Ditto TV bring new payment model

To make overall customers experience good, Ditto TV on 26th February has partnered with mobile payment provider Fortumo to bring new payment model for their users.    

ALi Broadcast to Broadband Gateway Chipset Integrates iWedia SAT/TER>IP Server Software

ALi Corporation, a leading Set-Top Box (STB) solution provider, announced on 27 February that iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for TV devices, is providing its latest SAT/TER>IP server software on ALi’s chipsets for broadcast to broadband gateways.

An early adopter of the SAT>IP standard, iWedia has developed an end-to-end solution including both a server and a client software.

I&B ministry expenses on DTH increased by 74% in FY13

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recorded 74 per cent increased in their total expenses on direct-to-home (DTH) service, offered without any subscription fee to customers. The  Information and Broadcasting ministry has spent Rs. 308.82 crore ( Rs. 3.09 billion) in the financial year 2012–13 on the DTH sector, promoting the infrastructure of Prasar Bharati to spread Free Dish, its free-to-air (FTA) DTH service.

Prasar Bharati’s DTH service spreads across the country and offers FTA channels to customers. It also reaches out to different strata of the society and allows the pubcaster’s Doordarshan channels to be watched. 

Hinduja Ventures to invest Rs. 300 crore in IndusInd Media

Hinduja Ventures Ltd (HVL) on 26th February has decided to invest Rs. 300 crore in IndusInd Media & Communication Ltd (IMCL). Earlier, the investment into IMCL has routed through Grant Investrade, HVL’s wholly owned subsidiary.    

The decision to invest fund directly into IMCL will help in expanding the digital base of its cable TV network and effect improvement in services offered to customers.

Hathway official attacked in Gurgaon

On 26th February cable TV industry shocked, because Hathway Cable & Datacom official Vishal Chauhan was attacked in Gurgaon by unknown assailants.

A spate of violence has swept the cable TV industry in recent times. Earlier on 5th February, a firing incident took place in Amritsar between Fastway Transmission distributor and cable operators over billing and revenue. 

MP HC gives interim relief on CAF submission

Madhya Pradesh High Court on 26 February has extended the deadline of CAF submission by 21 days. This has given local cable operators (LCOs) in the state some relief regarding consumer application form submission.  The court has given this verdict on the petition filed by Malwa Cable Operator Sangh (MCOS). 

Earlier the Indore bench of the MP High Court on 6th February had granted relief to LCOs by the CAF submission in abeyance for 21 days and directed them to seek remedy from appropriate authorities. The MCOS following the direction made by HC filed a petition in TRAI about its grievances with regard to the implementation of digital addressable system (DAS). However, the association is yet to get any response from the sector regulator.    

BARC and Civolution ink an agreement to provide audio watermarking technology

Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has inked an agreement with Dutch based technology and solutions provider Civolution to provide watermarking technology to the world largest audience measurement platforms.  

The agreement has done because BARC has earlier chosen the TV-meter system of Mediametrie, the audience measurement company for television, radio, cinema and the internet. The two companies will build the technology framework for audience measurement solution for BARC.

Harris Broadcast Demonstrates End-to-End Portfolio, from DTT to TV Everywhere, at CABSAT 2014

Harris Broadcast, a market share leader of content management and network infrastructure solutions serving the global broadcast, communication service provider, government and enterprise markets, today announced that it will demonstrate its complete integrated portfolio of end-to-end solutions at CABSAT 2014 taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, United Arab Emirates, March 11-13, 2014. This will also be the first global demonstration of Selenio™ Next, Harris Broadcast’s all-in-one TV Everywhere solution designed to optimize space-, power- and cost-efficiency in multiscreen environments.

Visitors to the Harris Broadcast stand will experience real-world, end-to-end media workflows that enable the delivery of revenue-generating content however and wherever viewers are consuming media — from digital terrestrial television (DTT) over fixed and mobile devices to next-generation TV Everywhere applications.

