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  • Mobile services market revenue in India to reach $37 billion by 2017

    Mobile services market revenue in India to reach $37 billion by 2017

    NEW DELHI: Even as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) says India has nearly 850 million mobile subscribers, the total mobile services market revenue in India is $29.8 billion and will reach $37 billion by 2017.

     

    According to International Data Corporation (IDC), this will mean a compounded annual growth rate of 5.2 per cent.

     

    Mobile broadband market in 2014 will continue to have strong growth in India as compared to other mobile services market.

     

    According to a report on the IDC website, “Mobile services market in Asia/Pacific excluding Japan (APeJ) region is considered as a very dynamic market compared to other emerging and mature markets. Many mobile operators have been struggling for quite some time to maintain growth in revenue, especially on voice services.”

     

    From 2012 to 2017, IDC projects that the growth rate for voice services revenue in APeJ will slow down and achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5 per cent. However, data connectivity or mobile broadband revenue will grow at a CAGR of 19.3 per cent from 2012 to 2017.

     

    IDC said mobile broadband market size will be $7 billion by 2017 with a CAGR of 32 per cent. The 3G subscribers will hold the highest five-year CAGR of 68 per cent compared to other mobile technology. This is mainly due to more 3G services coverage across the country, especially in the big cities.

     

    Among mobile services, only mobile broadband services show strong growth, meanwhile SMS and MMS are on a decline trend. Voice services tend to have a flat growth rate.

     

    IDC attributes the growth of data revenue in APeJ to three key areas: Smartphones penetration with affordable prices; Rollout of 3G and LTE licenses and mobile user behavior towards ‘Over-The-Top-Players’ (OTTP) services.

     

    “For India, mobile broadband market in 2014 will continue to have strong growth compared to other mobile services market. This service is expected to reach US$7 billion by 2017 with a CAGR of 32 per cent. 3G subs will hold the highest five-year CAGR of 68 per cent compared to other mobile technology. This is mainly due to more 3G services coverage across the country, especially in the big cities. With this trend, operators should focus more on their mobile broadband strategy,” says IDC Asia/Pacific Telecommunication Group senior research manager Ashadi Cahyadi.

     

    According to IDC’s Asia/Pacific Semiannual Telecom Services Tracker 1H2013, the total mobile services market revenue in India will reach US$29.8 billion by 2014 and is expected to reach US$37 billion in 2017 with a CAGR of 5.2 per cent.

  • TRAI issues consultation paper on regulating local TV channels

    TRAI issues consultation paper on regulating local TV channels

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is going to look at putting in place regulations relating to local TV channels now.

     

    In a consultation paper released today, the TRAI has sought stakeholders’ opinions on the regulatory framework that could be drawn up for local content channels in order to put them on a par with TV channels that are broadcast via satellite.

     

    The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) – through its secretary Uday Kumar Verma (in January 2013) – had asked the regulator to come up with its recommendations for the same.

     

    The TRAI consultation paper states that MSOs, LCOs, DTH operators, HITS and IPTV service providers (all called as distribution platform operators – or DPOs-  henceforth) are running local channels aka platform services (PS) that don’t have the MIB’s permission. Some channels that are transmitted by the DPOs through the PS channels have content similar to regular TV channels.

     

    TRAI has made it clear in the consultation paper that DAS has changed the context for DPOs and their PS as far as cable TV operators are concerned. The reason: with digitization, it is only the MSOs who can transmit encrypted signals from their headends on cable TV networks; LCOs can no longer transmit their own local ground based channels.

     

    The regulator states that there has been a debate on whether PS channels can be considered as a conventional TV channel or a value added service (VAS) because broadcast TV channels are charaterised by continuous dissemination of content in a push mode to all subscribers through DPOs. On the other hand, PS channels provide content in a pull mode triggered by a specific need or demand of consumers.

     

    TRAI has queried whether stakeholders agree with the following definition of a PS and if not then to suggest an alternative: “PS are programs transmitted DPOs exclusively to their own subscribers and does not include Doordarshan channels and TV channels permitted under downlinking guidelines.”

