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Headlines ( Oct
11 2007 )
> UN ships disrupt Israeli satellite TV
>
From Dec, your cable TV man
can no longer charge arbitrary rates
> DishTV targets 8 mn users; to invest Rs 1100 cr
> Reliance Bluemagic to launch its DTH
services soon
> CNN-IBN
launches 'All about the Money'
>
Palador's world film library to be available on Tata Sky
>
Channels to cost more
UN ships disrupt Israeli satellite TV
AFP - Oct 11
2007
JERUSALEM (AFP) —
Signal disruptions that have plagued Israeli satellite television channels
for over a month are believed to be caused by UN ships patrolling off the
coast of Lebanon, officials said on Wednesday.
Clients of Yes,
Israel's sole satellite television provider, have had to put up with
frozen and fuzzy images and sound disturbances for weeks, with the company
unable to pin down the source of the problem.
The company, which
provides services to nearly one million clients, warned that it risked
bankruptcy because customers were abandoning it in droves, so the
government stepped in to look for the cause.
Israel now suspects
that the source of the disturbances, which began following an Israeli air
strike in Syria on September 6, originate from Dutch and German ships of
the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.
"Officials believe
that part of the systems used by UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon)
could be the cause for the Yes satellite signal disturbances," foreign
ministry spokesman Mark Regev told AFP.
"The foreign ministry
has approached people in charge of the international peacekeeping mission
in New York and communications specialists will work on the issue," he
added.
Following last year's
war between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, a boosted 12,000-member UN
peacekeeping force -- including navy boats -- patrols the border area
along with Lebanese soldiers under the terms of the UN-brokered truce that
ended the conflict.
From Dec, your cable TV man can no longer charge
arbitrary rates
Oct 10, 2007 - Indian
Express
Cable TV subscribers in non-CAS areas will now have to pay according to
the number of TV channels offered by their operators. The Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today issued a new tariff order under
which a ceiling ranging between Rs 77 and Rs 260 per month has been fixed.
The new tariff order will be implemented from December 1. For the purpose
of calculating tariff, TRAI has divided the country into three categories
- “A” class cities, “B” class cities and an “other” category.
In category “A” cities,
various ceilings ranging between Rs 77 per month (in case of only free to
air channels) and Rs 260 per month (free to air plus more than 45 pay
channels) have been prescribed. “It needs to be remembered that these are
the maximum rates, excluding taxes, beyond which the cable operators
cannot charge from the consumers. These ceilings on the monthly cable
charges compare very well with those of CAS areas and DTH services,” said
TRAI chairman Nripendra Misra. The tariff order says, “broadcasters must
provide all their channels on a la carte basis and declare a la carte
rates to multi-system operators and cable operators. Bouquets of channels
can also be offered. But to prevent perverse pricing of bouquets and to
make the a la carte choice effective, the sum of a la carte rates cannot
exceed 1.5 times the bouquet rate. And the a la carte rate of each channel
cannot be more than three times the average rate of the pay channel in the
bouquet.”
The regulator feels that
this would allow cable operators to choose channels in tune with the
liking of their subscribers and consequently, reduce the burden of cable
charges on subscribers. In the absence of proper regulation, different
cable TV subscribers in the same area now pay different tariff.
Sun Direct foray kicks
off a storm in Tamil Nadu
A ‘dashing’ entry into the market, tremendous initial response from
consumers, emotional outbursts by cable operators, and now a lawsuit-it
would not be an exaggeration if one described Sun TV Group’s foray into
the direct-to-home (DTH) business as dramatic. Sun Direct’s entry was
announced two years ago, but it could be rolled out only after the
successful launch of Insat-4CR early this month. The company had booked 6
Ku band transponders in the satellite. Though the launch was anticipated,
its foray on September 21 was a bolt from the blue for cable operators in
the state. Priced at an attractive rate of Rs 75 a month for 75
free-to-air television channels and 15 radio channels in digital form, the
package comes with a free dish and set-top box. Consumers who book before
October 31, get two months’ subscription free.
Sun Direct was launched throughout Tamil Nadu and consumers were asked to
pay Rs 100 to book the service, with a ‘window period’ of six months for
the equipment to be installed. The service attracted wide public interest
and the switchboard of the Sun Direct office was clogged with enquiries
from the public as well as dealers. This sent a chill down the spines of
cable operators because Sun Direct’s foray into the market was expected to
shatter cable TV business in the state. Cable operators took to the
streets. Delegates met chief minister M Karunanidhi requesting him to act
in the interests of cable operators and save their livelihood.
Finally, The Tamil Nadu Cable TV Operators Association filed a lawsuit
against Sun Direct on September 28, claiming that the company was putting
up a fake show to squander public money. Kayal RS Ilavarasu, one of the
delegates of the association, alleged, ‘’None of the distributors have any
equipment to show to the public. Sun Direct is planning to cheat people
with a false claim. Let them come out in public and display their
equipment.’’ Sun Direct authorities were not accessible for response to
these allegations. Obviously, cable TV operators are not philanthropists
fighting for public good. The state cabinet passed a resolution in August
to start the Arasu Cable TV Corporation, apparently to check subscription
rates.