Pacnet Expands Global IP VPN Services into Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar

Pacnet, a leading provider of integrated technology solutions in the Asia-Pacific region, today announced the expansion of its MPLS based Global IP VPN services into the Greater Mekong Subregion, including an area encompassing Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Expected economic annual growth averaging 7.9 percent through to 2030[1], and active government promotion encouraging foreign investment have resulted in increasing demand for networking services in the region. Pacnet’s service expansion will provide organizations looking to capitalize on this potential with the assurance of a secure, extensive private network that can reduce network management complexity, while enhancing operational efficiency and performance.

MTV appoints Anurag Kashyap to launch new show on human trafficking

MTV India along with MTV EXIT, the international campaign against human trafficking and exploitation, is going to launch a new show ‘Traffic’. The show will produce and anchored by Anurag Kashyap.

The show will begin from 28th February and will air at 7 pm. The five episode show will tell the stories of different people affected by human trafficking.  

Swapna Sundari joins Sun Group

Swapna Sundari, who was earlier working with Raj TV Network as its Telugu market COO, on 25th February joined Sun Group. 

She joined Sun group as a consultant and she will be available for her viewers every night at 10:30 pm on its new show Newsroom on leading Telugu GEC Gemini TV. The show is based on a political discussion that has been timed to suit the election mood in the country.

Fremantle Media International acquire distribution rights of The Sixties

Fremantle Media International on 25th February has acquired the global rights (excluding the U.S) to The Sixties, a 10 x 1 hour documentary series from CNN Originals.

NBA condemn baseless charges by politicians against media news

News Broadcasters Association (NBA) on 25th February made a statement, in which it has critisised political leaders and public figures for putting baseless charges against the media. 

The Association has made this statement after a controversy broke out over Union Home Minister Sushil kumar Shinde threatening the electronic media for carrying out “propaganda” against the Congress. The NBA statement is also critical of Mr. Kejriwal for attributing motives for the media ignoring his party.

Cable TV operators charge higher subscription, customers complain

On 5th February Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV) issued a note which states that the local cable operators (LCOs) and the multi-system operators (MSOs) should not charge more than Rs 70 from the subscribers, but many of the LCOs do not do the same. Besides, most LCOs charge more than the stipulated monthly subscription, according to several subscribers.    

According to release issued by the TACTV, and published on Cable Quest Website (www.cablequest.org)  dated February 5, LCOs and MSOs who have been using the signals of TACTV  with effect from February 5, should charge more than the stipulated charges of Rs. 70 from the customers.  

I&B Ministry cancel registration of four MSOs for violating DAS guidelines

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 25th February has cancelled permanent registration of four multi-system operators (MSOs) for violating digital addressable system guidelines. 

These four MSOs are Nalgonda-based IB Communications, New Delhi-based Eminent Cable Network, Amritsar-based God Father Communication and Gurgaon-based Supersonic Networks. 

TRAI appeal in SC to raise tariff cap on pay channels

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court to increase the tariff for the pay channels distributed in non-addressable areas.  

The tariff for pay channels in areas where cable TV is distributed through analogue technology has remained capped at the pre-2009 rates, following a direction by the Supreme Court in March 2009 for maintenance of status quo.

Govt. disapproved TRAI suggestion on 800 MHz band price

The Union Government has disapproved the telecom industry regulator recommendation for 800 MHz band of spectrum at the floor price.  

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) last week recommended setting the price at Rs2,685 crore per MHz on a pan-India basis for the 800 MHz spectrum used by operators of the CDMA technology. The price is 52 per cent more than the floor set for the just-concluded auction of the 1800 MHz band and 47.5 per cent higher than the Rs1,820 crore base kept in the previous CDMA auction, held in March 2013.

Reliance Jio may bring 4G service by year end

Telecom arm of Reliance Industries Reliance Jio may bring its 4G service by year end, starting with Delhi and Mumbai. 

Reliance Jio during its trials has showcased broadband speed of 49 megabit per second which is over 10-12 times more than 3G mobile internet speed that consumer are getting these days. At a speed of 49 mbps an user can download a full movie, which is generally of 600 megabyte size, in about 2 minutes.

TDSAT directed Bengaluru MSO Kable First a la carte rates to IndiaCast

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on 22nd February has ordered Bengaluru based MSO Kable First India to subscribe only those  channels of IndiaCast UTV that it wants to carry rather than all the channels of the content aggregator. The Tribunal also directed MSOs to pay a monthly subscription fee on a la carte rates beginning from 1st March 2014.