     

    Programmes on PS

     

    PS generally includes music, movies, news, devotional, entertainment, local news, live events, teleshopping, kids programs, serials, documentaries, regional programs, local plays, infotainment, market news, educational, and interactive games.

     

    TRAI has asked stakeholders to provide their views on whether a PS channel cannot transmit news or current affairs, coverage of political events, programmes already shown on DD or other TV channels, international/national and state level sporting events or games like IPL, Ranji Trophy. Whether what it shows can include programmes such as movies, VOD, interactive games, coverage of local events and festivals,  traffic, weather, educational/ academic programs (such as coaching classes), information regarding examinations, results, admissions, career counseling, availability of employment opportunities, job placement, Public announcements pertaining to civic amenities like electricity, water supply, natural calamities, health alerts etc. as provided by the local administration,  Information pertaining to sporting events excluding live coverage, live coverage of sporting events of local nature i.e. sport events played by district level (or below) teams and where no broadcasting rights are required.

     

    It has also asked the timeframe for reviewing whether a PS is trespassing into the domain of a regular TV broadcaster.

     

    Eligibility criteria for PS

     

    All categories of DPOs, apart from MSOs, are required to be registered under the Companies Act. To ensure uniformity in the legal status of all DPOS, TRAI suggests that a DPO offering a PS must register under the same. Therefore, the process of incorporation as a company has been simplified. Since the act allows even one person to register as a Company, small MSOs that are registered with the MIB can now register under the Companies Act.

     

    TRAI has asked whether it is mandatory for all DPOs to be registered as companies to be allowed to operate PS or to suggest an alternative.

     

    FDI limit for PS

     

    Currently news channels are allowed only 26 per cent FDI and a recommendation to increase it to 49 per cent is pending with the government. On the other hand, MSOs can have FDI up to 74 per cent. The regulator states that exclusion of ‘news and current affairs’ category of programmes from a PS channel would address this unevenness. It asks views on the same.

     

    Other issues

     

    As per the downlinking guidelines, an applicant company needs to have a minimum net worth of Rs 5 crore to downlink of its first TV channel and Rs 2.5 crore for any additional channel. It asks if there is a need for a minimum net-worth requirement for offering PS channels. Additionally, it also seeks to know if such channels should be subject to similar security clearances as applicable to private satellite TV channels.

     

    The TRAI also requests inputs on registration of PS channels with the MIB for which it would introduce a time bound centralised online registration system. Registration can be for 10 years with renewal for another 10 years. At the time of registration, the DPO should also declare the type of programmes it will transmit and any changes should be informed 30 days prior to a change.

     

    Although TRAI feels market forces would compel the DPOs to restrict transmission of channels to a local geographical area, it still asks for stakeholders’ views on should there be any limit in terms of geographical area for PS channels. Also, if there should there be a limit on the number of PS channels which can be operated by a DPO.

     

    Inputs on other obligations/restrictions that need to be imposed on DPOs for offering a PS such as non-sharing of a PS with another DPO and compliance with the programming and advertising code and TRAI’s regulations on quality of service and complaint redressal are also sought.

     

    Certain DTH operators transmit radio channels while some radio stations provide it through the net as over the top services. It asks whether a DPO should be permitted to re-transmit already permitted and operational FM radio channels under a suitable arrangement with the FM operator and if there should be a limit on the number of such channels.

     

    In order to monitor the kind of content that is being transmitted through the PS channels, DPOs may be mandated to keep a record of programmes for 90 days and produce it as and when required. The regulator asks for a monitoring mechanism.

     

    Whether a PS should be penalised in a manner similar to TV broadcasters, is also asked. Lastly, it seeks a timeframe for the registration of existing PS channels  once it is notified by the MIB.

     

    Comments are required to be submitted by 14 July and counter comments by 21 July.

     

    Click here to read the TRAI consultation paper on regulating local TV channels

  • Government keen to resolve issues facing M&E industry

    Government keen to resolve issues facing M&E industry

    NEW DELHI: While exuding confidence in the Media and Entertainment industry in the country, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar today said it was important for the stakeholders to keep the welfare of the citizens in mind.

     

    He said he knew the sector had immense opportunities and the world “is fascinated by our culture and Indian cinema is becoming very popular.”

