Digitalization requires a new Direction

last month I mentioned about the DTH operators feeling insecure and now it is being talked about in the open by many. Even TAM has come out with the findings that analog cable subscribers prefer shifting to Digital cable rather than DTH inspite of it being touted as a better service. In my point of view, it will remain a service for the rich and elite and people staying in cable dry areas and operators should focus on that leaving cable service for masses..

March 2013

2/3/13 -- The Bombay High Court came down on the State Government for not recovering dues of Rs 77.9 million from cricket's richest body, the Board for Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Digitalisation going nowhere Budget Dampens Mood

Second Phase of digitalization will end on 31 March 2013 but state of seeding of STBs is dismal. Most of the 38 cities of this Phase have hardly reached 30% of seeding. How much can be achieved in the next one month is anyone's guess.

However, I &B Ministry is all upbeat in announcing its achievement and plans to close down second phase successfully by due date, like it did with the first phase. Reality is that scarcity of STBs has further increased in the second phase as even the big MSOs do not have the cash. Industry has not attracted any FDI so far which was expected before Digitalisation started.

Digitalisation Losing Lustre

A recent review by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has shown that more than 55% digitisation target has been achieved in 38 cities, set for digitisation by March 31st 2013.

This was expected because the same way Ministry had announced the success of Phase-I, just a month before its deadline. However Ground reality is very different. Everyone in the industry knows that even the Phase-I cities have not completed digitalization the way it was targeted. There is no addressability, the very reason DAS law was framed. No choice has yet been given to the consumers and no taxes have gone into the Government coffers.

Connected TV is the future of Digital Cable

Internet Connected TV or TV with  Web2.0  features is a technology that uses cable as well as Cat 5 cable (Ethernet connection) to connect with the set-top-box. For Example a Smart TV device is either a television set with integrated Internet cap abilities or a set-top box for television that offers more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary basic television set. Smart TVs may be thought of as an information appliance or handheld computer integrated within a television set unit, as such smart TV often allows the user to install and run more advanced applications or plugins/addons based on a specific platform. Smart TVs run complete operating system or mobile operating system software providing a platform for application developer.

February 2013

1/2/13 -- Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) went digital. Four of the prime MSOs (multi-system operators) in KMA -- Siticable, Manthan, Kolkata Cable & Broadband Parisheba Ltd (KCBPL) and DEN all hit the airwaves with channels in the digitalised mode.

Insecurity increases amongst LCOs

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is confident of meeting the 31st March 2013 deadline of digitization in 38 cities across the country. The second phase of digitization covers the one million plus cities across the country. The four metros – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai were part of the first phase of digitization which was declared successful on 31 October 2012. I&B Secretary Uday Kumar Varma has already been announcing that second phase will be completed in time and is progressing very smoothly.