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No carriage fee on channel that MSO seeks

Published

14 years ago

May 2, 2012

NEW DELHI: A multi-system operator who seeks signals of a particular TV channel from a broadcaster cannot demand carriage fee for carrying that channel on its distribution platform. Similarly, a broadcaster cannot insist for placement of its channel in a particular slot as a pre-condition for providing signals.

The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012 issued along with the Tariff Order states that if a broadcaster insists on placement in a particular slot, this will amount to imposition of unreasonable terms.

The Regulations say every broadcaster will provide signals of its TV channels on non-discriminatory basis to every MSO having the prescribed channel capacity and registered under rule 11 of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994, making request for the same.

However, this will not apply to a MSO who is in default of payment and “imposition of any term which is unreasonable shall be deemed as a denial of request”.

Every broadcaster or his authorised agent will provide the signals of TV channels to a MSO within 60 days from the date of receipt of the request or give reasons for not doing so within the same period.

Every MSO while seeking interconnection with the broadcaster will have to ensure that its digital addressable system installed for the distribution of TV channels meets the digital addressable system requirements specified in the Schedule attached to the Regulations, and a broadcaster will point this out to the MSO in case it finds the DAS does not meet the requirements specified.

In such a situation, the MSO can get the Das audited by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. (BECIL), or any other agency as may be specified by the Authority by direction issued from time to time and obtain a certificate from such agency that its system meets the requirements specified in Schedule I.

Every MSO operating in the areas notified by the Central Government under Section 4A(1) of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 should have the capacity to carry a minimum of 500 channels not later than the date mentioned in the notification applicable to area in which the MSO is operating.

An MSO operating in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai will have the capacity to carry a minimum of 200 channels as on 30 June 2012 and this will be enhanced to a minimum of 500 channels by 1 January 2013:

Provided further that all MSOs operating in the area referred to in the first provison and having subscriber base of less than 25,000 shall have the capacity to carry a minimum of 500 channels by 1 April 2013.

No broadcaster of TV channels can engage in any practice or activity or enter into any understanding or arrangement, including exclusive contract with any MSO for distribution of its channel which may prevent any other MSO from obtaining such TV channels for distribution.

Every broadcaster or his authorised agent who collects payment on behalf of such broadcaster shall issue monthly invoice to the MSO for providing signals and such invoice/s will clearly specify the current payment dues and arrears, if any, along with the due date for payment.

No MSO will enter into any understanding or arrangement with any broadcaster that may prevent any other broadcaster from obtaining access to the cable network of such MSO.

Every MSO will provide access on non-discriminatory basis to its network or convey the reasons for rejection of request to the broadcaster within 60 days of receipt of request from the broadcaster or its authorised agent or intermediary,

It will not be mandatory for a MSO to carry the channel of a broadcaster if the channel is not in regional language of the region in which the MSO is operating or in Hindi or in English language and the broadcaster is not willing to pay the uniform carriage fee published by the MSO in its Reference Interconnect Offer. But this will not apply to a broadcaster who has failed to pay the carriage fee as per the agreement and continues to be in default.

Trai has also clarified that imposition of unreasonable terms and conditions for providing access to the cable TV network will amount to the denial of request for such access. It will not be mandatory for the MSO to carry a channel for a period of next one year from the date of discontinuation of the channel, if the subscription for that particular channel in the last preceding six months is less than or equal to five per cent of the subscriber base of that MSO taken as an average of subscriber base of the preceding six months.

If a MSO before providing access to its network to a broadcaster insists on placement of the channel of such broadcaster in a particular slot or bouquet, such precondition will amount to imposition of unreasonable terms.

Every MSO shall publish in its Reference Interconnect Offer the carriage fee for carrying a channel of a broadcaster for which no request has been made by the multi system operator. The carriage fee will be uniform for all the broadcasters and will not be revised upwards for a minimum period of two years from the date of publication in the Reference Interconnect Offer.

