Business News
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January 2012
VIACOM18 INTERNAT BEAM FROM MEASAT-3A
Viacom18 has bought transponder capacity on the Measat-3a satellite, located at 91.5 degrees East. These transponders will be used for the international distribution of Viacom18's channels across the Asian region.
"With wide coverage and a powerful Asian footprint, Measat-3a is the obvious satellite choice for distribution of our international services," said Viacom18 chief technology officer Piyush Gupta.
Viacom18 is a 50:50 joint venture between Viacom Inc and the Network 18 Group. It operates Colors, MTV, Nick & VH1 channels.
NETWORK18 APPOINTS GROUP CEO
The Network18 Group has promoted B Saikumar as its Group CEO. Saikumar, 37, replaces Haresh Chawla who recently quit. Saikumar was Group COO prior to this promotion.
In his new role, Saikumar will be responsible for the strategic and operational management of the Network18 Group. He would have direct responsibility of the Group's News, Web, Publishing, Factual Entertainment and allied businesses which would include the IBN General News Network, CNBC TV18/ Awaaz Business News Network, Web18, Yellow Pages, Forbes India, AETN18 and the niche magazine stable among others.
Saikumar will also shortly be joining the Boards of Viacom18 and HomeShop18. The current CEOs and Management Teams of Viacom18 and HomeShop18 will continue to report to their respective Boards.
ARASU FINALISES CARRIAGE FEE
The Tamil Nadu government's Arasu Cable TV Corporation, has finalised the carriage fees it will charge for its various headends. Sources say the tender money was fixed at Rs 2.15 lakh for Karur, Rs 57,000 for Dharmapuri and Rs 7.43 lakh for Salem. Channel carriage has been allotted only to those TV channels that have paid the carriage fee. Several leading TV channels and broadcasters, including those of the SUN bouquet are reported to have indicated they are Pay TV channels and have instead asked for subscriptions revenues if they are carried on Arasu.
In the absence of prime South Indian satellite Pay TV channels, Arasu will distribute several local cable channels. Speaking on the advantages of the locally transmitted cable channels, Thamizhaga cable TV operator's general welfare association president Sakilan claimed "It will definitely affect the viewership of satellite channels because the private local channels aired through Arasu Cable Corporation will be good in quality. Also, they will be more accessible to locals, covering local issues. So, people won't miss the satellite channels."
INDIVIDUAL DTH TVS ON SHATABDI EXPRESS
By January 2012, each seat in the Shatabdi Express will have its own TV set, receiving live DTH content. There will be no extra charge to the traveller.
The plan has been conceived and is being implemented by the Delhi division of the northern railways, in 9 out of the total of 20 Shatabdi trains that have Delhi as their 'primary maintenance centres'.
"All general entertainment, news, sports, English and Hindi movie channels will be available," divisional railway manager (Delhi) Ashwani Lohani said.
Installation of the TV sets will generate revenue for the railways. "Without spending a penny, we'll be earning Rs.1.5 Crore annually from the ad revenue and passengers will get free televisions on the go," a senior railway officer said.
I&B PROHIBITS SUPERSTITIONS ON TV
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to all TV channels against telecasting programmes promoting superstitions and blind belief.
Such programs have, of late been carried more frequently, since they receive better TRPs (Television Rating Points).
Many organisations have written to the government complaining that such shows promote irrational and inappropriate behavior.
The I&B ministry has also asked its electronic media monitoring centre to report any violations of this advisory. The media centre monitors the TV channels for any violations. Based on its report, the channels are issued showcause notices and punitive action is taken against them.
VOD & CATH UP TV ON TATASKY
TataSky CEO Harit Nagpal has confirmed that the DTH platform will soon launch 2 new services that will allow its subscribers to watch content on demand & to download TV shows after they have been broadcast. Both these services will require subscribers to buy and install STBs with a built in Hard Disk to record programs.
TataSky claims approximately 8 million STBs seeded in the market. Of these only 400,000 ( 5%) have a built-in recorder.
The Video-on-demand (VoD) service, aimed at subscribers of both its regular and high-definition services, will provide a choice of nearly 1,000 titles.
Catch-up TV, on the other hand, will help subscribers to watch select TV shows after they have been broadcast and that too without recording them because these shows will be available for download.
Over 1 million of Tata Sky's subscribers are already paying Rs 15 to Rs 40 a month for value-added services, claims TataSky.
TRAI CONFIDENT OF EARLY DIGITISATION
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India expects CATV digitisation to be completed well ahead of the December 2014 deadline. "I will not be surprised if the last phase of digitisation gets over by December 2013," said Dr J.S. Sarma, Chairman, TRAI.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2-day FICCI Media & Entertainment Business Conclave, he said once the National Broadband Plan (nation-wide fibre optic network) is completed, which is likely by the end of 2013, digitisation would be very easy "one has to simply plug into the fibre optic network."
To a question on the availability of set-top boxes, he said there's no sign of any shortage of set-top boxes at present, "nor do I see any in future. In fact, set-top boxes would be available at sub-$20," he said.
Responding to a question on channel tariff, he said ideally it should be left to the market forces. "The entire tariff structure will become much more driven by the market demand and supply mechanism."
RAJYA SABHA PASSES PRASAR BHARATI BILL
The Rajya Sabha has passed a bill to amend the Prasar Bharati Act 1990 for treating all government officers and employees recruited by All India Radio or Doordarshan as on 5 October 2007 to be on 'deemed deputation' with effect from April 2000 till the time of their retirement. Until 2000, the employees had been deemed as full government employees and their status was changed to 'deemed employees' from 1 April 2000. The employees working under deputation will get all facilities at par with Central government employees.
The amendment had become necessary "since the recommendations of the GoM will settle all long standing issues regarding status of employees working in Prasar Bharati and empower the public broadcaster with all disciplinary and supervisory powers, including the power to transfer."
The Bill for amending Section 11 and some other provisions of the Act was moved by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting CM Jatua and passed unanimously.
The Bill had been introduced in September, 20 months after the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Prasar Bharati had decided in January last year, ending an uncertainty that had prevailed for a decade. This decision will benefit around 38,000 employees.
3 NEW CHANNELS ON ASIASAT-4
3 new free-to-air Indian channels launched by Pride East Entertainments have begun downlinking from the AsiaSat-4 satellite. They are :
The 3 new channels primarily target viewers in the North-East region.
News Live is a 24-hour news and current affairs satellite channel broadcasting in Assamese and English languages.
Rang offers Assamese, Hindi and English language entertainment programmes.
Ramdhenu offers music and lifestyle programming in Assamese, Hindi and English languages.
