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Tag: Vikki Choudhry

  • Cap on TV ads, challenge to stay ‘action against channels’ hearing put off

    Cap on TV ads, challenge to stay ‘action against channels’ hearing put off

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today adjourned the hearing of the ad cap on television channels again, this time to 12 January 2017, with no resolution in sight to the imbroglio.

    Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangeeta Dhingra told the counsel present when the matter came up that it would be heard at the next date. No reason was attributed by the Court for the adjournment.

    On 1 August 2016, the matter was put off to today by the chief justice and Justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of part-heard cases. 

    In the hearing on 29 March 2016, a plea was made on behalf of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    (Thus, the hearing will come up almost two years after then I and B Minister Arun Jaitley had said at a public function that he did not see the need for any kind caps on the media.)

    When the case comes up next, the court is also expected to take up an application by the intervenor — Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd — seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    On 13 May 2016, the court had agreed to take up vacation of stay at the next hearing. The court had, on 11 February 2016, agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene in the matter. 

    Earlier, on 27 November 2015, the court presided over by the chief justice had said the matter had been pending for sometime and, therefore, it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. 

    On that day, MIB had informed the court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the NBA against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and others.

    The case, filed by NBA and others against TRAI and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamorus, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhile, a separate petition filed in the High Court by Vikki Choudhry and Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd., which too will be heard on the next date, seeks to charge MIB with dereliction of duties to take action against offending pay TV broadcasters for violating the terms and conditions of the licenses/permission for Uplinking and Downlinking.

    The Court had in June asked the Ministry to file its reply in four weeks. Notice was issued only to the Ministry, although the petition also listed several other broadcasting companies as respondents. 

    ALSO READ:  Ad cap & linked case put off to Sept; court to hear plea against stay order

  • Cap on TV ads, challenge to stay ‘action against channels’ hearing put off

    Cap on TV ads, challenge to stay ‘action against channels’ hearing put off

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today adjourned the hearing of the ad cap on television channels again, this time to 12 January 2017, with no resolution in sight to the imbroglio.

    Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangeeta Dhingra told the counsel present when the matter came up that it would be heard at the next date. No reason was attributed by the Court for the adjournment.

    On 1 August 2016, the matter was put off to today by the chief justice and Justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of part-heard cases. 

    In the hearing on 29 March 2016, a plea was made on behalf of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    (Thus, the hearing will come up almost two years after then I and B Minister Arun Jaitley had said at a public function that he did not see the need for any kind caps on the media.)

    When the case comes up next, the court is also expected to take up an application by the intervenor — Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd — seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    On 13 May 2016, the court had agreed to take up vacation of stay at the next hearing. The court had, on 11 February 2016, agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene in the matter. 

    Earlier, on 27 November 2015, the court presided over by the chief justice had said the matter had been pending for sometime and, therefore, it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. 

    On that day, MIB had informed the court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the NBA against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and others.

    The case, filed by NBA and others against TRAI and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamorus, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhile, a separate petition filed in the High Court by Vikki Choudhry and Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd., which too will be heard on the next date, seeks to charge MIB with dereliction of duties to take action against offending pay TV broadcasters for violating the terms and conditions of the licenses/permission for Uplinking and Downlinking.

    The Court had in June asked the Ministry to file its reply in four weeks. Notice was issued only to the Ministry, although the petition also listed several other broadcasting companies as respondents. 

    ALSO READ:  Ad cap & linked case put off to Sept; court to hear plea against stay order

  • TRAI urged to ensure signals to LCOs not disrupted following withdraw its hike-linked tariffs

    TRAI urged to ensure signals to LCOs not disrupted following withdraw its hike-linked tariffs

    NEW DELHI: Following the decision of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to withdraw its hike-based tariff orders of 27.5 per cent, the reguator has been urged to issue orders asking multisystem operators not to disconnect the signals received by last mile networks (LCO) during this crucial period of observing the tariff and arrears adjustment period (TAAP).

    The regulator has also been urged to ask MSOs to to make any package alterations, activations or deactivations in set top boxes for the smooth adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by LCOs from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

    In a detailed letter to TAI Chairman R S Sharma, both National Cable and Telecommunication Association and Cable Operators Federation of India has said that a similar direction may be given to the Pay TV Broadcasters and they be directed to bring back the tariff as existing on 31 March 2014.