     
    “Education and entertainment are the primary needs after roti, kapda and makaan (food, cloth and shelter),” Javadekar added.

     

    The Minister said that his attempt in keeping with the mandate of the new government would be to take decisions on pending issues as soon as possible as “delay is out, decision is in.”  The work of the government is not to create roadblocks but to give impetus to entrepreneurship and industry. 

    Addressing the ASSOCHAM meet on media and entertainment, SCREENS 2014, the Minister, said the path-breaking initiatives on digitisation were bound to improve the quality of television broadcasting in the country. Both the government and the industry should work together for the welfare of the consumers. “There are issues of distribution, there are issues of taxation,” he added.

    “We, both the industry and the government, have to think about the final consumer. Government and industry have to think about the welfare of common citizen and to that end we are partners, we are the facilitators,” he said. 

     

    Later, Additional Secretary (Films) Raghvendra Singh said that the government was in the process of revamping the Cinematograph Act 1952 which had been drafted when there was no television or other media,

     

    Realising that media and entertainment was the biggest market in terms of consumer needs; the government is also on the threshold of announcing a major initiative for curbing piracy.

     

    He was conscious that entertainment tax being a state subject was not uniform, and that there was a grievance about service tax. He hoped all these issues would be subsumed in the proposed Goods and Sales Tax, which the government hopes to bring forward soon.

     

    He said that the government was very keen to upgrade the Film and Television Institute of India and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, also to set up a centre of excellence for animation and special effects as soon as possible.

     

    He also informed that the government was finalising its work on the National Film Heritage Mission for assessment of preservation and restoration of film material.

     

    “Funds have already been provided in the Ministry’s allocations for anti-piracy measures but this was not possible without collaboration from the industry itself,” said Singh.

     

    Telecom Regulatory Authority of India member Vijayalakshmy K Gupta stressed that addressability has led to better television and online video viewership has grown 13 per cent between December 2012 and December 2013.

     

    It has also led to reduction of carriage fee, she claimed on the basis of the first two phases of digital access system.

     

    She said that TRAI was firm on its decision not to permit state or central government units in private radio or television broadcasting.

     

    She felt that as far as cinema was concerned, there was need for a Film Commission for dealing with various issues.

     

    TRAI advisor N Parameshwaran said, “One major problem is that all multi-system operators are ‘pulling in different directions’ and therefore it is difficult to resolve their problems.”  

     

    He agreed that there was need for rationalisation of taxes in the country as far as media and entertainment were concerned.

     

    He said TRAI was already working on the issue of increasing bandwidth in view of 4G technologies coming in after HD.

     

    He denied charges by cable operators that broadcasters or MSOs were being protected as he said they had also been prosecuted for violating rules.

  • Cable bills in Kolkata to see a 15 per cent hike from 1 August

    Cable bills in Kolkata to see a 15 per cent hike from 1 August

    KOLKATA: Cable TV viewers in the Kolkata Municipal Area (KMA) will have to face another price hike in their cable TV bills, starting 1 August. This, after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) hiked the tariff ceiling by 15 per cent for broadcasters.

     

    While consumers in the region have still been coping with the price hike after TRAI made gross billing mandatory, multi system operators (MSOs) are now all set to increase the channel package rates by 15 per cent.  

     

    That apart, more than 31 lakh cable TV homes in Kolkata may witness both channel addition and deletion. A few favourite channels can also be included in the new package with additional charges. However, MSOs have assured that the rentals for the Janata Pack will remain unchanged.

     

    Most MSOs linked the price rise to the TRAI regulation on tariff hike.

     

    Siticable Kolkata director Suresh Sethiya said, “After the price defreeze proposed by the regulator, that is 15 per cent, April onward, when MSOs now sit with broadcasters for renewal of channel contracts, they will have to shell out more money compared to the previous contracts. We can’t take the pinch on ourselves as we don’t have enough resource to fall back upon. Therefore cable rents are bound to go up in the range of 15-20 per cent from 1 August.”
     

    “We have no other option but to increase the channel package rates as the broadcasters have started bargaining a lot,” said a small MSO operating in Kolkata.  