Every MSO or his authorised agent who collects on behalf of such MSO the carriage fee from a broadcaster will issue monthly invoice/s to such broadcaster and such invoice/s will clearly specify the current payment dues and arrears, if any, along with the due date of payment.

Every MSO or their authorised agent shall provide the signals of TV Channels to a local cable operator in accordance with its reference interconnect offer or as may be mutually agreed, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the request. In case this is not agreed to, reasons will have to be conveyed for this within 60 days from the date of request.

Every MSO or his authorised agent who collects payment on behalf of such MSO from the local cable operator for providing signals will issue monthly invoice/s to such cable operator and such invoice/s will clearly specify the current payment dues and arrears, if any, along with the due date of payment.

Every demand of arrears under these regulations will be accompanied by the proof of service of invoices for the period for which the arrears pertain.

Applications

Moltbook, the AI-only social network, sparks hype, doubt and fear

Published

2 weeks ago

February 3, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

CALIFORNIA: Moltbook, a Reddit-style social platform built exclusively for artificial intelligence agents, has emerged as the latest obsession in Silicon Valley, drawing intense attention for its explosive growth and surreal bot-driven interactions.

The platform hosts more than 100 communities where AI agents post, argue and joke about topics ranging from governance theory to esoteric “crayfish debugging” concepts. Within days of launch, Moltbook recorded tens of thousands of posts, nearly 200,000 comments and more than 1 million human visitors observing the activity.

Yet the numbers and the autonomy are under scrutiny, as per media reports. A security researcher has suggested as many as 500,000 accounts may trace back to a single address, raising doubts about Moltbook’s membership claims. Many posts could also be the result of humans instructing their AI tools to publish content, rather than bots acting independently.

The platform runs on agentic AI, powered by an open-source tool called OpenClaw, formerly known as Moltbot. Unlike chatbots such as ChatGPT or Gemini, these agents are designed to perform tasks on users’ devices, from sending messages to managing calendars, with minimal human input. Once authorised, they can interact freely on Moltbook.

Some tech figures have hailed the platform as a glimpse of a post-human internet. Head of crypto custody firm BitGo Bill Lees, called it evidence that “we’re in the singularity”.

Academics are less convinced. Petar Radanliev, an AI and cybersecurity expert at the University of Oxford, said the idea of agents acting independently was “misleading”, describing Moltbook instead as automated coordination within human-set constraints. Columbia Business School assistant professor David Holtz, dismissed the spectacle as “thousands of bots yelling into the void and repeating themselves”.

Beyond hype, security worries loom large. ESET global cybersecurity advisor Jake Moore, warned that granting AI agents access to emails, private messages and files risks prioritising efficiency over privacy. Andrew Rogoyski of the University of Surrey said high-level system access could lead to serious damage, from erased data to compromised company accounts.

Even OpenClaw’s founder Peter Steinberger, has felt the darker side of attention, with scammers hijacking his old social media handles after the platform’s rebrand.

For now, Moltbook remains a strange digital zoo: part experiment, part spectacle, where AI agents banter about philosophy, productivity and, occasionally, their fondness for their human operators.

Applications

Apple appoints Avtar Ram Singh as head of international marketing

Published

2 weeks ago

February 2, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

CALIFORNIA: Apple has handed a bigger global brief to a long-time insider. Avtar Ram Singh has taken over as head of international marketing for the App Store, Apple Arcade and the Apple Games app, deepening his remit across one of the company’s fastest-growing businesses.

“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as head of international marketing, App Store, Apple Arcade and Games App at Apple,” Singh said while announcing the move.

The promotion crowns nearly seven years at Apple, where Singh has led services marketing across Southeast Asia and India and previously served as head of marketing for Southeast Asia content and services, business lead for Apple Podcasts in the region and interim marketing lead for the App Store internationally.

