TRAI No More FDI In Cable

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper on 3rd March 08 for reviewing the foreign-direct-investment (FDI) limits imposed on all sectors of the broadcasting industry, a move that could result in major liberalization of foreign-ownership regulations.

TRAI has asked for suggestions from the industry which include raising FDI limits to 74% for Headend in the Sky (HITS) and DTH operators, up from just 20% in the case of the latter, but keeping the limit for cable TV operators at 49%. Cable TV operators say they are unhappy that the TRAI has recommended that they be granted a substantially lower FDI limit that their DTH rivals, which they say will significantly limit their appeal to foreign investors.

-Restructuring of Cable TV Services -

There has been a rapid development in the Indian Cable TV industry in the past two decades which is largely due to entrepreneurial skills of the cable operators. The cable TV transmission in the country is predominantly analogue and limited to provisioning of TV Channels only.

Due to technological developments there is a fierce competition to the existing conventional Cable TV operators from operators who use advance distribution technologies like DTH, HITS, IPTV etc. With spread of convergence it is also possible to provide telecom services like broadband and Internet telephony through cable TV networks.

Restructuring of Cable TV Services

There has been a rapid development in the Indian Cable TV industry in the past two decades which is largely due to entrepreneurial skills of the cable operators. The cable TV transmission in the country is predominantly analogue and limited to provisioning of TV Channels only.

Due to technological developments there is a fierce competition to the existing conventional Cable TV operators from operators who use advance distribution technologies like DTH, HITS, IPTV etc. With spread of convergence it is also possible to provide telecom services like broadband and Internet telephony through cable TV networks.

April 2008

Wednesday, April 02, 2008 -- UTV software communication unveiled its English business news channel, UTVi. The company entered into a content tie-up with Disney-ABC international television for news programming.

Industry in an Accelerated Mood

Month of March always keeps us busy. Companies care less on productivity and more on investments. It is a time of stock taking and planning for the future, both financial as well as production. May be, This is the reason that we have the major industry events held in this month. The month started with the CABSAT at Dubai followed by Convergence India in Delhi and CCBN at Beijing. CABSAT focuses on the television studios and production whereas Convergence India focuses on the telecom services and CCBN on Cable and Satellite. All of them have become “Must attend” shows for the serious professionals in the industry because we find the launch of new technologies and methodology to adopt them for our future expansion / upgradation in these shows. 

This time CABSAT showcased High Definition Television and it was IPTV and Mobile TV at the Convergence with digitalization techniques at CCBN. Overall the experience was great. Every year the number of Indian professionals visiting these shows increases indicating infusion of new energy in the industry, a healthy trend. 

There was another show FICCI Frames 2008 at Mumbai held at the fag end of the month which focused on film and television content and had best of the crowd attending it. 

So the ball has been set rolling for the new technologies in these shows. Keeping up with all this and continuing their fervor to organize the industry soonest, TRAI is also not leaving any stone unturned. They have already floated three consultation papers-for other Entities to enter Broadcasting, Revision of FDI limits in the industry and for Restructuring of Cable TV Industry. All of them are very important for us and maximum comments should be sent by us to help TRAI take every one’s view to frame practical and reasonable regulations. Also, there is an effort being made by the I&B Ministry for rationalizing of the stake holders last month. Ministry has also started discussion on rationalizing entertainment tax levied, by the states and providing ‘Right of Way’ to the operators. Both these issues are very important and committees have been formed to discuss the same. 

DTH battle is getting hotter with entry of Reliance. HITS may start rolling soon. BIS has already started the process of taking new technologies like MPEG- 4 in their STB standards. Digital cable is making calculated advances in the industry. 

Overall, it is an excellent start to the new financial year and we wish everyone the best. 

—— Lt. Col. (Retd.) K K Sharma

Editor

Source: http://cablequest.org/articles/editorials/item/1817-industry-in-an-accelerated-mood.html

Source: http://cablequest.org/articles/editorials/item/1817-industry-in-an-accelerated-mood.html