All Entries in the "General News" Category
Indian DTH players revise subscription packages upwards
MUMBAI: Bogged down by multiple taxation and regular hikes in taxes like service and entertainment, Indian direct-to-home (DTH) service providers have decided to pass on the burden to their customers. DTH operators like Dish TV, Tata Sky, Airtel digital TV and Videocon d2h are raising base pack prices. In the case of Dish TV and Videocon d2h, the uptick is to the tune of 10 per cent for all their packages. They say an increase is inevitable as they have been absorbing taxes for far too long and the industry viability itself is coming into question because the players have been bleeding. Airtel »»»
Cable Wars: High Definition could change the market dynamics
New Delhi, June 1: Hi-Definition could be the key differentiator in the ongoing cable wars. With the date for mandatory digitisation nearing, the competition between cable companies and direct-to-home service (DTH) providers is intensifying. In this milieu, DTH firms believe HD will work in their favour. HD services were launched by DTH players during the Commonwealth Games, though at that time there was not much content to showcase. Although the category is growing slowly, DTH operators estimate that already about a half a million DTH HD boxes have been installed in the country. “HD is changing »»»
We expect consumers to wake up on July 1 and ask for set-top boxes
As the June 30 deadline for the first phase of mandatory digitisation in metros draws closer, several multi-system operators are clamouring for extension. The buzz is that the Government may extend the deadline by a few weeks. “I do not see any reason why,” says Mr Harit Nagpal, President, DTH Operators Association of India, saying that the perception he got from his discussions with TRAI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was that the deadline was sacrosanct. Excerpts from an interview: Is the DTH industry fully geared up to the challenge of digitising all metro homes in the »»»
DTH players place their bets on HD pie
Direct to Home service (DTH) has been sought after by customers with the offering of HD and interactive and value added services. With over 45 million households already subscribing to DTH services, the industry is set to grow further during the upcoming digitization phase, where consumers may opt for a shift from the analogue to the digital platform. The High Definition (HD) market is growing with the help of DTH services and vice-versa. All the major players are offering content on HD. The viewers are getting ready with HD televisions with the falling prices. A full HD 22 inch television costing »»»
Set-top boxes may soon be stung by the BEE
Chennai, May 24: Set-top boxes too will come under the eagle eye of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in the next few months. These power-guzzling boxes, which are procured (usually from China and South Korea) by DTH service providers and multi-system operators, do not have any certification for their energy efficiency levels. The Government agency had set up a special committee to study and develop standards and a star rating model for these boxes. According to Mr S.P. Garnaik, Energy Economist, BEE, the panel has now come out with a model and it is now being circulated among various stakeholders. “It »»»
TRAI chief JS Sarma specifies moderate carriage fees
New Delhi: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman JS Sarma explains the digitization of cable. He said that carriage fees should be moderate, between 50 paise to Re. 1 per subscriber per year. “Anything beyond that level would be unreasonable,” he said, adding that there can be no placement fee in post digitization world. Here is the full transcript of the interview. Vikram Chandra: Hello and welcome, we have with us the person who has been the man of the moment of recent days, Mr JS Sarma, head of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. So you have been in the news »»»
MSOs, broadcasters plan to move court over carriage fee
New Delhi: Not satisfied with the ‘must carry’ diktat and regulation of carriage fee outlined in the latest regulations by the broadcast regulator, both multi-service operators (MSOs) and news broadcasters may soon take legal recourse. MSOs and broadcasters are studying the order before approaching the courts, sources said. On Monday night, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) issued the tariff order and regulations for digital addressable system (DAS) roll out mandating every MSO to upgrade its delivery platform so as to carry 500 channels in DAS areas, starting with the four metros. »»»