His new portfolio spans three pillars of Apple’s services push. The App Store, which Apple positions as a safe and trusted discovery platform, now attracts more than 850 million average weekly users globally. Since 2008, developers have earned over $550 billion on the platform.

Apple Arcade, the company’s gaming subscription service, offers unlimited access to a catalogue ranging from brain teasers to big-name franchises. The recent addition of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition brings a AAA PC title to iPhone, iPad and Mac from 5 February.

Then there is the Apple Games app, unveiled at WWDC as a unified destination for games from the App Store and Arcade. It aggregates titles in one place, surfaces personalised recommendations, tracks events and achievements, and lets users compete with friends or connect controllers for a console-like experience.

Singh arrives with a hybrid background in strategy, data and creativity. His career spans digital and social media marketing, business intelligence, content, editorial and analytics across culturally diverse markets. He has worked on brands including P&G, Accor, Audi, UBS, Nikon, Samsung, Sony, Pizza Hut, HBO and Singapore Airlines-linked businesses such as Scoot.

Before Apple, Singh led strategy at Falcon Agency, focusing on performance marketing and ROI-driven digital frameworks. He earlier ran the social practice at Publicis Singapore, where he oversaw operations, business development and regional social strategy for multinational clients. His career also includes roles at Ogilvy-linked Circus Social, Rocket Internet ventures Lazada and Zalora, and research firm IDC in Bangkok, where he analysed technology markets and won early awards for collaboration and client retention.

At Apple, he has been close to several service launches and expansions, including Apple Fitness+ in Singapore, Apple Creator Studio, global podcast subscriptions and new App Store marketing tools.

The timing is notable. Apple’s services business has posted record years, and gaming is becoming a sharper battleground as platforms chase engagement and recurring revenue. Singh’s brief sits at the intersection of content, community and commerce.

In a market where attention is scarce and loyalty scarcer, Apple is betting that sharper storytelling and smarter marketing can keep users inside its ecosystem. Singh now holds the megaphone. The real test will be how loudly the world listens.

Applications

Cloud nine in the capital Bharathcloud plugs Delhi into its AI plans

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Bharathcloud is bringing its cloud closer to power. The Hyderabad-based sovereign AI cloud services provider has opened its Delhi office, marking its formal entry into North India and setting the stage for its next phase of growth.

The expansion comes as India’s digital transformation fuels rising demand for AI-ready cloud infrastructure, driven by wider adoption of artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things and data-heavy applications. With the new office, Bharathcloud plans to onboard more than 100 employees in 2026, strengthening its workforce to support customers across government, enterprises, MSMEs and social sectors.

The Delhi presence is expected to sharpen the company’s engagement with organisations seeking secure, scalable and cost-efficient cloud platforms that comply with India’s data sovereignty requirements. It also positions Bharathcloud closer to policy, public sector and enterprise decision-makers in the region.

Founded in Hyderabad, Bharathcloud offers AI-ready cloud infrastructure including Kubernetes-as-a-Service, zero-trust security architecture and multi-level data protection frameworks. Its platform supports AI and ML workloads, blockchain application migration from hyperscalers and distributed data management, with an emphasis on reliability, low latency and operational continuity.

“With the Delhi expansion, we are positioning Bharathcloud to engage more closely with AI-driven enterprises and technology hubs in North India,” said Bharathcloud co-founder Rahul Takallapally. He added that the move would help nurture local cloud and AI talent while accelerating the adoption of secure and resilient AI infrastructure across sectors.

The company currently operates in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Chennai, employing over 200 people and serving more than 1,500 clients across manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, IT and media. Aligned with national initiatives such as Digital India and Make in India, Bharathcloud continues to focus on building indigenous AI-cloud infrastructure to support data localisation and the country’s growing appetite for next-generation digital solutions.

With its Delhi office now live, the company is signalling a clear intent: to make sovereign, AI-ready cloud infrastructure not just an alternative, but a mainstream choice for India’s north as well as its tech capitals.