     

    An official from KCBPL-GTPL, referring to the directive of Train on Subscriber Management System (SMS) and online up gradation said, “We are bound to increase the price as we have to show the bill and pay tax on that. Secondly, to follow the new bill delivery system of TRAI, we will incur additional costs in terms of software development and manpower.”

     

    Since DAS has yet not been implemented on ground in any area, subscribers are suffering. “LCOs have started taking full package charge from subscribers in the name of TRAI. But, sadly the same is not being passed on to us. While the LCOs are making good profit and broadcasters are earning more and more, MSOs are still suffering from the financial crunch. In the past few months, our financial health has gone from bad to worse. Questions are now being raised on our existence in the future,” concluded another MSO operating in the region.

  • TRAI issues consultation paper on tariff for commercial subscribers

    TRAI issues consultation paper on tariff for commercial subscribers

    MUMBAI: Three months ago, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) revised the tariff rates for non-addressable cable TV areas which allowed a rise of 27.5 per cent in two stages. While this was for non-commercial subscribers, the regulator has now issued a consultation paper asking comments from stakeholders for the same with respect to the commercial subscribers.

     

    The consultation paper states that the tariff for commercial subscribers has been an issue since 2005 when associations of hotels and restaurants challenged the various tariffs imposed by broadcasters in the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). Even though the TDSAT disposed off the petition stating that such organisations cannot be called consumers, it asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to think about whether or not to impose a tariff regulation on them.

     

    While the TRAI came up with two definitions for ‘ordinary cable subscriber’ and ‘commercial cable subscriber’, the appeal was challenged in the Supreme Court which then directed TRAI to frame separate tariff ceilings for non-commercial subscribers.

     

    Even though the Regulator had come up with definitions and categories of such commercial subscribers, it was challenged by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI).

     

    Now, TRAI has once again come up with a fresh definition for a ‘commercial subscriber’ and has asked stakeholders if they agree to it or if they have alternative suggestions. It says that a commercial subscriber means “any person, other than a multi system operator or a cable operator, who receives broadcasting service at a place indicated by him to a broadcaster or a cable operator or direct to home operator or multi system operator or head end in the sky operator or a service provider offering Internet Protocol television service , as the case may be, and uses such signals for the benefit of his clients, customers, members or any other class or group of persons having access to its commercial establishment.”

     

    “Commercial establishment” means any premises wherein any trade, business or profession or any work in connection with, or incidental or ancillary thereto is carried on and includes a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), and charitable or other trust, whether registered or not, which carries on any business, trade or profession or work in connection with, or incidental or ancillary thereto, journalistic and printing establishments, educational, healthcare or other institutions run for private gain, theatres, cinemas, restaurants, eating houses, pubs, bars, residential hotels, malls, airport lounges, clubs or other places of public amusements or entertainment but does not include a shop or a factory registered under the Factories Act, 1948 (43 of 1948).”

     

    “Shop” means any premises where goods are sold, either by retail or wholesale or where services are rendered to customers, and includes an office, a store room, godown, warehouse or work place, whether in the same premises or otherwise, mainly used in connection with such trade or business but does not include a factory, a commercial establishment, residential hotel, restaurant, eating house, theatre or other place of public amusement or entertainment.”

     

    TRAI says that with these definitions it is shifting its focus from how the commercial establishments use the cable connection to defining it as one who avails the service from a broadcaster or a distribution platform operator (DPO).

     

    In the earlier definition, the regulator had also divided commercial consumers into various sub-divisions of similarly placed entities depending on their size of business, paying capacity to clients etc. These were challenged several times in the past. Therefore, it has now asked stakeholders that if such a sub-division was not the right way to proceed, what would be an alternative way of dividing them into similarly placed groups.

     

    Furthermore, three models of dealings between the commercial user and DPO has been given by TRAI and stakeholders are expected to select any one or give their own alternative model.

     

    The first model is that the broadcaster publishes the rates for commercial tariff as a Reference Interconnect agreement (RIO) and then commercial subscriber negotiates. The second model is that the DPO publishes the rate and negotiations shall be done on the same. In the third model, both the aforesaid models shall be available to commercial customers wherein there shall be a competition among DPOs and between DPOs and broadcaster.