For the December 2013–28 February 2014 period, the tribunal directed Kable First to pay for seven channels at the reference interconnect offer (RIO) rates and as per the subscriber base given by it in its application. 

Meghbela Cable to install one million STBs in West Bengal by year-end

Kolkata based MSOs Meghbela Cable & Broadband Services has decided to bring 10 lakh set-top-boxes in the city earmarked for digitisation in phase III and phase IV.

The company has already installed around 1.26 lakh STBs in Kolkata city, where digitisation of cable TV services happened in phase I. According to the company seeding of 10 lakh STBs will involve an expenditure of Rs 110 crore.

GGCTOA called an emergency meeting to discuss for Assam Electric pole Problem

An emergency meeting has called by The Greater Guwahati Cable TV Operation Association (GGCTOA) on 22-2-2014 to discuss the crisis emerge out of the Bill of the pole utilization charged served by APDCL to GGCTOA. The Bill has been generated against GGCTOA from 5 circles of Guwahati APDCL amounting to 33,000 poles approximately with due date fixed on 26-2-14. The bill fails to specify the exact operator using the pole which is putting GGCTOA in an awkward situation to make payment of pole charges as per order of Hon'ble Gauhati High Court. The next hearing date is on 28-2-14, & non- payment of bills by GGCTOA shall amount to contempt of court. GGCTOA conveyed to APDCL this problem vide letter dated 14-2-14 & requested for operator wise break up of poles which till today has not been answered.

India and Canada signed an agreement on audio-visual co-production

India and Canada on 24th February signed an audio-visual co-production agreement which will help film producers from both countries to work together in various field of film making. 

The agreement was signed by I&B Secretary Bimal Julka and High Commissioner of Canada to India Stewart Beck. On the occasion Bimal Julka stated that this agreement will benefit producers from both countries to improve their creative, artistic, technical, financial and marketing resources for co-production. He further stated that this agreement will also lead to exchange of art and culture between the two sides and create goodwill.   

News Express returns with new avatar & new tag line

News Express will come with new look and tag line from 25th February, the channel has planned to come up with a new logo along with dual tagline of ‘We Report to you’/ ‘Fikra Aapki’ , which seeks to communicate that the channel will be pro-people and will take up the stories that belong to the lives of the common people.

BSNL opposes TRAI suggestion to call back CDMA spectrum

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has opposed the TRAI proposal calling on the telecom operator to return the bulk of its CDMA spectrum in the 800 MHz band.

In its pre-auction recommendations on the pricing CDMA spectrum last week, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has suggested that BSNL return half of its current 800 MHz spectrum holdings in most circles to help the government carve out a contiguous block of pan-India CDMA spectrum before the airwaves sale.

Challenges in Telecom

The Pacific Telecommunications Council India Foundation having completed 20 years of its presence in India observed this day on the 21st February 2014. At its 20th Annual Conference, on ‘Challenges in Telecom’ a number of issues pertaining to this sector were discussed by experts, the most prominent being the matter of unlawful spying, cyber security and manufacturing in telecom. 

In order to take care of these, it was felt necessary, inter alia,  to minimize dependence on foreign gear and to deploy Indian equipment and designs conforming to our environmental conditions - as was done in the eighties when the Indian-designed rural digital exchanges were put into service and are serving our rural areas. It was felt necessary to utilise such gear of which the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) reside in our country. Note was also taken of the recently designed optical fibre G-PON equipment which has the potential to interconnect all villages by broadband. 

Netflix and Comcast ink an agreement for better connection

Netflix and Comcast have inked an agreement that will provide Comcast’s broadband customers with a high-quality Netflix video experience for the upcoming year. 

Both the companies stated that they have established a more direct connection between Netflix and Comcast that helps better user experience to consumers. The announcement is evidence of a shift in the balance of power in favour of Internet access providers following a Court ruling in mid-January that eliminated net neutrality rules that prohibited Internet providers from prioritizing content.

Pakistan police beaten cable operators and MSOs

Around 40 Pakistan cable operators were beaten by police, following an order issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) last week. The police hit the operators in the Rawalpindi and Islamabad over the issue of carriage of unauthorized channels.

