands to expand their penetration. We aim to offer new innovative product categories and change the entire home shopping experience.”

     

    Shop CJ Network CFO N. Ramakrishnan added, “Shop CJ’s channel launch in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will strengthen its presence in India. We are expecting to generate Rs 250 crore revenue from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana alone by the next fiscal year 2016.”

     

    Shop CJ Network COO Dhruva Chandrie said, “Shop CJ Telugu will offer an array of products that are well researched to match local preferences. Our customisation strategy is built on the principle of offering consumers exactly what they want with full comfort and quality assurance. Communicating through the local language will help Shop CJ to consolidate in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.”

  • DataWind partners Telenor to provide affordable Internet

    DataWind partners Telenor to provide affordable Internet

    NEW DELHI: Low-cost internet connectivity and wireless web access products provider DataWind Inc. has inked a partnership with Telenor to offer free unlimited bundled internet browsing for one-year. 

    This offer is available across six telecom circles namely Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar & Jharkhand, UP (East), UP (West), Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, where Telenor offers commercial mobile services.

    “This is a very exciting development for DataWind in India; we are making the internet more easily accessible to millions of people across the country, like never before. By broadening our internet service coverage, we can add more customers to our already fast-growing customer base and, in turn, increase our revenue stream. We are confident we now have all of the key building blocks in place – the product range, inventory, distribution network and now India-wide internet service coverage – to drive accelerated growth,” said Datawind CEO and president Suneet Singh Tuli.

    “Our customers will be able to use any of our devices to browse the internet in all the six circles, where Telenor has its network. Through this new partnership, we have strengthened our market position as an organisation that thrives for consistently bringing down costs for connectivity, both in terms of product range and internet access for emerging economies. We continue to move closer to our goal of bringing the next billion people online,” he added.

    Telenor India chief product officer Amaresh Kumar said, “We are delighted to partner with DataWind to offer affordable Internet services to customers. Telenor offers Sabse Sasta and value for money voice and Internet services. Products like these are step towards achieving our Internet for All ambition and empower customers with benefits of being connected. Last year Telenor had brought a paradigm shift in the market by offering service based Internet packs instead of volume of data used. Such innovative Internet services are used by 24 per cent of Telenor’s subscribers.”

  • Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League signs Allu Arjun as brand ambassador

    Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League signs Allu Arjun as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League, which opened to packed stadiums through its first leg in Mumbai, has now set its sight on the south. In a move to captivate the southern market, it has roped in Telugu cinema’s reigning star Allu Arjun as its brand ambassador in the two Telugu states namely Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

     

    The actor, who has won multiple awards for his work, will promote the sport and the league for the millions of Kabaddi enthusiasts in the Telugu speaking states. The Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad will host the eight city franchise league from 4-7 August 2015. 

     

    Talking about the development, Star Sports head Nitin Kukreja said, “At Star, we are committed to reinvent the great Indian sport of Kabaddi and set it in today’s context. The task is to make the game relevant and aspirational for the millions of young and passionate fans across India. Allu Arjun is an actor par excellence and a youth icon with following that cuts across all sections of the society. We believe he is the apt ambassador of the sport in this geography and are confident that this association will further the sport of Kabaddi in the region.”

     

    This season of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi has created a place of pride for the National Anthem. Every day during the league, eminent personalities, local musicians and bands sing the anthem in a manner that captures the essence of the entire country. One of India’s biggest superstar, Amitabh Bachchan sang the National Anthem on 18 July followed by Sunidhi Chauhan on the second day in Mumbai and Saurav Ganguly on the opening day in Kolkata. Arjun will be performing the National Anthem on Day 1 when Hyderabad hosts its first ever Kabaddi game on 4 August.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Arjun said, “Kabaddi is a true Indian sport and Star Sports Pro Kabaddi has helped the game gain its due recognition in the country. I am truly honoured and proud to be singing the National Anthem at the start of the Hyderabad leg of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. Being a physical fitness enthusiast, I am excited to associate with the league and will help promote the great Indian sport across the region.”

     

    Star Sports Pro Kabaddi is being broadcast in five languages- Kannada, Telugu and Marathi along with English and Hindi, across eight channels of the Star network as well as on Hotstar. The league is currently on air in Telugu on Maa Movies.

