Q:
Is it illegal to re-transmit the ARY, Q tv and Madni
channel on our cable TV network ?
We
have been informed in your magazine that these channels
cannot be carried on Indian Cable TV networks. However,
our competing network carries these channels, and
our customers are also asking us for these channels.
How can we handle this situation ?
SDM
- Anjar, Gujarat.
ANS:
Yes, these channels (and several others) are not
listed as approved channels by the Indian government's
Information & Broadcasting ministry. No Indian
Cable TV network can carry any un-approved channel,
in their analog or digital feed.
This
magazine carries an updated list of approved channels
every 3 months, for reference of Cable TV networks.
According
to the Cable Act, any network that carries unauthorised
content, is liable to a fine, having their equipment
seized and even a jail sentence for the Cable TV
network owner. If a network in your area is carrying
un-authorised channels, you should inform the local
police station, the local head post office or the
District Magistrate, highlighting the crime.
They
local authorities will take appropriate action,
under the law.
NOTE:
The I&B minister has told parliament in December,
that the government has decided to take stern action
against any Cable network transmitting un-authorised
channels. State Chief ministers and the Home Ministry
(under who's purview the police operate) have been
asked to crack down on errant networks.
BUYING
A DIGITAL HEADEND
Q:
I am cable TV operator and in business from last
10 years. My firm is rebroadcasting 72 channels.
As you know Headends are shifting from analog to
digital, and we want to shift our 25 pay channels
for digital delivery.
There
are may companies from different parts of world,
that offer digital headends. Which one do you suggest
we buy ?
Instead
of buying MPEG 2 modulators why not to buy MPEG-4,
since n future, MPEG-2 will be replaced by MPEG-4
?
We
have been offered a particular brand (Brand Name
withheld), they are cheap in price. Also if we buy
a 60 Channel headend, they will give us the SMS
(Subscriber Management System) free of cost. The
product is also easily available in our market.
However, the STBs from this brand do not include
a CI (Common Interface), and address each box through
its MAC address.
Please
guide us.
Asad
- By E-Mail.
ANS:
1. Yes, the world is rapidly migrating towards digital
and most governments have indicated a "Sunset
Date" when analog TV transmissions will be
discontinued.
2.
Identifying the most suited digital cable TV headend
is a HUGE business decision, and you need to take
this decision VERY carefully, considering not only
the amount of money you have available to spend
but also the long term security and scalability
(ability to add more STBs and channels) of the system.
3.
MPEG-4 technology will certainly provide more digital
channels in the same analog bandwidth (i.e. higher
compression). However, MPEG-4 STBs are, today, far
more expensive than MPEG-2 STBs. Certainly, 5 years
from now MPEG-4 STBs are most likely to represent
bulk of the STBs sold. But are you willing to pay
almost double price for a MPEG-4 Headend + STBs
today, compared to MPEG-2 ?
4.
MPEG-2 STBs cannot receive digital channels compressed
using MPEG-4. This is a major decision that you
will have to take and live with for the next few
years if & when you shift from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4
STBs you will have to offer your customers an attractive
buy back option.
5.
The brand that you have mentioned offers an integrated
system including STBs and their own addressable
solution, which works only if you install their
full solution which includes the headend and STBs.
Their solution does provide for selective choice
of channels besides simple authorization / deauthorisation
of the STB.
6.
While an encryption system represents a significant
cost, in India, at least 1 company has already set
up a central facility, enabling smaller cable networks
to use the central facility against a monthly charge
which is linked to the number of addressable set
top boxes addresses. Other CAS vendors are also
planning similar central facilities for the Indian
market.
7.
A Headend In The Sky does provide a quick and low
cost option to provide digital CATV from even small
cable TV networks. However the network effectively
becomes a non-separable part of the HITS operator.
They cannot break away from the HITS platform, and
shift to another HITS or MSO, since their consumers
will not be able to use the HITS STBs on any other
platform. Refunding each customer the cost of the
HITS STB would not be financially viable.
There
is no single recommendation that we can provide.
Each cable headend will have to take their own decision
based on their budget today, growth plans etc.
Take
time while making your decision, weighing not only
costs, but several technical factors, including
those listed above.