Allegations and protests apart, the commercial viability of Sun’s business
model has also been questioned by some quarters. The company’s key
competitor, Tata Sky, says as the fourth player in the market (after Dish
TV, DD Direct and Tata Sky), Sun would have been forced to enter with an
‘’early-bird offer’’. However, it has to answer questions regarding the
business viability of its model, it adds. While Tata Sky charges about Rs
3,000 for a set-top box and Rs 1,000 for installation, activation and
warranty, Sun gives it for free (for customers booking before October 31).
Vikram Kaushik, managing director and chief executive officer, Tata Sky,
says, ‘’DTH players will also have to share up to 10 per cent of their
revenue with the government and pay taxes. Sun will have to endure the
risk of customers not paying subscription.’
Reliance Bluemagic to launch its DTH services soon
Monday - Oct 08, 2007
Vipin Bajaj - Televisionpoint.com | Mumbai
The DTH space is getting
hotter and heavier and it was only very recently that Marans' Sun Network
offered its DTH services - Sun Direct. Now, industry sources claim Anil
Dhirubhai Ambani Group's (ADAG) Reliance Bluemagic too will launch its DTH
services very soon.
What's more, it's looking for a tie-up with the recently launched
Kalaignar TV, a channel owned by DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister M
Karunanidhi's family, to compete with Marans' Sun Network.
Reliance ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani is believed to have spoken to the top
officials of Kalignar TV seeking the channel's blessings to ensure the
success of his new venture.
"He spoke to them a few days back. During the telecon, he said Reliance
would softlaunch its DTH services between November and December 2007.
Initially, Reliance will offer its services to a select few customers,"
sources close to Kalaignar TV said.
The prospect of a tieup between Reliance and Kalaignar TV generates a
great amount of curiosity since industry experts see it as an attempt to
take the battle to the DTH space. Kalaignar TV which has ensured an
impressive opening with an excellent TRP rating is already being seen as a
potential threat to Sun TV's established market leadership.
Determination on the Kalaignar's part to fight it out with Marans got
manifested further when the DMK government recently announced, it'd set up
its own cable distribution network to neutralise the monopoly of Marans'
Sumangali Cable Vision. It's believed Reliance in tieup with Kalaignar TV
will price its services well below that of Sun Direct which plans to offer
75 channels for Rs 75.
In fact, Reliance Bluemagic would be the fifth player to offer DTH
services in the country followed by DD Direct, TataSky, Subhash Chandra
owned Dish TV and the recently announced Sun Direct.
Interestingly, Sunil Mittal-promoted Bharti subsidiary, Bharti Telemedia
also holds an LoI from the I&B ministry for its yet-to-be-launched DTH
services. Raj TV is yet another aspirant from Tamil Nadu which is trying
to get into the DTH market this year.
Marans' Sun Direct presently in the process of collecting subscription is
yet to beam its DTH services. Sources said Reliance timing its DTH
soft-launch and tying up with Kalaignar TV can negatively impact Sun
Direct.
"Reliance Bluemagic has already received its transponder space and would
be officially launched by February 2008," sources said, but declined to
disclose any further details.
DishTV targets 8 mn users; to invest Rs 1100 cr
Oct 10 2007 - The Economic
Times
NEW DELHI:
Betting big on its new campaign with Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan along
with its new offerings, Essel Group promoted DishTV is expecting over
three-fold increase in its subscriber base to 8 million by 2011.
The DTH player has also earmarked Rs 1,100 crore in the next two years
for expansion.
"We will invest Rs 1,100 crore in the next two years for expansion which
includes introducing new services, advertising among other things,"
DishTV CEO Arun Kapoor told media.
The company, which currently has a subscriber base of 2.3 million, is
targeting 8 million users by 2011, he said.
DishTV, which has roped in Shahrukh Khan as its brand ambassador, would
seek to make people aware about the DTH technology and its benefits
through the new advertising campaign.
It is aggressively targeting people all across the country through
print, electronic media, outdoors and other media of advertising to
strengthen the company's brand and maintain its dominant position in
this industry.
Apart from DishTV, two other operational DTH players include Prasar
Bharati owned DD Direct (2 million users) and private player Tata Sky (1
million users).
However, the DTH market is expected to witness a lot of competition in
the near future with Bharti, Reliance, Sun TV and Videocon slated to
enter the field.
Commenting on the upcoming competition in the DTH sector, Kapoor said,
"we welcome competition as this will open up the DTH market".
Channels to cost more
Ashish Sinha /
New Delhi October 09, 2007
After over 10 months of its implementation, the government is set to
review the cap of Rs 5 per pay channel in parts of Delhi, Mumbai and
Kolkata where conditional access system (CAS) is currently enforced.
The move might lead subscribers to pay a higher monthly cable bill if they
subscribe to sports or other premium channels.
Under the proposed formula, currently being worked out by the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the five-rupee pay channel cap may
get replaced with the genre-based differential pricing.
CAS was enforced in parts of the three metros from January 1 this year.
But due to the cap of Rs 5 per pay channel, it came under severe criticism
from the broadcasters. CAS allows consumers to watch cable via a set-top
box while paying only for the content subscribed.
