MxMIndia

Tag: Set Top box

  • A new rule, rule 10A – Obligation to furnish information – has been inserted making it mandatory for MSOs and cable operators to provide information as and when it is sought for by the government

    MIB amends law, asks cable trade to furnish correct DAS info or face cancellation/ suspension

    From the MxM Infodesk

     

    Although the news was flashed by the wires last week, it got official only on Saturday. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to amend the Cable Television Network Rule, 1995 (Cable Rules) making it obligatory for every Multi-system Operator (MSO) and Local Cable Operator (LCO) to provide correct and timely information to the Ministry as and when it is sought for.

     

    The background: The I&B ministry has been closely monitoring the preparedness of various activities for the implementation of Distributed Antenna System (DAS). The success of DAS depends on timely seeding of STBs at the consumer premises. As such, availability and deployment of set-top boxes (STBs) by MSOs / LCOs are paramount important for the implementation of DAS. Timely availability of accurate data with regard to the seeding of STBs by service providers (MSOs/LCOs) is also critical for the Ministry to ensure digital switch over within the timeframe as well as for taking mid-course corrections if necessary. While assessing the preparedness of DAS in four metros, the Ministry has come across numerous inconsistencies of data provided by the service providers, particularly MSOs, in regard to inventory position of STB and its deployment.

     

    In the Cable Television Network Rule, 1995(Second Amendment) Rule, 2012, a new rule, namely, rule 10A – Obligation to furnish information – has been inserted making it mandatory for MSOs and cable operators to provide information as and when it is sought for by the Central government or state government or authorized officer or any agency of the Central government. The obligation to furnish information under the amended rule 10 A has been incorporated as one of the terms and conditions of registration of cable operator under Rule 5 A and MSOs under rule 11 D.

     

    As per sub-section (7) of section 4 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, the Central government may suspend or revoke the registration of cable operators or MSOs if they violate one or more of the terms and conditions of registration. Incorporation of rule 10 A as one of the terms and conditions of registration of cable operators and MSOs will empower the Central government to cancel or suspend the registration of cable operators or MSO if the information sought for by it is not provided by them. This, MIB hopes, will ensure correct and timely submission of information by cable operators and MSOs.

     

  • June 30 is the sunset date for digitization in the four metros and there are question marks on the readiness. Dinyar Contractor lists the reasons why he thinks delivering before the deadline for the four metros is such a challenge

    The Anchor: Dinyar Contractor on 10 reasons why the digitization deadline is a mighty challenge

    By Dinyar Contractor

     

    1. At the FICCI- I&B ministry meet that was held a week ago in Mumbai, barely 40 days before the analogue sunset date, the I&B officials said that they had reviewed digitization in Mumbai the previous day so their report was immediate and current and they confirmed that 33 per cent of the homes in Mumbai already have set-top boxes. I would like to turn that around factually and say that 67 per cent of the homes did not have digital boxes even 40 days before the sunset. So it is pretty much an impossible task that 67 per cent will get it within 40 days.

     

    2. Let’s look at Chennai. Arasu Cable has confirmed that they don’t have set-top boxes. In fact, a day after the FICCI meet, Arasu had asked its cable operators to log in to the Arasu site and send in their estimates of how many boxes will be required. Arasu will then put together these estimates and float a tender which means they would then start asking for people to give prices for boxes. So for the boxes coming in is way over the horizon for Chennai.

     

    3. Incidentally, there is a lead time just for a component of a set-top box in the world market today of four months. That means if you order your box today and the manufacturer orders the component, it will be four months before the manufacturer gets the component. What that means is that the box will not be manufactured and it will definitely not reach you before five months. Therefore, if at all there is a postponement, it doesn’t make sense to have any postponement which is earlier than Jan 1, even six months is really cutting it fine.

     

    4. There is a major national level MSO who candidly admitted to me that their HD boxes have landed but they don’t have the funds to clear them. The government had promised 74 per cent FDI as part of the digitization effort but the government has not implemented this and therefore, MSOs have not been able to tap foreign investors. So without enabling funds, the government has put this clause out which does not make any sense.

     

    5. We are talking of a sunset date 30 days from now. So for instance, I as a cable operator go to somebody’s home and I say please take the set-top box. And they say, sure I’ll take it but what is it going to cost me? And I say I don’t know what it is going to cost you because the government hasn’t declared the rate. Now as a customer I would not accept the box.