     

    Furthermore, four options as regard to what shall be the tariff price have also been given:

     

    First, the tariff for commercial subscribers is same as that for ordinary subscribers. Second, the tariff for commercial subscribers has a linkage with tariff for ordinary subscribers. Third, the tariff for commercial subscribers has no linkage with the tariff for ordinary subscribers but there are some protective measures prescribed to protect all the stakeholders. Fourth, the tariff for commercial subscribers is kept under total forbearance.

     

    In the case of the third option several provisions have been suggested such as – broadcasters be mandated to offer all their channels on a-la-carte and specify rates. In case a broadcaster directly makes the signal available to the subscriber then the sum of a-la-carte rates of the channels shall not exceed one and a half times the rate of the bouquet of which they are a part and the a-la-carte rate of each channel should not exceed thrice the average rate of a channel of that bouquet. In case of a DPO, apart from the earlier two provisions, a-la-carte rates for all FTA channels should be uniform. The regulator also suggested that it should receive the RIO by either the broadcaster or the DPO and that a provider shall not deny channel signals unless subject to technical feasibility. 

     

    If a stakeholder chooses the second option he/she has been asked to justify what the ceilings should be for each category of commercial subscribers.

     

    Stakeholders have been asked to give their views by 27 June at the latest.

     

    Click here to read full consultation paper

  • TRAI warns MSOs and LMOs to speed up billing in DAS areas

    TRAI warns MSOs and LMOs to speed up billing in DAS areas

    MUMBAI: Even after several deadlines being issued in January regarding implementation of billing in DAS areas, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has not seen much progress on this front.  And to now address the issue, the Regulator had called for a meeting of the multi system operators (MSOs) and last mile owners (LMOs) in Mumbai on 3 June.

     

    Taking note of all the issues being faced by both the parties, TRAI has asked both the MSOs and LMOs to resolve their issues and start the billing process as soon as possible. The Regulator has also taken inputs from them and will conduct an internal meeting soon.

     

    TRAI has directed the two parties to sign proper inter connect agreements with each other to ensure that money collected from subscriber goes through the right channel. “Because of their revenue sharing problem, the consumer is affected. If the two parties haven’t signed any agreement, how can they collect money from the consumer?” asks a TRAI official who was present in the meeting.

     

    Show cause notices have been sent to MSOs operating in Delhi and those in DAS phase II cities regarding billing process. “Channel aggregation is done by MSO and he also has the subscriber management system. So ideally he should be doing the work of billing,” says the official.

     

    The tug of war between MSOs and LMOs over ownership of subscribers has not yet been resolved. However, the official says that a subscriber is no one’s property and is free.

     

    The meeting comes a few days after TRAI issued a directive to MSOs to start billing in DAS phase I cities such that the bill reaches the consumer within 45 days by either hand, post or email along with an option to pay the money online.

     

    TRAI will look at holding such meetings in other parts of the country as well.  

  • Kolkata MSOs to increase channel package rates

    Kolkata MSOs to increase channel package rates

    KOLKATA: A revision in channel package rates is on the cards following the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) directions to multi system operators (MSOs) last week to ensure delivery of bills to subscribers by hand, post or email as opted for by them, and provide within 45 days an online payment option in their subscriber management system (SMS) for subscribers to pay their bills in the first phase of the digital addressable system (DAS).

     

    However, the percentage by which channel package rates will go up is not exactly known.

     

    Kolkata has nearly 30 lakh cable homes and till mid-January, MSOs were issuing ad-hoc bills to subscribers. According to several LCOs, despite having implemented gross (consumer) billing in the Kolkata Municipal Area (KMA) since January, end consumers are not willing to pay billed amounts to LCOs.

     

    When contacted, Siticable Kolkata director Suresh Sethia said, “Package rates will soon be revised. There are instances where consumers are not getting bills from LCOs. The law of the land is the same for everyone. So, we have to courier bills to end users and this involves costs.”

     

    “We are happy that TRAI is trying to make the system more transparent,” Sethia added.

