All Entries in the "Cable TV" Category
Can we get on with digitisation now?
Should carriage fees in television be legitimised? This, it seems, is the main irritation that most broadcasters have with a new tariff order from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, or Trai. The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has raised its voice against it, and the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) too mentions it in an otherwise approving press release. But, in fact, the legitimising of carriage fees is a masterstroke. Think about it. Carriage fees are charged because India’s creaking cable system doesn’t have enough bandwidth. Once digitisation – which this tariff order »»»
MSOs to be permitted 74% FDI: Jatua
NEW DELHI: Multi-system operators taking up digitisation with addressability will be permitted 74 per cent foreign direct investment as part of a move to bring about uniformity in FDI in broadcasting, Parliament was informed today. Even as the views of different Ministries are awaited on the proposal to increase FDI in the media, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting C M Jatua said his Ministry had worked out with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India certain terms and conditions to take care of security related concerns. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion cleared »»»
TRAI writes new rules for Cable TV, channels, consumers
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or TRAI has revamped the entire regulatory structure of the broadcasting, cable TV and DTH industry in India, dealing with issues such as carriage fee, channel prices and channel availability. Once digitized, all channels (pay and free-to air) have to be offered on a-la-carte, or individual, basis to subscribers, TRAI said. There will be a Basic Service Tier (BST) consisting of a minimum of 100 free-to air (FTA) channels for Rs 100. It is up to the consumer to pick and choose which 100 free channels he wants to watch for Rs 100 per month. In other words, »»»
Viacom18, Network18, Sun & Disney channels switch-off from Digicable network
Leading channels like Colors, CNN-IBN, CNBC TV 18, Sun TV and Hungama have switched off in all Digicable networks in Central, North, West and East India due to non-payment of subscription fees. With effect from today, Viacom18, Network 18, Sun Network and Disney channels distributed by Sun 18 (North) will be switched off across Digicable networks across North, West, East and Central India. Digicable viewers across these regions will not be able to view their popular shows and programmes on leading channels like Colors, MTV, CNBC TV 18, CNN-IBN, Sun TV, Gemini, Surya, Disney Channel and Hungama, »»»
No relaxation in sunset date for first phase of digitisation: Govt
NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Secretary Uday Kumar Varma, while reiterating that the sunset dates of the first phase for the metros of 30 June was irrevocable, said today that the regulatory framework including interconnection issues and tariff for cable digitisation would be in place by the end of this month. Varma said that one million digital set top boxes had already been installed while another 2.5 million were readily available and the process of acquiring the remaining seven million required for the first phase had been put in place with directions issued for importing them. Earlier »»»
Digicable opts for Ateme’s transcoding platform for VoD
MUMBAI: Digicable has opted for Ateme’s transcoding platform Titan for all its Video on Demand transcoding needs. With India’s pay TV market becoming ever more competitive, Digicable chose the French company for its combination of high performance, flexibility, and value for money, according to its chief technology officer Asif Khan. “We had high expectations for performance and throughput, but also had to be conscious of cost in a market where margins are tight and competition fierce,” said Khan. “Ateme has met these expectations not just for headline cost and performance, »»»
Cable operators distort signals using jammers, DTH companies cry foul
New Delhi: Rivalry between cable operators and DTH companies has come to the fore with growing instances of DTH jammers being used in parts of Mumbai and Delhi NCR to distort DTH signals. DTH firms like Tata Sky, Dish TV, Reliance Big TV, Videocon D2H and Airtel Digital TV have detected fresh cases of DTH jammers causing disruption of services in Mumbai. The DTH Operators Association of India (DOAOI), which represents all DTH companies, has described the use of jammers as a threat to the national spectrum. In a strong worded letter sent to the department of telecommunications (DoT), Mumbai Police, »»»
