All Entries Tagged With: "MSO’s"
TV sector gears up for digital deadline
With the official deadline for phasing out analog cable TV services fast approaching, digital cable and direct-to-home (DTH) companies are worried because customers are not adequately aware about the mandatory need to switch over to digital services, which will lead to a last minute scramble for settop boxes. Senior industry executives told Mail Today that although digital customers have been growing, there seems to be lack of awareness about the government’s decision to phase out cable TV networks from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai by June 31, 2012. Noida and Gurgaon are next in line »»»
Amagi brings new VAS revenues to MSOs
With digitisation of the cable TV industry in India soon reaching its sunset date, MSOs are making large capital expenditures to provide STBs (set top boxes) to their subscribers. However, with few significant revenue opportunities, VAS is becoming an important strategy by which operators increase their revenues and profits. VAS brings in multiple opportunities, some of them in the form of video-on-demand, video conferencing, local classifieds listing, TV-commerce, games, viewership measurement, and advertising. To begin with, approximately 50 MSOs across India have partnered with local television »»»
Digicable to spend Rs 225cr on settop boxes in Kolkata
Kolkata, Jan 13 (PTI) Leading Multi System Operator (MSO) Digicable today said they will invest Rs 225 crore to supply 1.5 million settop boxes to its subscribers in the city. “All cable operators have to mandatorily switch to digital technology or to send cable television signals through settop boxes (STB) from July in city. We are trying to offer a cheap solution to subscribers under our network,” Digicable VP Amit Nag said. Digicable managing director Jagjit S Kohli said the company was planning to offer STB at Rs 500 though the minimum price of a box is Rs 1700. “We have to »»»
Hathway Cable plans to invest Rs 1.75 bn in first phase of digitisation
MUMBAI: India’s leading multi-system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable & Datacom plans to invest Rs 1.75 billion in the first phase of digitisation even as it expects DTH to take away 10-15 per cent of its cable TV subscribers in the two lucrative markets of Delhi and Mumbai. Hathway has ordered 1.3 million digital set-top boxes (STBs) and signed a letter of intent for another 0.5 million STBs. “We estimate our subscriber universe to be 1.5 million (including 2nd TV) in Mumbai and Delhi. About 20 per cent of this will be second TV sets. We have a presence in Kolkata through our joint »»»
Den Networks, Hathway Cable & Datacom join hands for set-top box campaign
NEW DELHI: Cable TV companies Den Networks and Hathway Cable & Datacom will launch a joint media campaign beginning with Delhi this weekend, informing consumers about the need to install set-top boxes by June 30 as mandated by the government. The top two multi-system operators (MSOs) will also launch their set-top boxes at a promotional price of Rs 799, including installation charges and taxes, which is much lower than Rs 1,500-1,600 charged by the direct-to-home or DTH operators. As per initial estimates, the two companies are expected to spend Rs 20 crore on the campaign. Households in New »»»
Digitisation bill signals growth opportunity for DTH companies
With the Parliament approving the Digitisation Bill recently, cable, especially, multi-specialty operators and Direct to Home, or DTH, companies are expected to grab a higher market share from local cable operators, who are reported to declare lower subscriber numbers and in turn revenues. Companies such as Den Networks, Hathway Cable and Datacom, Wire & Wireless India, and Dish TV India are among the companies that may see potential revenue improvement over the next year or two. The new law envisages digitisation in four phases. In phase-I, by June next year, it is expected to roll out in »»»
Two-tier FDI cap in media finalised
New Delhi: With the ministry of finance giving its nod, the decks have been cleared for the implementation of a simplified, two-tier policy on foreign direct investment (FDI) cap in media. Now, a 74% uniform cap for non-news media (carriage services) and a 26% cap for news media (content) shall apply. Also, up to 49% FDI in the carriage service providers (like multi-system operators or MSOs, DTH broadcasters, headend-in-the sky or HITS operators, and providers of mobile TV, satellite teleport and IPTV services) will be automatically allowed. But any FDI above 49% will need Foreign Investment Promotion »»»