BBC VoD ink a deal with Chinese Sohu

BBC Worldwide has ink a deal with Chinese Sohu.in to bring its programmes available through VoD across China.

Lessons learn from implementing first two phases of cable TV digitisation to be implemented in rest two phases: Manish Tewari

I & B Minister in a conference stated that whatever we have learned from implementing the first two phases of cable TV digitisation will be incorporated while implementing the rest two phases.

He stated this while addressing a conference at the 8th Indian Magazine congress in the capital on 24th February. The Minister stated that digitisation was bound to game changer for the sector and would define contours of orderly growth.

Hathway gets interim relief by TDSAT against disconnection notice issued by Media Pro

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on 24th February have given an interim relief to Hathway Cable & Datacom against disconnection notice issued by Media Pro. The Court further directed Hatway Cable to pay Rs. 160 million as outstanding dues to Media Pro Enterprise India by 28 February. 

The TDSAT has directed both the parties to carry out a reconciliation of accounts before 7 March. Apart from the payment, Hathway will also have to submit the monthly subscriber line report to the respondent latest by 15 March. 

STB markets of India to grow at CAGR of 29.3% by 2015: Report

With introduction of high-definition (HD) channels and smart TVs has led to an increase in digital TV viewing, which in turn will show in an unprecedented growth of the set-top-boxes (STB) market.

A Frost & Sullivan study released on 24th February estimates that the total market for STB was 23.52 million units in 2013 and is expected to reach volumes of 39.4 million units by 2015, representing a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.3 per cent. 

Atria Convergence to buy promoters of Beam Telecom

India’s leading broadband and cable access provider, Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT) is planning to acquire its joint venture partners in Beam Telecom to take complete control of its subsidiary. 

The promoters of Beam Telecom hold a 39.70 per cent stake in the Hyderabad-based broadband company. 

CASBAA India Forum 2014: Exploring options to bring Indian content at International Level

New Delhi- CASBAA’s annual India Forum will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at a city hotel where an international and local roster of high-level speakers will explore the Indian cable and broadcasting markets in the context of the global economy and challenging regulatory regimes. CASBAA is the association for digital multichannel television, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across Asia. 

“With over 146 million non-terrestrial TV connections in the country representing a 92 per cent reach of the population and multichannel TV accounting for nearly 90 per cent of TV advertising, India continues to be one of the most important markets in the Asia Pacific,” said Christopher Slaughter, CEO, CASBAA. “But to be truly successful nowadays, it takes more than doing well in your own back yard. This year’s forum will explore what it takes to be a factor on the global stage.”

No telecast of cable TV news in J & K till election end

Jammu and Kashmir government has banned the telecast of news and current affairs programme on any private cable TV channel (local video channel) in the Kashmir Valley till the end of the Assembly election later this year.   

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also hold the Home Ministry in his Cabinet, in the reply to opposition member question in the Legislative Council on 21st February stated that the news and current affairs operations on all cable TV channels had been ‘banned’ in the Valley due to the violent political turmoil of 2010. He further stated that the private TV channels had violated the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act.

TAM applies with MIB for registration

TAM Media Research (the only company that offers television ratings at the moment) on 21st February has applied for registration with the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) for TV rating function in India.

Earlier the Kantar media one of the two promoters of TAM Media Research had filed a petition in Delhi High Court against government formulated policy guidelines for Television Rating Agencies. The most important clause on which Kantar has objected and went to the Court is that No single company, directly or through its associates, is allowed to hold more than 10 per cent paid up equity in a rating agency if it also holds a stake in a broadcaster, advertiser or advertising agency”. Kantar owed 50 percent stake in TAM Media Research.

VIDEOCON d2h enter into South India

The direct-to-home (DTH) operator Videocon is all set to dominate the DTH industry in India has entered into south India offering almost all the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada language channels in its entry level pack South silver. Priced at Rs. 176 per month, this pack offers 306 channels & service.

Hathway fights with distributers in Delhi over commission

Since last few weeks many senior officials of the Hathway Cable & Datacom are fighting in some or other corner of the country. This time the battleground was Delhi over the commission fee and carriage fee. 