    In the pre-paid MSO business model, adequate credit should be maintained by the MSO in the system during this period of our observing TAAP, for the adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by us from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

    The two organizations have also said that in case of any discrepancy or for reconciliation of accounts by the MSO, if needed, Rendition of the “Separate Accounts “kept be made in order to ascertain the discrepancy and reconciliation of the accounts.
    The letter by NCTA President Vikki Choudhry and COFI President Roop Sharma have pointed out that the regulator had itself withdrawn its tariff-linked tariff orders in the light of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal setting aside the two orders which had allowed for one installment of 15% from 1 April 2014 and the second hike of 12.5% allowed both at the retail and wholesale levels from 1 January 2015.

    In view of the TDSAT order and subsequent withdrawal of the orders, there is an immediate need to adjust the increased payments if made by the subscribers to the LCOs, LCOs to the MSOs and MSOs to the broadcasters.

    “This TAAP observed to adjust our rightful and legitimate arrears due, upon the MSO, should not be construed as a default in payment or non-payment of agreed / negotiated / invoiced payments due, under an interconnection agreement entered with the MSO in any manner whatsoever or otherwise. Statutory payment obligations towards applicable Entertainment Tax and Service Tax will continue to be fulfilled as is, during this period of observing TAAP by the stakeholders”, the letter said.

    The last mile LCOs will also enclose a copy of the last paid invoice / bank statement of the payments made / released to the respective MSO in order to also certify that there are no outstanding dues payable on them as on date.

  • TRAI urged to ensure signals to LCOs not disrupted following withdraw its hike-linked tariffs

    TRAI urged to ensure signals to LCOs not disrupted following withdraw its hike-linked tariffs

    NEW DELHI: Following the decision of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to withdraw its hike-based tariff orders of 27.5 per cent, the reguator has been urged to issue orders asking multisystem operators not to disconnect the signals received by last mile networks (LCO) during this crucial period of observing the tariff and arrears adjustment period (TAAP).

    The regulator has also been urged to ask MSOs to to make any package alterations, activations or deactivations in set top boxes for the smooth adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by LCOs from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

    In a detailed letter to TAI Chairman R S Sharma, both National Cable and Telecommunication Association and Cable Operators Federation of India has said that a similar direction may be given to the Pay TV Broadcasters and they be directed to bring back the tariff as existing on 31 March 2014.

    In the pre-paid MSO business model, adequate credit should be maintained by the MSO in the system during this period of our observing TAAP, for the adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by us from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

    The two organizations have also said that in case of any discrepancy or for reconciliation of accounts by the MSO, if needed, Rendition of the “Separate Accounts “kept be made in order to ascertain the discrepancy and reconciliation of the accounts.
    The letter by NCTA President Vikki Choudhry and COFI President Roop Sharma have pointed out that the regulator had itself withdrawn its tariff-linked tariff orders in the light of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal setting aside the two orders which had allowed for one installment of 15% from 1 April 2014 and the second hike of 12.5% allowed both at the retail and wholesale levels from 1 January 2015.

    In view of the TDSAT order and subsequent withdrawal of the orders, there is an immediate need to adjust the increased payments if made by the subscribers to the LCOs, LCOs to the MSOs and MSOs to the broadcasters.

    “This TAAP observed to adjust our rightful and legitimate arrears due, upon the MSO, should not be construed as a default in payment or non-payment of agreed / negotiated / invoiced payments due, under an interconnection agreement entered with the MSO in any manner whatsoever or otherwise. Statutory payment obligations towards applicable Entertainment Tax and Service Tax will continue to be fulfilled as is, during this period of observing TAAP by the stakeholders”, the letter said.

    The last mile LCOs will also enclose a copy of the last paid invoice / bank statement of the payments made / released to the respective MSO in order to also certify that there are no outstanding dues payable on them as on date.

  • DAS task force to meet on 8 October amidst protests

    DAS task force to meet on 8 October amidst protests

    NEW DELHI: Almost a month after its constitution, the task force set up for the implementation of digitisation in the country and particularly overseeing the execution of the last two phases of Digital Addressable System (DAS) is expected to meet on 8 October at 10:30 in Delhi.

     

    However, local cable operators who have already expressed their protest at not being given a voice in the Task Force have not been invited to the meeting.

     

    Talking about the meeting, Information and Broadcasting Ministry secretary Bimal Julka told indiantelevision.com that all the stakeholders named in the task force order of 12 September had been nominated and are expected to be at the meeting. Although an official of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry denied this.