     

    6. On May 28, the TRAI put up all the analog pay channel tariffs. There is a Supreme Court judgment which says that broadcasters cannot charge more than 42 per cent of the analog pay channel rates for digital. So 42 per cent is the ceiling, however that 42 per cent is completely irrelevant since broadcasters are providing pay channels to DTH platforms at something between 10 to 15 per cent. So from May 28, the ball has started rolling where negotiations have been opened between broadcasters and MSOs to work out some figure for their pay channels that will be somewhere between 10 and 42 per cent. So there is a huge spread in the rates between 10 and 42 per cent, these negotiations are obviously not going to quick and easy. I don’t see these negotiations culminating in three weeks or a month.

     

    7. There was a Parliamentary Committee report which was released and tabled in the Lok Sabha a few days ago where the Committee says that this entire thing should be delayed by at least six months. I see this as the first stone thrown by the government to ripple the waters and start talking of a delay.

     

    8. The TRAI suddenly declared that every digital headend must deliver 500 channels. Incidentally, a major portion of the set-top boxes already deployed are incapable of doing 500 channels. This is again a fact that is not adequately ventilated. They can typically do 350 channels, less than 400 channels. It means that they have to take out may be 2 million of the boxes that have already been seeded and throw them away. Where is the money going to come from? We are not even realistic about what is going on.

     

    9. In Kolkata, don’t forget there is Mamata Banerjee who might rake up the issue against digitization depending on the political capital it might have.

     

    10. Here you have a sunset clause where the government has not enabled anything, they have only been talking of a sunset but they have not done anything to facilitate and to enable the sunset. The delay has nothing to do with the MSOs or the cable industry, it is simply completely chaotic unplanned deputation of the law or total lack of enabling a systematic process in which digitization could have been introduced.

     

    Dinyar Contractor is Editor and Executive Publisher, Satellite and Cable TV Magazine (www.scatmag.com)

     

  • Campaign aims at empowering consumers in the regions, with information to optimize on impending digitization & enables operators to build their brand equity

    BIG Magic launches ‘100% UPwale / 100 % MPwale’ FOR UP & MP

    By A Correspondent

     

    After the success of the ‘Choose Your Set-Top-Box Wisely’ campaign, which aimed at increasing awareness and empowering consumers with adequate information to make the right choice while choosing their set top boxes and also enabling operators to build their brand equity in the metros, Reliance Broadcast Network is now taking the initiative into the Hindi Heartland of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Madhya Pradesh (MP) with the second leg of this campaign.

     

    Built on a creative idea of “100% UPwale / 100% MPwale”, this campaign will also serve the purpose of driving awareness of impending digitization and empower consumers to make the right choice when choosing a DTH/ Set Top box.

     

    Additionally the campaign also provides operators a chance to build preference and equity for their own offerings.

     

    The campaign creative idea reflects the uniqueness of this region ranging from the chikan kurtas ofLucknow to Banarasi paan to the pedas ofMathura to praying at the Bade Ganpati ka Mandir, and the channel of the region - BIG Magic.

     

    The campaign will be rolled out across BIG Magic and the 11 radio stations of 92.7 BIG FM.

     

    With digitization set to revolutionize the television viewing experience, and operators gearing to undertake activities to build their brand equity and ensuring that they gain from the eminent shake-out, consumers also need to understand that the power to enhance their television viewing experience will now lie with them and this campaign aims at helping both operators and consumers alike.

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network’s BIG Magic, which has only just completed a year of launch, has already become the leading channel of the region with its exciting content and programs.

     

    It will be a six week campaign spread across television, radio, OOH, print and digital, will be one of the largest initiatives in the regional space by any broadcaster.

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited is a multi-media entertainment conglomerate with play across radio, television, intellectual properties and out of home. It is part of the Reliance Group and specializes in creating and executing integrated media solutions for brands. It houses the following verticals: 92.7 BIG FM, BIG CBS- a joint venture with CBS Studios International which has launched four channels, BIG CBS Prime, BIG CBS Love, BIG CBS Spark and Spark Punjabi. Added to this
    robust bouquet, the Company also distributes Bloomberg UTV, India’s premier business news channel.