Most of the MSO’s distributors forged unity and blacked out a large part of Hathway’s network in Delhi, sending the company’s management into a tizzy. They are demanding that Hathway management was not honouring to pay commission fee and share carriage fee ever since digital addressable system (DAS) rolled out in the city. A disgruntled distributor said almost 80 to 85 per cent of Hathway’s network in Delhi was switched off by them. 

Unilzar ventures brings sports Management Company

Unilazer Ventures, the private equity company promoted by media baron turned entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala, has floated a sports management company and has appointed former Red Bull India sports marketing head Supratik Sen as its CEO. 

Unilazer Sports will focus on teams, leagues, academies as well as on creating IPs and franchises in two or three selected sports. Unilazer Sports will operate as a new unit under Unilazer Ventures. 

CNN-IBN along with others launch a campaign VEER

CNN-IBN along with Thums Up, Being Human and American India Foundation (AIF),   has started VEER, a special initiative that aims to highlight the struggles of people with disability (PwDs) in India and raise funds to make them employable.

Sky Sports gets rights to two England series from Ten Sports

After securing media rights to the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Sky Sports has strengthened its coverage of the England cricket team. The channel has singed an agreement with Taj Television for two tours to Sri Lanka in November this year and them again in 2018.

The agreement means Sky Sports viewers can now enjoy over 380 scheduled days of live England cricket between now and 2020. The schedule includes Test matches, One-Day Internationals and T20 fixtures home and away, beginning with March’s tour of the West Indies. 

Skill Training Programme for Maharashtra LMOs

In the digitized world, where technology is changing fast, cable operators still lag behind because of lesser knowledge, keeping this thing in mind a skill training programme is being launched for them.

The Telecom Sector Skill Council of India and Mumbai based Dhruv Tech System Systems is launching a course that would equip the cable operators with latest technologies in the digitised world and bring them at par with the Multi System Operator (MSO).

Ravi Agrawal appointed New Delhi Bureau Chief of CNN International

CNN International on 19th February appoints Ravi Agrawal as the New Delhi Bureau Chief. The authority of Agrawal will come into force from April 1, 2014.   

Facebook acquire WhatsApp for $ 19 billion

The US based world largest social networking site Facebook Inc will buy fast-growing mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock in a landmark deal that places the world’s largest network closer to the heart of mobile communications and may bring younger users into the fold.   

Sea TV Network has gone into losses, due to high pay channel charges

Agra-based multi-system operator (MSO) Sea TV Network has gone into losses due to higher pay channel charges in the fiscal third-quarter. 

The company reported a net loss of Rs. 1.78 crore (Rs 17.8 million) in the three-month period ended 31 December 2013 on an operating revenue of Rs. 3.98 crore (Rs 39.8 million). In the preceding quarter, it had posted a net profit of Rs. 82.3 lakh (Rs 8.23 million) on an operating revenue of Rs. 4.88 crore (Rs 48.8 million).

MEASAT and Outdoor HD signed an agreement

MEASAT Satellite Systems on 18th February announced a three year agreement with Globecast and Outdoor Channel for distribution on the MEASAT-3 satellite. According to this agreement, MEASAT will distribute Outdoor HD via MEASAT-3’s global C-band beam, covering 102 countries from Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Siti Cable records 3.7 million subscribers

Siti Cable (subsidery of Zee TV/Essel media) had recorded 3.7 million subscribers at december 31st  2013. Revenue of Siti Cable  Cable had also grown by 42 per cent year-on-year, and moved EBITDA positive during the quarter-year. 

Subhash Chandra chairman of Siti Cable stated that,  digital cable television is a major engine of growth for Siti Cable across all geographies. “The ongoing digitalisation is providing new impetus for growth and value in India though we are still early in the value creation process.”

Lok Sabha channel shut down on the eve of Telangana formation gets clearance from Lower House

The Union Government has shut down Lok Sabha channel on 18th February due to Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2014 gets Lok Sabha clearance. This bill has opened a homet’s nest on the political front.  

Opposition parties has made allegations on the UPA government of throwing all democratic norms in the dustbins to get the bill cleared I the dark to avoid any public uproar. 

