Modi’s US visit boosts up the New Media market

PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the US last month gave a fillip to the New Media industry in the country. He made many media and technology giants like Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Qualcom and Cisco promise to invest heavily in projects in the country. It is a good sign for the Nation that has been facing numerous economic and political problem in the past. Let us hope Modi can make his Ministers and bureaucrats follow it up to see results on the ground as early as possible.
[CQ Spreading Spiritualism Indian Spiritual & Religious Website | EN]

Last Mile Operator Pushed to the Wall

Time the Governments review the regulations rather than let the small stakeholders rush to the Courts.

TRAI Amends Tariff Orders, directed by the courts

Ever since the process of implementing digitization started, courts have been kept extremely busy. Almost every regulation and Tariff order framed by the Regulator has been challenged in different courts. TDSAT, the sector tribunal gets the maximum load. 

Sunil Arora the New I&B Secretary to don the Crown of Thorns

On 31 August 2015 Shri Sunil Arora, a 1980 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS officer, has assumed charge as Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB). Prior to this appointment, Arora was Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India.

Malwa Cable Operators (Punjab) seek CBI probe against Fastway

Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the CBI why the agency should not investigate a case of alleged harassment of small cable operators in Punjab's Malwa region, in a notice given on Agency on 23 September 2015. Notices have also been issued to state Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, Punjab Director General of Police, Punjab Home Secretary, MD of Fastway Transmission and others on a plea by the Malwa Cable Operators Asociation.

‘NXT DIGITAL’ HITS A Service to help the smallest LCO go Digital

Shri Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Finance, Corporate Affairs and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on 16 September 2015 launched the Headend-In-The -Sky (HITS) digital platform initiative, under the brand name NXT DIGITAL promoted by Hinduja Group in presence of Hinduja Ventures Chairman Ashok Hinduja and others.

Demystifying Set Top Box Manufacturing

Consumer Electronics Industry Body 'CEAMA' organized a seminar on Make in India with the theme  with the theme ‘Demystifying Set Top Box Manufacturing ‘ in co-operation with Deity & MIB, Govt. of India on 08 September at Hotel Crowne  Plaza, Electronic City, Bangaluru.

Last Mile Challenge Are we achieving our objective of Digital India

Universalizing Internet service is a foundational part of the Digital India initiative. Fewer than 20 percent Indians currently have access to the Internet, most of them on a very constrained and expensive mobile telephony mode. Government of India has initiated the ambitious National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project aimed at reaching fibre to every panchayat in India. However, there seems to be a conspicuous policy blind-spot regarding how connectivity will be carried from this NOFN backhaul to people's homes, local businesses, and local institutions like schools, hospitals and community centres. The current policy belief is that there is such immense demand for Internet connectivity that private players, whether state/ national level companies or local entrepreneurs, will quickly grasp the NOFN opportunity to build viable retail models. Facts on the ground however belie such hopes.

No Level Playing Field for Regional MSOs

A regional MSO highlights the problems faced by the small MSOs, trying to become DAS MSO.

The Ball goes back into TRAI’s Court

The Bombay High Court directs TRAI to intervene and resolve issues related to Interconnection Agreements between MSOs and LCOs in the DAS notified areas.

Infocomm India Grows from Strength to Strength

Record Visitor Attendance Cement InfoComm India’s Position as the Nation’s Premier Professional Audiovisual (Pro-AV) and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Tradeshow.

The stage is set for Indigenous STB Manufacturing

On the side lines of a Workshop organised by CEAMA on ‘Demystifying STB Manufacturing’ a Bangaluru on 08 September, ‘Cable Quest’ spoke to Ankan Biswas, Chairman, Digital Broadcast Council of CEAMA on the state of indigenous manufacturing of STBs. Here are some facts on the industry, state after four years of Digitisation.

The Biggest Wave Makers in the Broadcast Industry Descend on CASBAA Convention 2015

In a year of undeniable sea-change within the broadcast industry, the debate at this year’s CASBAA Convention at its new venue at Hong Kong’s Intercontinental Hotel promises to be hotter than ever. With the theme ‘Making Waves’, the convention has secured an impressive line up of speakers comprising of key industry players from all over the world. From global media giants such as AOL and Virgin Media to regional players such as China Media Capital, this year’s convention will waste no time in getting to the heart of the most pertinent issues facing the cable and satellite industry today.