     

    LCOs who form the backbone of the cable television system in the country said no organisation of LCOs had been included in the task force or invited in the meeting.

     

    Meanwhile, ASSOCHAM Media and Entertainment Committee co-chairman Sujatha Dev informed the industry body that she is unaware of how a representative of ASSOCHAM was nominated to the task force.  

     

    National Cable & Telecommunication Association president Vikki Choudhry has in a letter to the I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar alleged that “In spite of all your endeavours taken to clean up the mess that had been created on account of DAS by the previous UPA government, few officials still attached to the MIB are bent on misleading and misguiding you on this much controversial DAS issue.”

     

    He has also pointed out that certain categories had not been invited to the task force meeting despite them being directly involved in implementation of DAS which included five Independent MSOs one each from North, South, East, West and North East region, five registered LCO associations one each from North, South, East, West and North East regions, a representative of the Association of Regional Television Broadcasters of India/ Regional News Broadcasters Association, five prominent consumers organisations, one each from North, South, East, West and North East regions, a representative of ASSOCHAM and a representative of Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (TEMA).

     

    Choudhry added that while there had been mention of these in the order of 12 September constituting the task force, no persons had been nominated for these categories.

     

    Additionally, he also revealed that there was no representation / invitation sent to Conditional Access System Vendors (an integral part of the entire DAS) and Subscriber Management System (SMS) that controls the entire DAS ecosystem after integration with the CAS.

     

    According to the 12 September order, the new task force was to be headed by I&B additional secretary as chairperson, with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) principal advisor for broadcast and cable satellite, I&B Ministry joint secretary broadcasting, representatives from the MSO Alliance, five independent MSOs one each from north, south, east, west and north east regions, five registered LCO associations one each from north, south, east, west and north east regions, representatives from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, News Broadcasters Association, Association of Regional Television Broadcasters of India, DTH Association, FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, CEAMA, Department of Telecommunications, Department of Electronics and Information Technology, DG: Doordarshan, DG: All India Radio, BECIL, BIS, five prominent consumer organisations one each from north, south, east, west and north east regions and 33 state level nodal officers one each from the states/union territories governments.

    The task force was to act as an interface between the government and the industry in matters related to implementation of DAS in the cable TV sector and monitor the execution of DAS. It also will have to analyse the roadblocks that may come in the way of digitisation and suggest measures.

     

    While NBA and IBF will be participating in the meeting, representatives of cable operators associations from different states are protesting against the exclusion of LCOs and MSOs from the meeting. 

     

     

  • India’s Home Cable partners with Indonesia’s BesTV to launch global OTT/IPTV services

    India’s Home Cable partners with Indonesia’s BesTV to launch global OTT/IPTV services

    NEW DELHI: India’s Home Digital Media has joined BesTV Indonesia to launch its OTT (Over the Top)/ IPTV services globally to target the 25 million Indian diaspora living outside India by using the CDN “Content Delivery Network” of Akamai and Octoshape.

     

    Home Digital Media which is a subsidiary of Home Cable Network, an independent Delhi based multi system operator (MSO) and a “Class B” ISP in India headed by Vikki Choudhry, has successfully tested the system.

     

    BesTV and Home Digital Media have been working in close association on this partnership project for the past three years and  have rolled out its global OTT services on the various application platforms  of Intan, MyTVapp, Relay TV and Home Digital Anytime/Anywhere TV.

     

    Choudhry told indiantelevision.com that this strategic association will provide Live TV channels, Movies and Music on Demand content through various applications specially developed for Android, iOS, 3GPP and Windows with a tailored solution of push and lev transcode made for low bandwidth with adaptive bitrates supporting multi format live streaming for the Aviation and the Maritime Industry.

     

    Targeting about 90 million passengers travelling every month, it will enable passengers on ships and even airlines to watch excellent quality Live TV Indian and International content on their handheld tablets, ipads and laptops while on the move.

     

    Home Digital has a worldwide footprint through its Sillicon valley headquartered technology partner company Gaian Solutions with R&D development centres in India and China. Gaian is a leading edge media technology platform company that caters to all aspects of the content distribution, content streaming, DRM, and also STB solution for delivery over Cable, Satellite, OTT and IPTV platforms.

     

    BesTV Indonesia is an affiliate to BesTV International, a subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group (SMG), China. BesTV Indonesia and BesTV International are principally engaged in the provision of technical content and marketing services for TV, computer and mobile terminals through media source platforms. The Company’s main business includes Internet protocol television (IPTV), mobile, smart television and network video, broadcasting integration movie, television and multimedia production business.