Colors regains it second position in TV ratings

In the 7th week of TAM TV ratings, where most of the General Entertainment Channels (GECs) have recorded a drop in its ratings, Colors regains it second position by dislodging Zee TV. In fact, the channel crossed the 500-million mark and recorded 503,993 GVTs, up from 424,431 GVTs last week. 

The two different programmes on the channel .i.e. India’s Got Talent and Comedy Nights with Kapil help much to reach this position. These programmes saw a huge rise in the number of viewership with 6,559 TVTs (5,876 TVTs) and 9,088 TVTs (7,300 TVTs) respectively.

Samsung retains Smart TV leadership

Samsung has retained its leadership position in the global Smart TV market amid the competitive holiday season of Q4 2013 with a 26.4 per cent share as TV vendors rapidly deploy Smart TV capabilities to garner higher average selling prices (ASPs), according to the latest Strategy Analytics research, Smart TV Market Share Report Q4 2013.

The Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices (CHD) service report estimates that Samsung’s nearest competitor, LG, registered a 14.4 per cent market share of Smart TV shipments. Although Sony ships fewer Flat Panel TV (FPTV) units than LG, it has been aggressive in its efforts to add Smart TV capabilities to nearly all models it currently offers, which helped Sony capture another 14.3 per cent of the Smart TV market.

SES adds Dish TV/Sri Lanka service

Dish TV is reportedly about to launch a dedicated DTH service for Sri Lanka using capacity on SES’s newly launched SES-8 satellite (launched on December 3rd).

SES-8 is co-located with NSS-6 at 95 deg East, and which is already covering the Indian sub-Continent with signals. Dish TV CEO RC Venkateish is on record as saying that Dish TV was looking to add five transponders from SES to boost its existing capacity.

TrueVisions taps Elemental to drive multiscreen premium pay-TV content

Leading Thai cableco and pay-TV provider TrueVisions has engaged Elemental Technologies to drive an expansion of its premium high definition (HD) and multiscreen services.

TrueVisions has approximately two million subscribers, and is deploying technology from the software-based video solutions provider for video processing and delivery of more than 60 channels, a great many of which are available in HDTV.

Dailymotion launches new Android app

French video streaming platform Dailymotion has launched its new and improved Android app that offers smoother navigation and high quality, uninterrupted playback of videos.

Developed by the US mobile team Dailymotion in Palo Alto, the 4.0 app is suitable for use on all mobile and tablet devices, ensuring optimal viewing and full HD support across all screen sizes.

Budget Proposal of CENVAT reduction lowers STB prices

Interim Budget 2014 lowered excise duties on many electronic products including STBs and CPEs, boosting the morale of Indian manufacturers,MSO and DTH operators.

The Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in his Vote on Account speech in Parliament today announced a proposed reduction of excise duty from 12 per cent to 10 per cent on all goods falling under chapter 84 and 85 of the schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act for the period up to 30 June, 2014. With effect from today, CENVAT on Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE) has been reduced.

Interim budget fattens I&B’s purse by 12%; Prasar Bharati gets Rs. 2,331 cr as grants-in-aid in the interim Budget 2014

 NEW DELHI: The Information & Broadcasting Ministry has been allocated Rs. 3,216 crore ( Rs. 32.16 billion) for 2014-15 in the interim budget, including Rs. 2,331 crore ( Rs. 23.31 billion) as grants-in- aid for pubcaster Prasar Bharati. An additional Rs. 200 crore ( Rs. 2 billion) has been allotted to Prasar Bharati under ‘investment in public enterprises’. The amount allotted to I&B this time is 12 per cent higher than the Rs. 2,855 crore ( Rs. 28.55 billion) given in the revised budget for FY14. Monday’s budget, presented by Finance Minister  P Chidambaram, was an interim exercise ahead of the general election slated in May. Out of the total Rs. 3,216 crore ( Rs. 32.16 billion), Rs. 905 crore ( Rs. 9.05 billion) is planned allocation, while the remaining 2,311 crore ( Rs. 23.11 billion) is non-plan. Prasar Bharati gets Rs. 1,890 crore ( Rs. 18.90 billion) out of its total share of Rs. 2,331 crore from non-plan allocation.