THE BROADCAST INDIA SHOW 2015 15-17 October 2015, Mumbai Celebrating 25 glorious years of the Broadcast India Show

The Broadcast India Show 2015 organised by Saicom Trade Fairs & Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. Will have a special flavor this time as the show will celeberate its silver jubilee this time. The show will be held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon (E) in Mumbai, India from 15 – 17 October 2015.

Making Sense of OTT Revenue Security

Internet delivered video services present content providers and operators with promising new revenue opportunities, but implementation and maintenance of these services adds increased complexity and significant costs in the short-term. Security for these services also has to the growing range of consumer electronics and mobile devices that are the dominant ways of accessing media content. 

The Top Five Technologies for Improving Internet Connectivity in India

Stirred by advances in broadband and data streaming technology, consumer appetite for in-home entertainment and theIndian government’s ambitious plans to connect more than 250,000 remote panchayats (villages)to the Internet, a wide array of operators have jumped into the booming market for delivering video content to the home. 

Cloud Technology for TV Broadcasters

Broadcasting as an industry is at the cusp of change. The internet has transformed into a viable and highly desirable content distribution infrastructure. This, in turn is leading to tectonic shifts across the industry, enabling end-user distribution opportunities for broadcasters.

New Media Changing Everyday Life

With great pride, Cable Quest presents the ‘Broadcast and New Media’ special supplement, full of very relevant information for the industry. The way smart-phone and tablet numbers are increasing in India and youths are moving on to social media, New Media is gaining importance in our everyday life, like never before.

We assure better revenues to LMOs

Lukup Media operates India’s first on demand and multi-screen TV service based on IP. Set up in 2010, the company currently operates an OTT platform powered by the Lukup Player, a multi-screen home gateway that brings internet delivered content to Televisions and other consumer devices.  

Multiplatform Distribution of Content

Content distribution methods have evolved as the consumer demands changed and new technologies emerged.

The uncontrolled Social Media

One of the main reasons for Modi Government to come up in power was an effective use of social media, however the same has become the biggest hurdle for the government to manage and control the anti government use of social media by many people who are accusing the PM, Narendra Modi for too much twittering and too less action.

Carry Your Recorded Television Content With Tata Sky+ 'Transfer'

Allows customers to view their favourite content on their smartphones without any data usage

TDSAT Seminar At Nainital Held at ATI, Nainital, Uttarakhand on 22 August 2015 Broadcast Industry does not run on Principles and Good trade practices- Chairperson TDSAT

If  there is any organisation sincerely working for the success of digitalisation in the country, it is the industry Tribunal, TDSAT. The Tribunal is the only organisation creating maximum awareness among the stakeholders and consumers regarding implementation of Digitisation. 

TRAI Tariff orders to be revamped 27.5 percent inflation linked tariff hike set aside

All Tariff Orders of TRAI for television distribution services are in for a revision, thanks to the Supreme Court declining to stay the order of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) setting aside the amendments in two tariff orders, which had sought to put an inflation-linked hike of 27.5 per cent on addressable and non-addressable systems.

TRAI Releases Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations, 2015

Consumer is most confused regarding his billing of data usage by telecom and mobile operators. TRAI, the sector regulator has issued new regulations to keep a check on this.

No More Security Clearance for MSOs Provisional MSOs to get 10-year licences in due course

The Home Ministry has last month officially informed the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry that it will not insist on security clearance for multi system operators (MSOs) for digital addressable television for cable television.

A little known studio creates ‘Baahubali’ Grandeur

Makuta VFX, a studio from Hyderabad has taken the whole world of animation and VFX by storm, creating the biggest blockbuster in India. Cable Quest reached Hyderabad to bring this first hand information about the studio that has become world famous with the unprecedented success of ‘Baahubali’

TRAI Open House becomes a battleground for stakeholders

The Open House Discussion (OHD) on commercial tariffs held on 18 August at PHD Chambers of Commerce at Delhi, became a battleground between broadcasters and distribution platform, with broadcasters demanding more revenue from commercial establishment and distribution companies wanting no distinction between commercial and domestic subscribers.

RIO – A big hurdle in Digitisation

The published RIO rates are often used as a means to arm-twist the distribution platforms from going the RIO way and to dissuade the end consumer from being able to make a-la-carte choices as per his/her preferences.

'Mann Ki Baat ' On Digitisation

It is surprising that mandatory digitisation that touches 160 million TV households or 800 million people in the country has not come under PM's scrutiny.

Telangana sets December 31 deadline for cable TV to go digital

Cable TV industry in the south saw the latest technologies at display at the Cable Net Expovision 2015, held at the Hitex ground, Hyderabad, 12-14 August.

