INSAT-4B Launched Successfully Ray of Hope for DTH Players

ISRO's latest satellite, INSAT-4B was successfully launched in the geosynchronous transfer orbit from French Guyana on 12th March, '07 by the European Ariane-5 ECA launch vehicle of Arianespace. The lift-off was scheduled for the early hours of 11th March but due to a technical problem, the launch was postponed just seven minutes before the blast-off. 

TRAI Releases Consultation Paper DTH Service Under Scanner

In India, the Direct-to-Home pay channel service started a little over three years ago with just one service provider Prasar Bharti's DD Direct. At present, apart from Doordarshan which provides free to air channels, there are two other private DTH service providers for free-to-air and pay channels and two more have obtained license to commence operation. In view of expanding the reach of direct-to-home (DTH) services after the introduction of CAS in the notified areas of metropolitan cities, TRAI is considering commercial interoperability of set-top boxes (STBs) and the introduction of a consumer redressal system similar to the one followed by the telecom sector. Three major issues are related interconnection, quality of service standards and the much important commercial interoperability of STBs across different service providers. 

15th Convergence India A Pioneering Event

The speed at which new technologies are emerging, emphasizes the need for international interaction at all levels and 15th CONVERGENCE INDIA certainly provided a forum for such communication. Convergence focuses on the blend of information, communication and technology. This event held at Pragati Maidan, India (20-22 March 2007) provided a platform for the stakeholders in business to have closer and purposive interaction and the visitors got access to a wide spectrum of technological innovations. India is pacing to be a global player. Over two years it has seen sustained growth of more than nine percent. Indian companies are buying foreign ones, there are 202.74 million telephone subscribers and 162.53 million mobile customers (until February 2007) and 33 billion dollars have been generated from IT and IteS exports. All these factors destine year 2007 towards a new dawn. And Convergence India that focused on five broad segments - telecom, mobility, broadcast, cable and satellite, IT and information security; helped to quicken this process by bringing technologists, decision makers, telecom visionaries and equipment makers on the same platform. 

Broadcasting Bill to Rain in the Monsoon Session

Industry's Call for Self Regulation…Accepted!

The first formal content code for television channels has been drawn by the government. A part of the content code is likely to be embedded in the proposed Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill. The code will provide an allotted time band for TV viewing which says that only those films and programmes certified as 'U' will be allowed to be telecast during the day and prime time hours. Films with 'A' and 'U/A' censor certification and other progrmames for adult viewing will be allowed telecast from 11pm to 5am. 

All Calm on The Broadcasting Front

All the noise about CAS has died down now. There are no complaints from the subscribers. Infact complaints have increased from the DTH subscribers where the signals get switched off without notice and channels go missing. World cup fever is also down. So there is all calm on the broadcasting front. 

In 2003 when CAS was to be implemented I predicted not more than 25% subscribers would go for the set-top-boxes in the first three months. Also 25% would not opt for pay channels at all. That has come true now in the CAS zones. True viewership of the channels is coming to surface. Their allegations of underdeclaration by cable operators are turning false. Now everyone knows that they were overestimating their viewerships. Even the advertisers and the ad-agencies have understood this fact and are demanding for the ad rates to be brought down. 

All Calm on the Broadcasting Front

All the noise about CAS has died down now. There are no complaints from the subscribers. Infact complaints have increased from the DTH subscribers where the signals get switched off without notice and channels go missing. World cup fever is also down. So there is all calm on the broadcasting front. 

April 2007

Sunday, April 1, 2007 -- Prannoy Roy-controlled television broadcaster NDTV Group have concluded an overseas placement of about $100 million, aimed at its new entertainment channel, NDTV Imagine.