DIGITAL
FOR TINY NETWORKS ?
Q:
I am a regular reader of your magazine. My subscription
number is 11027. I am a cable operator from Solapur,
Maharashtra. I want the following information about
digital control signal distribution and STB:
1.
For installing 100 STB. How much will we have to
spend?
2.
I have installed RG-11 wire from amplifier to amplifier.
To reach subscribers I have RG-6 wire. Will I have
to change this wire?
3.
All my amplifiers are 860 MHz with china IC. For
a digital system should I change this? What type
of change?
4.
Can this be profitable for a small cable operator?
And without STB can I get signal?
Regards
Giri
P.D. (Solapur), Maharashtra
ANS:
Digital Cable TV headends are still more than 10
times the cost of an analog headend. Hence it is
not currently viable to set up a digital headend
for very small networks such as yours. Typically
a low cost digital headend will cost approx. Rs
25 Lakhs for 100 FTA channels or Rs 50 Lakhs for
50 Pay + 100 FTA channels.
Whether
you encrypt your digital signals or transmit them
to your customers Free-To-Air (FTA) each customer
must have a digital STB to be able to receive digital
signals. Each digital STB cost approx. Rs. 2,000
to Rs. 2,500.
A
Low Cost Digital Headend Will Cost Approx.
Rs 25 Lakhs For 100 FTA Channels Or Rs 50
Lakhs for 50 Pay + 100 FTA channels. |
A digital headend is both expensive and elaborate
to set up and maintain. It would be viable to set
up a digital headend for a minimum of approx. 10,000
subscribers out of which may be 50% will take digital
STBs. For the others you will have to simultaneously
operate an analog headend. Both analog & digital
signals can be transmitted at different frequency
band, simultaneously, on the same cable TV network.
Your
coaxial cable distribution network, in principle,
support digital transmission and reception. A lot
depends on not only the quality of cables but also
the workmanship such as proper connectors and use
of good quality splitters and tap-offs. Also you
should try to ensure that no customer receive the
signal after more than 3 or 4 amplifiers.
Optical
fibre today is available at a lower cost than even
RG-6 cable! Hence for most reasonably large networks
(1000 points & above) a fibre optic distribution
system will not only provide better signal &
picture quality to your customer, but will also
be cheaper.
As
the number of channels demanded by customers increases,
it will be difficult for very small networks such
as yours to provide them the large number of channels
they want. Over the next few years, you will either
have to group together with your neighboring cable
operator to establish a bigger and better headend
or take a digital input signal from either a local
MSO or from a Headend In The Sky (HITS).
WWIL
currently operates a HITS platform. In December
2009 the Indian Govt. had declared the licensing
guidelines for new HITS platforms to commence operation.
Probably 1 or 2 more HITS platforms will commence
operation over the next 1 year, providing you a
choice of HITS operators which whom you can partner.
MORE
KU BAND ON ST-1 ?
Q:
I am regular reader of your magazine & my subscription
number is 13115.
Besides
the Videocon DTH platform, are there any other Ku
band signals on the ST-1 satellite 
?
If so, please provide details.
Chandra
Sekar, By E-Mail
ANS:
Apart from the Videocon DTH platform, there are
no other channels, free or pay, available on the
India footprint from the ST1 satellite.
2
OR 4 POLARITIES ?
Q:
I know of only 2 polarities - one H (horizontal)
and second V (vertical).
However,
I saw L and R polarity in your list of channels
on Yamal satellites. Please tell me something about
L and R polarity. Thank you.
Rinku,
By E-Mail.
ANS:
Horizontal & Vertical Polarity are 2 parts of
a satellite system using Linear Polarity.
Similarly
most Russian and Eastern Bloc countries use CIRCULAR
polarity - consisting of Right Hand Circular (in
short R or RHCP) & Left Hand Circular (in short
L or LHCP) polarities.
May
we suggest that you check out the book "HOW
TO …. Part 1" (English or Hindi versions)
which explains all of this and much more in easy
to understand language & diagrams. Details of
how to purchase these books is available at the
website at www.satcab.com, and in advertisements
in this magazine. n