TRAI Gets a New Chief Ram Sewak Sharma takes charge

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) announced last month that Mr. R.S.Sharma has taken over as Chairman, w.e.f. 10th of August, 2015. Ram Sewak Sharma is a 1978-batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre.

Can Mind Control Machines

Not only control machines through mind, last month Scientists achieved the first remote human-to-human brain interface, when Rajesh Rao sent a brain signal over the Internet that moved the hand of colleague Andrea Stocco—even though Stocco was sitting all the way across the University of Washington's campus.

A Tough road ahead for Phase III

In the last two task force meetings held on 20th April and 27th May 2015 respectively in the I&B Ministry for implementing Phase-III of DAS stakeholders have been only projecting their problems and did not talk of the progress made. According to our reports, hardly 10% of the 47 million STBs have been seeded in the Phase III. Infact, the report says that one prominent national MSO has not ordered a single STB for Phase III. Less than six months are left to complete Phase-III that covers about 39 million Cable TV households in 630 districts encompassing 7709 urban areas. 

Consumer Interest overlooked by Channels PayTV channels fail to adhere to TRAI’s Ad Cap

In a recent report uploaded by TRAI on its website, it was found that nearly 140 Pay TV channels have gone against the Standards of Quality of Service Regulations by failing to stick to the advertisement code set out in the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994. According to the quarterly report received by TRAI from the broadcasters, nearly 101 general entertainment television channels and 39 news channels aired more than 12 minutes of advertisements (both commercial and self promotional) per hour between 23rd February and 1st March this year. Out of these, six news channels aired more than 20 minutes of ads per hour during its prime time starting from 7pm to 10 pm. However, the figures mentioned here constitutes only a part of the industry, while most of the channels have failed to submit their report.

Best Deal TV revolutionizes home shopping in India

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and entrepreneur Raj Kundra have partnered to launch Best Deal TV, a celebrity-driven 24/7 Home shopping Channel. Best Deal TV is the first celebrity-driven TV Commerce channel in India and has inked endorsement deals with major A-list celebrities and top TV stars in the country. 

Broadcast Asia 2015

Asia's leading infocomm technology and broadcasting industry to announce major launches and partnerships event maintains its position as platform of choice for SINGAPORE, 5 June 2015 – Over the past four days, Marina Bay Sands has been abuzz with activity as CommunicAsia2015, EnterpriseIT2015 and BroadcastAsia2015 brought the movers and shakers of the infocomm technology (ICT) and broadcasting industry together under one roof.

CONSUMER ISSUES IN BROADCASTING AND REDRESSAL OF GRIEVANCES

Even after three years of digitization, Consumer is still not in a deciding position and no market forces exist in India in broadcasting sector in the Digital domain. It is because monopolies of a few big players are still rampant. TRAI has made regulations to curb monopolies but its recommendations are not in force. TRAI must exercise its power to regulate ‘Pay’ channels in every way clearly differentiating between ‘Pay’ channels and FTA channels including their tariff, ad duration and distribution.

Digital Transformation is not an IT Project but a Business Imperative, Say Experts at Frost & Sullivan’s Digital Enterprise Transformation Summit 2015

Ubiquity in High-speed Broadband, Business Models, Regulations, and Technology Adoption Need to go Hand-in-Hand to take Indian Enterprises to the Next Level in Digital Transformation

TIMES NOW EXPOSES #LALIT GATE

After one of the leading English News Channel, Times Now gave a consistent and continuous hysterical coverage to #LalitGate, it not only divided the media and experts, but has also created a huge uproar in the Indian Political scenario. 

NOFN changes its track

The Digital Era has opened up exciting possibilities for India.  Recently, on the verge of giving a boost to the Government’s ‘Digital India’ drive,  seven states have proposed to come up with their own model to roll out broadband network proposed under Rs. 72,000 crore BharatNet prorgamme. The states have expressed their will to come up with state or SPV (special purpose vehicle) run model.  States like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal will supposedly develop their own model to roll out the broadband network as these states and some more have expressed discontent over the work of central public sector companies involved in National Optical Fibre Network.

Reliance Jio : All set to debut by the year end

After 5 years of its entry in the telecom sector, billionaire Mukesh Ambani is now all set to launch high-speed broadband services by Reliance Jio Infocomm in December 2015. Addressing at the company’s 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM), Reliance Jio’s chairman, Mukesh Ambani, unveiled what the company has in its kitty for its 4G LTE services. Although there had been a lot of speculations around Reliance 4G services, the official announcement came out for the first time during the AGM. The offerings will include instant messaging, HD Live TV, movies on demand, news, streaming music, digital commerce, cloud storage and a digital payments platform. 