     

    MAA TV chairman N Prasad said, “Season one of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi successfully established Kabaddi in the mainstream, breaking it out of its hinterland niche and transforming it into a sport enjoyed just as much by an urban audience. We are happy to partner with Star Sports to broaden Kabaddi’s appeal even further by taking it closer to fans in Telugu States. We believe Kabaddi, being an aspirational contact sport, has a lot of potential and is set to become very popular.”

     

    The Indian game of Kabaddi is also being telecast to a huge global audience in over 100 countries, including viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Middle East and Latin America. It also has commentary from the field of play, a never seen before phenomena in Indian sports, actively engaging their role on camera.

  • TDSAT gives a week’s time to Telengana MSOs to carry TV9

    TDSAT gives a week’s time to Telengana MSOs to carry TV9

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed the multi system operators (MSOs) in Telengana to resume the broadcast of news channel TV9 within a week from the passing of the order on 29 October.

     

    The case which had been filed by the Associated Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) against MSOs Hathway Cable & Datacom, Siti Vision Digital Media and others, had actually been shut in early October when TDSAT had directed the state MSOs to carry the channel. At that time, the Telengana state additional advocate general Ramachandra Rao had said that the government would provide security to the MSOs and LCOs for carrying the channel. This was subject to ABC not broadcasting content that would violate the law or put out defamatory content against the state of Telangana.

     

    However, the Central Government solicitor general Ranjit Kumar regretfully said that the assurance given by Rao ‘remained mere words on a piece of paper’. To this, Rao produced proof of letters sent to the Telangana Police director general asking them to ensure that ‘no untoward incident takes place as a result of the petitioner’s broadcast as per the TDSAT order.’

     

    However, counsel for the MSOs said that the police would come to rescue only after the MSOs had suffered damages from the mob. The answer to this would be to issue a public notice or a press release so that the MSOs could resume broadcast.

     

    The TDSAT has directed the State of Telangana to file an affidavit that as long as TV9 refrains from defamatory content against the state, its people, government and follows the Programme Code and the Advertisement Code, the government would provide security. It has also asked the broadcaster and the MSOs to publicise the order through electronic media.

     

    The MSOs will have to intimate the police about the date when they shall resume broadcast. TV9 has been switched off from the state of Telangana from several months due to its broadcast of content that even the TDSAT saw as ‘highly defamatory’.

     

  • TV9 signals still not on air in Telangana

    TV9 signals still not on air in Telangana

    MUMBAI: A few days ago, the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) ordered MSOs in Telangana to carry TV9’s signals. This came after the latter decided to give an apology for telecasting ‘defamatory’ content.

     

    The case was disposed off two weeks ago after which TV9 filed an EA. However, counsel for TV9 (Associated Broadcasting Company) stated that despite the order, the channel’s signals continue to be off air while distributors claim that they are still receiving threat calls from unruly elements.

     

    The TDSAT had asked the state government to provide protection to the MSOs, which the counsel for Telangana had also agreed to.

     

    The case is now put up for 10 October when TDSAT has ordered Telangana additional advocate general J Ramchandaran Rao to be present in court.

     

    In the earlier order, it had ordered TV9 to refrain from telecasting such content in future and to strictly abide by the Programme Code and the Advertisement Code from rules 6 and 7 of the Cable Television Networks Rules (1994).

  • Tata Sky targets south India during festive season

    Tata Sky targets south India during festive season

    MUMBAI: Last year, DTH operator Tata Sky ventured into the Malayalam market by getting Mohanlal on board as its brand ambassador. Now, it has targeted all the remaining three states in one go in its bid to expand in the south of India.

     

    The DTH operator has signed on Tollywood star Mahesh Babu to represent the brand in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Sudeep for Karnataka. It has refrained from signing one for Tamil Nadu but has refreshed its push with a new TVC campaign.

     

    ‘Better kante best’ is the tagline being used in Telugu to proclaim its 23 Telugu channels along with knowledge, English and Hindi news channels in the base pack. Babu will propagate this tag line through his TVCs.