     

    BesTV China is also the pioneer and founder of Chinese IPTV business model in 2005 and has already grown into the world’s largest IPTV operator with more than 20 million effective IPTV users in China.

     

    BesTV International operates its business in North Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa.  BesTV has worked enthusiastically to develop comprehensive strategic partnerships with leading manufacturers through close cooperation, with the purpose of building the bridge between television and telecommunications industry, sharing industry opportunities and realizing common development.

  • MSOs on prowl, Incablenet to support Home Cable in Delhi

    MSOs on prowl, Incablenet to support Home Cable in Delhi

    MUMBAI: Conditional access system (Cas) is forcing multi-system operators (MSOs) to strike alliances as they take up the challenge of expanding their digital subscribers.

    The latest to join hands is Incablenet and Vikki Choudhry’s Home Cable Network. Incablenet will be supplying its feed and digital set-top boxes (STBs) to the subscribers of Home Cable Network in South Delhi.

    “We have entered into a strategic alliance with Incablenet. They will be providing STBs to our subscribers. For those consumers who want to take our advanced boxes which are priced at Rs 2150, we will be providing them our systems. Others will have an option to take the Incablenet STBs,” says Choudhry.

    Incablenet uses a different encryption system and its boxes will not support the feed from Home Cable Network. “We have agreed to share each others fibre and infrastructure as we go ahead,” says Choudhry.

    Incablenet offers subscribers digital STBs at Rs 1500 (plus taxes) while cable TV subscription is free for six months on three bouquet packages. Home Cable, on the other hand, has an outright purchase scheme with the STB priced at Rs 2150. It offers 10 pay channels on a monthly subscription fee of Rs 45 while the 60-channel package is available for Rs 225.

    “Smaller MSOs in the Cas areas will find it difficult to subsidise the boxes and will take support of the bigger ones. Besides, they do not have enough boxes and know that any delay will mean that their subscribers will go away to other available options,” says an analyst who tracks the cable industry.

    Earlier, Wire & Wireless India Ltd (WWIL) had expanded its footprint in Delhi by acquiring a 51 per cent stake in Satellite Channels and signing up with Spectranet and Sanjay Cable Network for supplying digital services.

    In Kolkata, Sristi Broadband takes the feed from Manthan Cable Network. A group of operators of Sristi Cable TV are using the feed from Mathan and Zee’s Indian Cable Net as it could not make arrangements for STBs.

    “Sristi Broadband and a group of operators from Sristi Cable are taking feed from us,” says Manthan director Gurmeet Singh. Manthan has recently introduced a package for the second TV set where subscribers will have to pay Rs 90 a month for 50 pay channels. Manthan’s STB costs Rs 2599.

  • Industry gets together to discuss Broadband Issues

    Industry gets together to discuss Broadband Issues

    New Delhi: The stage is set for a high powered seminar on broadband and IPTV which commences in New Delhi’ India Habitat Centre today. Organised by indiantelevision.com and Media Partners Asia, Hong Kong, and titled The India Broadband Digital Networks forum – Delivering the Digital Home, the seminar will feature high profile speakers such as I&B secretary SK Arora, Trai chairman Nripendra Misra, Zee TV chairman Subhash Chandra, Liberty Global director Shane O Niel, who will kick off the morning’s proceedings with their keynotes, followed by a panel discussion. The purpose of the session: to try to get a perspective from government on which way broadcasting, cable TV, broadband, IPTV, internet regulation is headed, apart from a view from industry leaders how they see the Indian market panning out.

    The afternoon session has Siticable head JS Kohli, Tata Sky boss Vikram Kaushik, Ortel Communications Jagi Mangat Panda, HSBC Securities MD and global media investment banking head Sandeep Pahwa, Comverse CBO Raghav Sahgal, NDS Asiapac operations director David Godfrey, Scientific Atlanta VP and international business GM Ken Klaer. Their focus will be to come to an understanding on why strategically digital is the way to go forward, and how each of them is dealing with this imperative to consolidate and converge.

    The last session has got Zee TV vice chairman Jawahar Goel, Star India’s revenue director Paritosh Joshi, Hathway boss K Jayaraman, HFCL Infotel CEO Surendra Lunia, Bharati Televentures technology Veep TV Sriram, HomeCable CEO Vikki Choudhry, Tandberg Television IPTV business development director Alan Delaney, Indusind Media executive director Ashok Mansukhani. The goal: to get a reality check on whether that strategic imperative is going to be achieved, what is hampering the move and how the impediments will be cleared.