Femtocell

In telecommunications, femtocell is a small, low-power cellular base station, typically designed for use in a home or small business. Femto cell is very light and compact. It connects through  DSL or coaxial cable. It is set up in residential areas. Due to its light and compact size it has a powerful control over the mobile networks.

Satellite Industry Forum 2015

On June 1, more than 150 industry speakers and delegates gathered at Grand Hyatt Singapore for the Satellite Industry Forum 2015. This year’s CASBAA event included a number of keynotes and panels exploring the question, “Is the satellite game changing?” 

Consumer Interest overlooked by Channels PayTV channels fail to adhere to TRAI’s Ad Cap

In a recent report uploaded by TRAI on its website, it was found that nearly 140 Pay TV channels have gone against the Standards of Quality of Service Regulations by failing to stick to the advertisement code set out in the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994. According to the quarterly report received by TRAI from the broadcasters, nearly 101 general entertainment television channels and 39 news channels aired more than 12 minutes of advertisements (both commercial and self promotional) per hour between 23rd February and 1st March this year. Out of these, six news channels aired more than 20 minutes of ads per hour during its prime time starting from 7pm to 10 pm. However, the figures mentioned here constitutes only a part of the industry, while most of the channels have failed to submit their report.

A Tough road ahead for Phase III

In the last two task force meetings held on 20th April and 27th May 2015 respectively in the I&B Ministry for implementing Phase-III of DAS stakeholders have been only projecting their problems and did not talk of the progress made. According to our reports, hardly 10% of the 47 million STBs have been seeded in the Phase III. Infact, the report says that one prominent national MSO has not ordered a single STB for Phase III. Less than six months are left to complete Phase-III that covers about 39 million Cable TV households in 630 districts encompassing 7709 urban areas. 

Challenges and opportunities in Digital Ecosystem

IREVO founder  Dhimant expresses his views on the new Digital ecosystem developing  for content delivery

Technology Sourcing & Market Reach is a Bottleneck

Vineet Wadhwa, CEO Logic Eastern tells Cable Quest about the state of Indigenous Manufacturing of Digital STBs and answers other questions on CAS, SMS & Billing Middleware.

ALCOA approach TRAI and Delhi Government with their Grievances.

All Local Cable Operators Association (ALCOA), a Delhi based LCO association, headed by its Chairman Vijay Pal Singh and President Ram Kishan Tomar is actively pursuing the cause of the LCOs these days, submitting memorandums to the TRAI, I&B Ministry as well as Delhi Government to apprise the authorities about the anomalies in implementation of Digital Addressable System in the Capital. 

Cable Operators to make 'Digital India'

Dream project Digital India is an e-governing initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s to integrate government departments and people of India. It aims at providing government services to citizens of India electronically by reducing paperwork. Digital India has three core components which include the creation of Digital infrastructure, Delivering services digitally and Digital literacy. This project is an Umbrella Programme–covering many departments.

A Biased Media unfair to LCOs

It is shocking to see how biased and insensitive our television media can be. A suicide by a small cable operators has not even received a mention or discussed and debated by our over ambitious broadcasters who go out of the way to hype or downplay an event depending on what benefits they accrue from it. If it increases TRPs or they get good money for it, it is hyped to no extent meaninglessly, even if it is against the ethical norms. On the other hand, if it hurts their own business or harms the interest of the owners, it will just not be taken up. 

TRAI Economics go wrong TDSAT sets aside Tariff Hike of 27.5 %

Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on 28 April, set aside the TRAI 27.5 per cent inflation-linked tariff hike for non-addressable systems and asked broadcasters to maintain a separate account for the additional subscription amount that they have collected from distribution platforms as a result of the tariff hike. 

02-05 June 2015 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Asia's pioneering ICT, broadcasting and digital multimedia industry event to feature new NXT Connected Lifestyle and TV Everywhere Zones.

Net Neutrality in India

On 27 March 2015, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a formal consultation paper on Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) services, seeking feedback from the public. By 14 April 2015, over 300,000 emails had been sent to TRAI demanding net neutrality.

Net neutrality is the principle that all Internet traffic should be treated equally. Internet service providers (ISPs) and governments should treat all data on the Internet equally, and the Internet user should not be discriminated or charged differentially for using content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or mode of communication. 