According to the genre-based differential pricing formula, the price of
sports channels, that are most expensive to produce due to high input
costs, may become three-four times the base price of channels on genres
like music or a news where the input cost is much less. The entertainment
channels could be priced at twice the base price, sources said.
Currently, the base price (Rs 5) is also the maximum retail price for pay
channels in CAS areas. The biggest impact of price revision will be on the
forthcoming 55-city roll out of CAS, as proposed by Trai, and also the
extension of CAS in rest of the three metros.
An industry official said: �If we assume that the base price of pay
channels remains Rs 5, then a sports channel may be priced at say Rs
15-20, while an entertainment channel like Star Plus or Zee TV may be
priced at Rs 10. But the big question is if the consumers did not take
these pay channel when they were priced at Rs 5, why will they take it at
a higher price.�
But according to a Trai source, the regulator has firmed up its mind on
the review. The base price, which is currently Rs 5 per pay channel, may
also move upwards, the source said.
According to the current directive, the cable operators can not charge
more than Rs 5 per pay channel, of which 35 per cent goes to the
broadcasters, 20 per cent to the multi system operators (MSOs) and 15 per
cent to the local cable operator.
Additionally, cable operators have to provide free-to-air channels at Rs
77 per subscriber. �The free channels will continue to come at Rs 77
while the prices of pay channels may move up,� the source said.
But broadcasters like Star India and MSOs are sceptical of an upward
revision.
A senior Star TV executive said: �Of course, we will be happy if the
prices for pay channels in CAS areas go up. But considering Trai�s non-CAS
tariff order where the price per pay channels actually have come down to
Rs 4.10 per pay channel, we do not know how an upward revision is
possible.�
Trai recently came out with a new tariff order for non-CAS areas where the
consumers will get 20 pay channels and 30 free channels at Rs 160 per
month in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
CNN-IBN launches 'All about the Money'
Indiantelevision.com Team
(11 October 2007 5:00 pm)
MUMBAI: CNN-IBN has launched a weekend show All about the Money. The
half-hour show will provide guidance on issues relating to savings and
investments.
Each episode will be divided into a number of segments like 'personal
finance', 'realty check', 'consumer watch', 'indulge', 'class room
explainers' and 'business unusual'.
The segment 'personal finance' will provide guidance on insurance and
mutual funds to banking and tax law and 'realty check' will provide map of
realty prices and broker tips on investments.
'Consumer watch' highlights the after-sale services of companies and
facilitates in addressing consumer woes. 'Indulge' reviews the latest
consumer launch of the week. While 'class room explainers' answers basic
questions related to personal wealth management, 'business unusual'
explores money-making business ideas.
CNN-IBN and IBN 7 editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, "All about the
Money is our endeavour in helping the discerning viewer on how best to
invest his disposable income in order to receive maximum returns. The main
aim of the show is to provide methods of financial enhancement that are
simple and comprehensible."
CNN-IBN and IBN 7 national sales head Sanjay Dua said, "All about the
Money is the sort of show that would be of interest to everyone - whether
a working professional, housewife or even someone who has just started
earning. I am confident our advertising associates will find this property
most lucrative in providing their brands excellent visibility."
Palador's world film library to be available on Tata Sky
By Indiantelevision.com Team
(11 October 2007 6:20 pm)
MUMBAI: Palador Pictures has announced a tie up with Tata Sky under which
they can show nearly 1000 World Cinema titles on the direct-to-home (DTH)
service provider's pay-per-view service Showtime.
Starting 12 October, Tata Sky has lined up eight movies from Palador's
library for the coming five weeks which subscribers can order once and
watch it multiple times till midnight.
Some of these films are Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Throne of
Blood, Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man and Coffee and Cigarettes, Wong-Kar Wai's
In The Mood For Love. Titles also include American, European and Asian
films.
Every week, Tata Sky will replace the films with a new set from the
Palador library.
Palador Pictures founder and MD Gautam Sikhnis said, "We have worked hard
to create a collection of the best-of-the-best movies from across the
world and are currently nurturing around 1000 titles in our ever-growing
library. And now, the task of taking them to the discerning Indian viewers
is made easy with Tata Sky satellite television service. We promise a
future of the best of World Cinema to every Tata Sky subscriber."
According to an official statement, Palador Pictures invested over $4
million (Rs 160 million) to acquire legal rights to nearly 1,000 English
and foreign language film titles in the World Cinema category.
Tata Sky Ltd CEO and MD Vikram Kaushik said, "Our tie-up with Palador
enables us to introduce our subscribers to classics in the World Cinema
category made by legendary film makers. These films will be available in
DVD quality picture and will have only one ad-break thereby enhancing the
viewing experience for our subscribers."
The Palador catalogue also boasts of classics directed by the masters of
yesteryears and the current crop of mavericks: Charlie Chaplin, Buster
Keaton, Akira Kurosawa, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Jean-Luc Godard, Francois
Truffaut, Abbas Kiarostami, David Lynch and many more.
Earlier, Palador had UTV announced their divorce for a world cinema movie
channel project.
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