     

    The ad campaign featuring Sudeep is built on the premise that people have gotten used to adjusting to things in life but with Tata Sky’s offerings, there is no need to compromise while choosing its STB. Sudeep will enhance this ‘no compromise’ theme in his TVCs.

     

    Kannada viewers will have 14 local channels along with knowledge and English news channels in the base pack.

     

    For Tamil Nadu customers, an advertising campaign will be activated across TV, print, outdoor and online media by conveying the message to Tamil customers who make purchases after careful evaluation that Tata Sky will be their preferred choice due to its quality. With packs starting at Rs 180, new connections will get the Tamil language pack free along with the base pack.

     

    The TVC campaign states ‘Ovvoru vishaiyathaiyum alasi aranju mudivu panravunga, set top box-inu varumbodhu kandippa Tata Sky-dhan choose pannuvanga!” (Those who decide everything after careful evaluation, choose a Tata Sky set top box).

     

    Customers of the southern states can avail an offer of an additional regional pack free for one whole year.

     

    The customer case service has been strengthened with additional call centre support, on-ground manpower and trained personnel to deal with increasing enquiries during the upcoming festive season.

     

  • TDSAT directs TV9 to stop airing defamatory and inflammatory programmes

    TDSAT directs TV9 to stop airing defamatory and inflammatory programmes

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has disposed off the case between Associated Broadcasting Companies (ABC) that runs the channel TV9 and multi system operators (MSOs) Hathway Cable and Datacom and Siti Vision Digital Media regarding a show that had been telecast on the channel which had made defamatory remarks against the new Chief Minister (CM) K Chandrashekar Rao of the state.

     

    The programme telecast on 12 June was carried by the MSOs and LCOs in Telangana and according to the tribunal was ‘highly defamatory’ of the CM leading to a serious law and order problem. Therefore, MSOs and LCOs stopped carrying TV9.  As the petition filed by ABC involved Constitutional rights and public order, The Union of India through the Information and Broadcasting secretary and Telangana home secretary were directed to be impleaded as respondents in the case.

     

    Although the broadcaster stopped the broadcast of the offending programme and issued a public apology for it, MSOs did not resume transmission and the channel was literally taken off air in Telangana.

     

    The TDSAT had in an earlier order this month directed the MSOs to commence showing the channel. Siti Vision started showing it on 3 September in the evening but had to take it off the very same day as it received threatening calls. ABC went ahead and filed an EA in the tribunal.

     

    On reading the transcript of the programme, TDSAT stated that it found the content ‘extremely defamatory, offensive and inflammatory and the product of a sick mind.’

     

    Counsel for the government, K Parameshwar, informed TDSAT that the I&B Ministry had written a letter to the Telangana chief secretary to ensure that the tribunal’s orders are complied with. The letters of the same had been submitted to it.

     

    A similar case is pending before the Privilege Committee of the Telangana Assembly for which no proceedings have begun either under the Cable Television Networks (regulation) Act 1995 (CTN) section 19 or any other law. However, counsel for Siti Vision and Telangana additional advocate J Rama Chandra Rao pointed out that Rule 5 (A) of the CTN Act (1994) casts an obligation on the MSOs and LCOs to not carry programmes which might be in violation of the programme code and/or the advertisement code prescribed under rules 6 and 7 of the CTN Act.

     

    According to TDSAT, the MSOs have also changed their stance for stopping the broadcast of TV9. While earlier it was fear of public violence, now it is due to non renewal of interconnect agreement that expired on 31 March 2014. To this the counsel for the government stated that this was merely an excuse to not show the channel for fear of public anger. Rao assured TDSAT that the state of Telangana would do all that is required to provide sufficient security to the MSOs and LCOs, as long as the channel does not telecast any defamatory statements against Telangana, its people and the government.

     

    The TDSAT has directed TV9 to strictly abide by the Programme Code and the Advertisement Code from rules 6 and 7 of the Cable Television Networks Rules (1994) and that it won’t make any false or malicious references to the state of Telangana or its people or government or its elected representatives. Subject to this, the MSOs are directed to carry the broadcaster’s channel.

     

    It also clarified that this order would not come in the way of the proceedings in the Telangana Assembly nor would it stand in the way of the authority to take legal action against TV9 under section 19 of the Regulation or any other provision of the law.