Impotent and Insensitive Media

On 22 April a farmer Gajender Singh committed suicide hanging himself from a tree when Aam Aadmi Party Rally against Land Bill was going on at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal was addressing the farmers. Gajender Singh died in the hospital the same day and all political parties created a hue and cry, blaming each other. The television media took it as an issue worth investigating, trying to find out if the whole incident was just a one act play organized by AAP that went wrong. No one bothered to report why, inspite of tall claims of governments in implementing schemes for the poor to uplift them economically; the poor of the country are forced to take such steps. 

Time for Cable MSOs to take a controlled Migration path to IP

Even as the digitization is happening gradually, India is witnessing the growth of several OTT platforms offering music, movies, catch up TV and also Live TV. Simply put, emergence of Cable-like businesses on the “cloud”. Will this lead to cord-cutting? Seems no for now, as studies show that online content viewing is only an additive, rather than a substitute. However, it will be a lost opportunity if Cable MSOs cannot take a share of this, despite being in the best of positions in terms of having subscribers, in-house content and broadcaster relationships as opposed to new OTT service startups. For these reasons, a multi-screen approach is almost a must-have and the best part is it can be a phased approach.

Linear Broadcast will lose to Personalised TV Services

This year our focus in the Supplement on Digitisation has been ‘Using Cable TV for Broadband Services’. Government is preparing to end the Phase III by this year end and within the next two years, the whole country will become digital. This is another issue that the I&B Ministry is more concerned to promote the ‘Pay’ Broadcasters without giving any consideration to the last mile infrastructure  that carries this content. 

Broadband and other VAS on CATV Networks in Das Environment

DAS Implementation Scenario 2015

Cable TV Networks Regulation Act 1995 Amendment 2011 and its Rules 2012 implied, in letter and spirit, the following :-

A hectic month for the Media

First month of the year witnessed very heavy activity all throughout. Assembly elections in the capital kept the television media extremely busy as there was a fierce fight between the BJP lead by PM Modi and AAM Admi Party lead by Arvind Kejriwal. With Kiran Bedi joining the BJP and being projected as the CM candidate, news television saw very interesting live episodes of Indian politicking.

Jaitley's heart bleeds for Poor Broadcasters

The Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Arun Jaitley has said that in the last two decades, the conventional contours of the issues pertaining to Freedom and Responsibility of Media had changed due to changes in the nature and content of media and the definition of news. News in the electronic media today was being defined by what the camera could capture. In the current paradigm, technology had become a driving force for these changes. The impact of technology was profound as information dissemination was taking place 24x7 across different technological tools and media platforms including the digital space. Shri Jaitley stated this while delivering the delivering the first Justice J. S. Verma Memorial lecture on the ‘Freedom & Responsibility of Media’ organized by the News Broadcasters Association in New Delhi on 18 January. 

NOFN- A Hype or Reality?

On 12 January Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Monday commissioned India's first hi-speed rural broadband network in Kerala's Idukki district. 

Applicable Gross Revenue introduced for Licence Fee Calculation

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued on 6 January 2015 its Recommendations on "Definition of Revenue Base (AGR) for the Reckoning of License Fee (LF) and Spectrum Usage Charges". These recommendations will also affect the DTH operators who pay a licence fee every year, based on the AGR. A new AGR base has also been defined by TRAI called Applicable Gross Revenue. 

Consumer Tariffs hiked by TRAI

After some broadcasters had challenged TRAI’s Tariff Order of 2004 for non-addressable Cable TV subscribers in 2007 and the matter reached Supreme Court, the Court directed TRAI to consider the issue of Non-Addressable Cable TV Tariff  ‘de novo’ as regards all aspects and give a report to the Hon’ble Supreme Court. 

Technologies showcased at Convergence India 2015

Cloud Visions Networks Exhibited JetCas, A CAS Solution 

Making a New Beginning

Indo-US Relations got a fillip with US President, Barack Obama’s visit to India as a guest at the Republic Day Parade

Use of DTH by Government for Education Agencies

Delivery of educational content by DTH has the potential to revolutionise educational delivery across the length and breadth of the country.

CABSAT 2015 to drive regional content and entertainment industry growth

With the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) media market expected to grow from US$16 billion in 2014 to US$24 billion in 2019 according to Strategy & Analysis of CABSAT will examine the global impact of industry-evolving mega trends and highlight how regional companies can adopt products and strategies to drive monetisation and growth opportunities.