The Changing Face of Television in the Indian Home

Television has been a major source of entertainment for Indian households since the technology first became available: From the early days of black-and-white ‘community’ TV sets to high definition screens at home today. In this respect, India’s national interest in television mirrors many other regions of the world, where subscribers turn to broadcasts for entertainment, news and drama, from cricket games to evening news and Bollywood to daily soap operas. 

Ad cap issue becomes a hornet's nest

After the IBF announcement of its decision that all its members would shift to 10+2 ad cap as stipulated by TRAI in its quality of service regulations for addressable systems the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) has sent a formal notice to the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) on the ad cap issue. A notice sent by ISA Chairman Hemant Bakshi states: “Members of ISA have brought to the notice of ISA that they have received letters from some members of IBF about their proposal to impose an ad cap self-regulation and, thereby, ration inventory available to the members of ISA on the channels of these IBF members.”

The notice further states that the ISA has taken a very serious view of this issue, “which is wholly uncalled for and is brought up by some IBF members with ulterior motives to make undue gains”.

DAS Regulations need a Relook

TRAI issued a path-breaking consultation recently to regulate the channel aggregators and distribution agents. A mere perusal of comments given by the Pay Channel Broadcaster / Aggregators  tells us that to continue misusing their dominant position in the market they continue to harp on the problems of analogue cable era. They have made frivolous accusations to a point where they are themselves making contradictory comments, accusing their own people. Definitely this speaks of the topsy turvy regulations that have brought the industry to a stand still. Result is that more and more cases are being filed in the courts and everything is being stayed. Cable TV is a service that depends solely on content that the distribution networks transmit, irrespective of the technology used. There are analogue cable, digital QAM cable, IP, HITS, DTH, mobile TV and streaming video to deliver TV channels. No operator wants to invest unless he is assured of content that would give him revenue and make his business model viable.

Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies

On 11 September Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its recommendations of Guideline for Television Rating Agencies.

On the request of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting TRAI gave its  recommendation on issue related to guidelines/accreditation mechanism for accreditation of TRP rating agencies in India. Ministry's request also stated that in case the accreditation mechanism fails to address the maladies of the current system then there would be a need for entrusting the accreditation mechanism to TRAI under section 11(1) (d).

Small Businesses must be protected

When in 1994, the Ministry of Industries declared Cable TV Operation as a Small Scale Service and Business Enterprise (SSS&BE) no one knew that this will remain on papers only. However, thousands of cable operators who joined the mushrooming industry were hopeful of a bright future. Little did they know that the Big Brothers in the form of MSOs had arrived to usurp their lucrative business. The first shock to them was when they went to register as small scale business in the state departments numerous hurdles were waiting for them like getting clearances from various departments.

Pay channels, entertainment tax, service tax problems made their life more miserable and the Cable TV Act instead of putting ointment on their wounds sprinkled salt over them. MSOs made sure that every type of hurdle was put in their way till they came to them for help.

Harris Broadcast Builds New Playout Center for Leading Asian Sports Broadcaster

EN Sports High Definition Facility on air since September

DENVER, Oct. 9, 2013 (Broadcast India, Stand A101) — Harris Broadcast, a global supplier of content management and network infrastructure serving broadcasters, satellite, MSOs, IPTV, mobile TV and OTT providers, today announced it has completed the build out of a major broadcast production facility for TEN Sports, the leading sports channel in Asia. The new production playout center and studio went on air in mid-September 2013.

October 2013

01/10/13 --
Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT), welcomed government’s decision to extend the deadline of “Requirement for Compulsory Registration Order 2012” by three months. The new deadline for the mandatory BIS certification is January 3, 2014.