     

    An MSO on condition of anonymity said, “We will have to depute collection agents and provide them with a salary or collection commission, whatever they think is better as LCOs are not able to collect money from end consumers. But we can’t use this as an excuse and will ensure we adhere to the TRAI rules, however cash-strapped we are.”

     

    A cable expert expressed the view that package rates will have to be increased as post implementation of DAS broadcasters have started bargaining a lot and have proposed to charge a much higher rate than before.

     

    “MSOs are bound to increase the price as they have to show the bill and pay the tax on that. Also, to follow the new bill delivery system of the TRAI, additional costs will be incurred in terms of software development and manpower. To justify that, they may increase the price,” said Incubators Group chairman Kaushlendra Singh Sengar.

     

    Sengar informed that the Regulator had also asked MSOs to ensure that an electronic acknowledgement is sent to subscribers on their registered mobile numbers or email addresses within 30 days of making the payment to the service provider.

     

    A cable analyst, Mrinal Chatterjee, begged to differ, “Cable TV operation is not telecom operation. Here, LCOs also work. MSOs have no network of their own but depend on last mile connectors. Customers are the clients of the LMO, so how can MSOs send bills to them?”

     

    Other industry sources argued that some MSOs didn’t even have an SMS in place so how could they start an online payment option in the SMS.

     

    Still other sources opined that MSOs and LCOs need to address the issues together. “Now it seems the authorities want to remove the LCOs from this trade altogether, but it is not that easy to do so,” said an LCO on condition of anonymity.

  • Appeals against tariff increases of 27.5 per cent in DAS to be heard in August

    Appeals against tariff increases of 27.5 per cent in DAS to be heard in August

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom and Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) today directed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to respond by 4 July to a petition challenging the legality of tariff orders allowing the increase of 27.5 per cent inflationary rise in the wholesale prices prevailing as on 31 March 2004.

     

    TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh said any other stakeholders including broadcasters could intervene by 16 July and the appeal would be heard on 4 August.

     

    Meanwhile, the broadcasters will retain in a separate account, any payments received as tariff, as this would be subject to the final order of the Tribunal.

     

    The appeals wanted TRAI to be directed to carry de-novo exercise in accordance with the statutory provision for price fixation for addressable system de-linking the same from the wholesale price of channels for non addressable system.

     

    In the appeals filed by Home Cable Network and the consumer organisation Centre for Transforming India, the legality of Tariff Order (Telecommunications (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Second) Tariff (Eleventh Amendment) Order 2014 dated 31 March this year allowing the increase of 27.5 per cent inflationary rise in the wholesale prices prevailing as on 31 March 2004 has been challenged.

     

    The appellants have also challenged the impugned tariff order dated 31 March 2014 on the ground that the same has been passed in violation of Section 11(4) without affording any hearing opportunity to the stakeholders and without considering the relevant material and reports.

     

    Furthermore, the impugned tariff order is without jurisdiction because it still provides for adhoc measure of price freeze as on 31 March 2014 even after 10 years of second tariff order dated 1 October 2004 while abdicating it regulatory duty to fix the tariff.

     

    The impugned tariff order has adversely impacted the interest of the addressable platform because the wholesale pricing of the addressable system is based on the wholesale pricing of the non addressable platform; Fourthly that the impugned tariff is heavily tilted towards broadcasters and seriously prejudices the interest of the consumers, MSO’s and stifles orderly growth of the cable and broadcasting sector.

     

    Counsel Vivek Sareen argued that TRAI ignored the fact that the wholesale pricing of non addressable system and addressable system are inter related. The wholesale price for addressable platform is derived from the wholesale price of non addressable system. By its order, TRAI indirectly and in substance increased the wholesale price for addressable platform / DAS notified area. The said increase in the wholesale price for addressable platform is affected in violation of section 11(4) of the Act.    

     

    TRAI completely disregarded the fact that by changing the content pricing and increasing the same by 27.5 per cent with reference to the price existed immediately prior to 31 March 2014, this will immediately increase the price of content for addressable platform. The authority did not provide any hearing opportunity to the stakeholders including the appellants to represent their view as a stakeholder in the consultation process.