    Says Indiantelevision.com CEO Anil Wanvari: “Cable TV, satellite TV, broadband, and telco operators are all keen to understand what the lay of the land will be like, how each of them can work together or independently, the business models which will be successful. We hope through this seminar to get to some of those answers.”

    The India Broadband Digital Networks Forum has Tandberg Televison, NDS, Scientific Atlanta, NDS and Comverse as the industry sponsors, with CNN IBN being the Support Sponsor, NDTV the telecast partner, CMCG as the PR partner and Cable Quest, Satellite@ Internet India and Satellite & Cable TV as the print partners.

  • Fix basic tier rate above Rs 100: Cable ops to Trai

    Fix basic tier rate above Rs 100: Cable ops to Trai

    MUMBAI: The basic tier monthly rate of Rs 77 (excluding taxes) in conditional access system (CAS) areas is unrealistic and should not be below Rs 100, cable TV operators told the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

    Six stakeholders have posted their views to the broadcast and cable regulator. Trai had sought views from the industry on the draft tariff amendment order notification for fixing the basic tier rate.

    The common argument laid down by the cable operators was that the price for the 30 FTA channels did not take into account the distribution cost through franchisee operators.

    According to clause 3B in the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Second) Tariff Order, 2004 (6 of 2004), “The maximum amount, which a cable operator may demand from a subscriber for receiving the programmes transmitted in the ‘basic service tier’ provided by such cable operator shall not exceed Rs 77 per month exclusive of taxes, for a minimum of 30 FTA channels. Free-to-air channels, over and above the basic service tier, would also be made available to the subscribers within the maximum amount mentioned above.”

    The views posted by New Delhi-based Cable Operators Federation of India (COFI) said, “Only one multi-system operator (MSO) headend was considered and not the distribution cost through franchisee operators who maintain their own offices, technical maintenance staff, collection staff etc. Quality of service was not considered while calculating number of subscribers and the number of subscribers was based on extended network of the MSO prevailing at that time.”
    “The cost of FTA channels has to be reworked. Even as per our calculations submitted to the Ministry in 2003 the cost was Rs.180. One option is to use the benchmark of Rs 125, which was the charge for 15 to 20 channels in 1994 when there were no pay channels.”

    Pointing out the need for reworking the cost of FTA channels, the Federation said, “Even as per our calculations submitted to the Ministry in 2003 the cost was Rs.180. One option is to use the benchmark of Rs 125, which was the charge for 15 to 20 channels in 1994 when there were no pay channels.”

    A minimum of Rs 150 should be charged for the basic tier considering the fact that TRAI does not want last mile operators to pay for the FTA package to the MSOs. An amount of Rs 30 to Rs 50 is being paid at present to MSOs, the Federation added..

    Hathway Cable and Datacom has suggested a basic tier price of Rs 100 per month (excluding taxes). This will work out to not less than Rs 150 a month.

    “The cost of materials like cable, amplifier, and electronics have gone up significantly. And other components such as power and fuel in delivery of the services have also risen sharply in the last one to two years,” the MSO expressed to Trai.

    According to cable TV industry observer Col V.C Khare, “The rate was arrived at for a network spectrum 47-550 MHz transporting 62 channels, with a customer base of 32000 and a radius of operation of 7.5 kms on coaxial cable.”

    “Technically, head ends using 500 series trunk cable over 47-862 M Hz and transporting 90 channels cannot deliver signal quality per IS 13420 beyond 4.8 kms cable length, with a cascading limit of 16 amplifiers. The subscriber base of 32000 was high as independent head ends were having 18000 subscribers on an average. On the other hand, networks have consolidated with fiber, 120 digitally compressed signals, encryption and SMS hardware installed. If the upward and downward adjustment in cost for the above factors is taken into account the cost of Rs.72 as prorated would give at least a minimum cost of Rs.100 (exclusive of taxes),” he argued.

    National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) president Vikki Choudhry has suggested a monthly subscription rate of Rs 180. “A price below this level will result in deficiency in quality of service for the consumers, non-conformity with the provisions of CAS and Standards of BIS, no investment in network upgradation or maintenance, loss of employment, incentives most broadcasters to keep (or convert) their channels into pay, loss of revenue to the Indian Government and encourage under declaration by the cable service providers of FTA subscribers.”