BSkyB bags media rights for IPL for the first time for UK & Europe

British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB), the UK arm of Rupert Murdoch-owned Twenty First Century Fox, has pipped ITV Network to secure the media rights for the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) for three years.

No NOCs for Indian films-Pakistan making new regulations

Pakistani authorities have stopped issuing “No-Objection Certificates” for the screening of Indian films, holding up the release of new movies like “Gunday” and “Hasee Toh Phasee”.

The Federal Information and Broadcasting Ministry has told distributors and exhibitors of Indian films that it is processing new laws and regulations and NOCs will not be issued till these are approved by the federal cabinet.

KIX Debuts Bold New Look and Asian Pay TV Premieres of New Programs

Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), operator of the largest bouquet of pan-Asian channels dedicated to Asian entertainment, has unveiled a slick new look for its action entertainment channel KIX. The new look encompasses a logo update and a fresh new on-air graphics package anchored by the colors of yellow, black and grey. To coincide with the new look, KIX is launching a slate of action-packed programs premiering on pay TV in Asia for the very first time. In addition, KIX will now offer all of its feeds, including its former standard definition feed, in 100% true high definition.

Vodafone STAR partnership will enable users to watch sports on their mobile

Vodafone India has announced a strategic partnership with STAR India to create a multi-sports offering – Vodafone Sports portal on Vodafone Live.

The partnership will enable Vodafone users to subscribe to a mobile internet service for score updates and video clips for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and some other sports events.

Raj TV to raise Rs 200 crore for Pan Asian expansion

MUMBAI: Raj TV Network is keen on further strengthening its presence in its core market of south India and also expanding its reach to the diaspora from the four states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Star Life OK GEC channel from STAR to show live cricket

MUMBAI: All the cricket hungry fans across UK and Europe have reason to celebrate. Star Life OK for the first time will be showing live cricket in the region.

This move comes as an effort to offer cricket as a live experience to the large Asian population in the UK and Europe and build a strong viewer connect.

Convert DD regional channels into 24-hour channels in Hindi belt: Prasar Bharati

NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati is in favour of converting some of Doordarshan’s regional channels in the Hindi belt into round-the-clock cable and satellite channels.

These include Chandigarh, Dehradun, Shimla, Ranchi, Hussar, Raipur, and Jammu regional channels. At present, some of these channels are put on the terrestrial network for around four hours when DD National goes off the National Network. At such times, Delhi’s Doordarshan Kendra transmits its programmes terrestrially.

Digital Strings appointed Digital marketing Agency for STARCJ

STARCJNetwork India Pvt. Ltd. Running the STARCJ Television Shopping Channel has appointed Digital Strings, a Mumbai based startup, to manage their online marketing activities. The account will be handled by a team of young and aspiring digital professionals. All online marketing activities of STAR CJ across various social media platforms will be handled by the startup agency.

Digital Strings will be responsible for managing the online reputation of STARCJ. The mandate will also include managing STAR CJ’s social media presence, driving online visitors through search engine marketing and managing online advertising for creating a strong presence of the brand digitally.  

TRAI’s logic in guarding non-vertically integrated MSOs against content aggregators S

The complaints by the independent cable TV operators about the menace of vertical integration in the cable TV distribution sector and its resultant impact on competition in the cable TV distribution sector prompted the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to clip the wings of content aggregators or television distribution companies.

PC, laptop, smartphones growing in importance in a multi-screen world: IMC Study

In the country’s multi-screen environment, a dominant shift is visible in the trend of people’s TV viewing behaviour.

Dish TV will launch DTH service in Sri Lanka

Dish TV is all set to introduce direct-to-home (DTH) service in Sri Lanka via a joint venture company it Lanka partner Satnet.

The company (Dish TV) will invest Rs. 100 crore in Dish TV Lanka (Private) Ltd, a joint venture developed in Sri Lanka with Satnet Pvt Ltd. Dish Tv will hold 70 per cent stake in the joint venture while the rest is held by local partner Satnet.  Dish TV Lanka was incorporated on 25 April last year and Satnet owns a DTH licence in Sri Lanka. 