     

    It was stated that TRAI had rushed to issue the impugned order thereby increasing the wholesale price for addressable platform by 15 per cent with effect from 1 April 2014. Thus the impugned order failed to take into account the inputs from such stakeholders.

  • TRAI issues directions to MSOs to comply with rules relating to billing for each customer

    TRAI issues directions to MSOs to comply with rules relating to billing for each customer

    NEW DELHI: Directions have been issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to multi-system operators (MSOs) covered under the first phase of digital addressable system (DAS) to ensure delivery of bill to each subscriber by hand or post or email, as may be opted by the subscriber and provide within 45 days, online payment option in its subscriber management system (SMS) for payment of bill by the subscriber.

     

    In a direction issued under section 13, read with sub-clauses (i) and (v) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 11, of the TRAI Act 1997 and regulation 24 of the Standards of Quality of Service (DAS Cable TV Systems) Regulations, 2012, the regulator has also said that the MSOs must ensure within 30 days that an electronic acknowledgement is sent to the subscriber, on his registered mobile number or the e-mail address, immediately on his making any payment to the service provider.

     

    The action comes after a study by a joint team consisting of the representatives of the Authority and Broadcast Engineers Consultants, a public sector unit of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, to inspect and audit the head- end and the subscriber management system of the MSO providing cable TV services in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

     

    The Authority also held meetings with the representatives of the local linked cable operators and the MSOs on 16 April and 17 April.

     

    During the inspection, the Authority noted non-compliance of the provisions of the regulations by the service providers.

     

    The direction said the representative of MSO or its linked LCO who collects the payment from the subscriber shall forward the details of the subscriber and the payment made in front of subscriber through his mobile phone to the subscriber management system. The SMS on receipt of this information, shall send an automatic acknowledgement of the payment received to the subscriber either on his registered mobile number or his email address.

     

    TRAI said regulation 24 of the Standards of Quality of Service (Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems) Regulations 2012 provides that the Authority may, by order or direction, from time to time, intervene, for the purpose of protecting the interest of the subscribers or monitoring or performance of Quality of service standards of the MSO or its linked local cable operator   or for ensuring compliance of the provisions of these regulations and reads as under:-

     

    TRAI had on 2 December 2013 directed the MSOs to offer cable TV services to its subscribers on both pre-paid and post-paid payment options and generate bills for subscriber; give to every subscriber the bill, on regular basis, for charges due and payable for each month or for any other agreed period and the bill for the period ending the 30 November 2013 latest by 15 December 2013, according to the billing cycle agreed between the parties.

     

    The MSOs were also to give itemised bill to the subscriber clearly indicating the price of channels or bouquet of channels along with the name of channels in the bouquet, charges for basic tier and channels comprised therein, charges for set-top-box, charges for value added service, the details of taxes along with the rate of taxes and Service Tax registration number and Entertainment Tax registration number; ensure that a proper receipt is given to the subscriber by it or its linked local cable operator for every payment made by the subscriber; and provide to the pre-paid subscriber, at a reasonable cost, the information relating to the itemised usage charge showing actual usage of service. A compliance report had to be submitted by 31 December 2013 for the areas of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Municipal Council of Greater Mumbai and Kolkata Metropolitan area.

  • MediaPro terminates distribution alliance with NDTV, MCCS, MGM

    MediaPro terminates distribution alliance with NDTV, MCCS, MGM

    MUMBAI: The MediaPro split is known to all. With Star and Zee setting up their affiliate sales teams for their respective channels, a few networks that formed a part of the content aggregator have now been left with no choice but to distribute the channel on its own.

     

    The three year distribution venture split after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) came out with its regulation on the role of content aggregators. News now is that MediaPro has decided to not renew its distribution deal with New Delhi Television (NDTV) with effect from 1 April 2014.

     

    The content aggregator has also terminated its distribution alliance with   Media Content & Communication Services (MCCS) and MGM programming Service India (MGM) with effect from 16 April 2014.

     

    As a result of this, NDTV (NDTV India, NDTV 24×7, NDTV Good Times and NDTV Profit), MGM (MGM) and MCCS (ABP News, ABP Majha and ABP Ananda) will now distribute their respective channels through their own independent affiliate teams.