Online music service Dhingana has shut.

Youngsters favorite online music service Dhingana has shut its shop.  The news was in public through a post on Dhingana website states, Goodbye! We hope that you enjoyed listening to Dhingana as much as we enjoyed building it. But alas, all good things must come to an end. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for letting us be a part of your musical moments! – The Dhingana Team.

Although the real reason for the shutdown remains unknown, the rumour mills have it that the streaming service could not sustain itself after it lost a key partnership with the leading music label T-Series a few months back. 

I&B Ministry makes senior-level transfers of Indian Information Service Officers in media units

As part of several senior-level transfers in the media units of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B Ministry), Indian Information Service officer of the 1993 batch R C Joshi has been transferred as Director in the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity.

Joshi replaces Y K Baweja who is being moved to take his position as director (Media and Communications) in the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Ashish Kulkarni resigns from Reliance Big Animation

Ashish Kulkarni CEO of Reliance Big Animation has given resignation from his post on 14th February after working nine years with Reliance. The news was confirmed by him in media 

Pioneering various projects in animation, Kulkarni was credited with setting up world-class animation studios in India, and successfully completing and marketing several animation films for studios in Hollywood. 

Hathway Q3 operating income grow by 52%

India’s leading Multi System Operator (MSO) Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited has recorded a jump of 52.1 per cent from Rs 234.78 crore in Q3-2014 from Rs 154.40 crore in Q3-2013 and up 6.7 per cent from Rs 220.28 crore in Q2-2013.

The company’s operating income for 9M-2014 was 62.5 per cent higher at Rs 687.71 crore  compared with Rs 423.14 crore  in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, the company reported operating income of Rs 654.32 crore.

DEN Networks’ net down QoQ; carriage sees mild drop

DEN Networks notched a third-quarter operating profit of Rs. 91.95 crore (Rs. 919.5 million) from the cable TV business, up three per cent from the Rs. 89.43 crore (Rs. 894.3 million) it reported in the trailing quarter, amid a mild fall in carriage and activation revenues. A year earlier EBITDA was Rs. 63.63 crore (Rs. 636.3 million). 

Revenue from cable TV business in the three-month period ended 31 December 2013 came to Rs. 281 crore ( Rs. 2.81 billion), up seven per cent from the Rs. 262.31 crore ( Rs. 2.63 billion) it captured a quarter earlier. In the year-ago period, revenue stood at Rs. 229.66 crore (Rs. 2.3 billion). 

Cartoon Network launched two new shows

Cartoon Network India has, introduced two new shows-Lego’s Mixels and Steven Universe to provide enhanced entertainments to its viewers. The short time program Lego’s Mixels will be telecast every Saturday at 8:30 am and the magical adventures of Steven Universe every Sunday at 10:30 am.   

Hathway Cable’s performance continue going down

MSOs Hathway Cable & Datacom performance subdued in another quarter. The company’s operating loss widened to Rs. 19.2 crore in the third fiscal quarter.   

Siti Cable’s net loss increased QoQ, EBITDA is up 6%

Subhash Chandra-promoted Siti Cable Network’s fiscal third-quarter operating profit has grown six per cent compared to the trailing three months even as the multi-system operator’s (MSO) payout to channels has gone up. Net loss has widened quarter-on-quarter while operating revenue has seen a 2.2 per cent increase. 

Kolkata LCOs want to pay service tax themselves

More than 2000 local cable operators (LCOs) from Kolkata gathered together to keep the last mile in their control. LCOs also want to start paying service tax themselves to the government authorities. So that they have their control on subscriber revenue.  

Justice Mukul Mudgal, the new BCCC chairman

Justice Mukul Mudgal on 13th February has been appointed as the chairperson of Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC). 

The Board of Director of Indian Broadcasting Federation approved the appointment of Justice Mukula Mudgal on 13th February. He was recently in the news due to his submission of report on Match-Fixing allegation on IPL sesson-6. Justice (Retd.) Mudgal is former Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court, and former Judge of Delhi High court. Justice Mudgal will chair the 32nd Meeting of BCCC towards the end of this month. He succeeds Justice (Retd.) Ajit Prakash Shah.