Government mulls raising FDI limit on DTH, cable networks to 100%

Government is considering a proposal to raise FDI limits to 100 percent in broadcasting carriage and content services, including DTH and cable networks, aimed at attracting overseas investment and improve infrastructure.

An inter-ministerial committee is considering FDI proposals, including hiking foreign direct investment cap in cable networks, direct-to-home (DTH), Mobile TV, HITS (Headend-in-the Sky Broadcasting Service) and Teleports to 100 percent, from 74 percent at present, sources said. In case of broadcasting content services – uplinking of news and current affairs TV channels, the proposal under discussion is to raise the limit to 49 percent from the present 26 percent, they said.

These proposals were mooted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2013. It had suggested raising FDI limit for broadcast carriage services up to 100 percent and for uplinking of news channels up to 49 percent. Increase in FDI limit will help improve the pace of digitization of broadcasting services across India. The inter-ministerial committee comprises officials from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Information and Broadcasting, Telecommunication and Space. “The committee is discussing all these recommendations,” sources said, adding the panel discussed all these issues its meeting held last month.

In broadcasting content services, 26 percent foreign direct investment is permitted through government approval route. Companies which are involved in the business of broadcasting carriage services include Dish TV, Siti Cables, Hathway services and Den Networks. In March, cable television services firm Den Networks had approved increasing limit of foreign investment in the company from existing 49 percent to 74 percent. Similarly in August, Hathway Cable had received FIPB approval to increase foreign investment limit in the firm from the existing 49 percent to 74 percent.

To attract foreign funds, the government has already relaxed FDI norms in sectors such as defence, construction and railways. It is also considering relaxing norms for rubber and coffee sector.

Source:http://www.bgr.in

New Tata Sky set-top box comes with WiFi dongle at Rs 9,300

Direct broadcast satellite television provider Tata Sky on Wednesday launched a new set-top box (STB) which will have recording ability and will come with a Wi-Fi dongle to enable consumers to enjoy recorded content on smartphones and tablets without consuming internet data.

The announcement assumes significance as this is a first of its kind technology in India.

“The new product (storage capacity of 500 GB) which comes at a price of Rs 9,300 along with the Wi-Fi dongle is aimed at consumers in the metro and Tier-I cities. We expect to see a fair share of growth as we have seen with our other products,” Pallavi Puri, chief commercial officer at Tata Sky, said.

Tata Sky, which was launched in 2006 as a joint venture between Tata Group and 21st Century Fox, currently has 14.5 million connections out of the estimated market opportunity of 50 million connections.

“The launch of the Tata Sky Transfer STB comes at a time when 75 percent of Indian audiences accessing the internet on their mobile devices are aged between 19 to 35 years and increasingly seek new content. 

The new STB empowers the subscriber to transfer their recorded television content from the set top box to their smartphones or tablets. “This effectively means that the Tata Sky subscriber can now record and view programs on their tablets or smartphones at any place and time in offline mode via the Tata Sky app,” the company said in a release.

The app is currently available for Apple and Android users.

Although the innovation is a first, the new STB takes the time of the content to transfer data via the Wi-Fi connection. Subscribers can also live-stream pre-recorded content on their mobile devices even if the STB is on and is catering to a television set.

Asked about the high price of the product, Puri said: “If the subscriber sees the entire deal, the package is inexpensive. Our existing customers will also have the option of upgrading to the new STB.”

Also, the company has added features to its app. “Subscribers can watch previous five days episodes of their favourite shows and will be able to view live streaming of their favourite shows on close to 80 TV channels and also set reminders for the shows they want to catch,” the company said.

“In addition, subscribers can give a command to record their desired programme by being anywhere outside their homes, through their smartphone, which the STB at home will execute. Once recorded, it can be viewed on the STB or transferred to view outside,” it added.

Source: http://indianexpress.com

The new Tata Sky+ Transfer set-top box lets users stream recorded content to smartphones

The new product (storage capacity of 500 GB) which comes at a price of Rs 9,300 along with the WiFi dongle is aimed at consumers in the metro and Tier-I cities. We expect to see a fair share of growth as we have seen with our other products," Pallavi Puri, chief commercial officer at Tata Sky, said. 

Tata Sky, which was launched in 2006 as a joint venture between Tata Group and 21st Century Fox, currently has 14.5 million connections out of the estimated market opportunity of 50 million connections.

"The launch of the Tata Sky Transfer STB comes at a time when 75 per cent of Indian audiences accessing the internet on their mobile devices are aged between 19 to 35 years and increasingly seek new content. Tata Sky plus Transfer is hence the innovative answer for consumers who want to keep in touch with their favourite content round the clock, anywhere, essentially without using up broadband data," Harit Nagpal, managing director and chief executive, Tata Sky, said.

The new STB empowers the subscriber to transfer their recorded television content from the set top box to their smartphones or tablets. "This effectively means that the Tata Sky subscriber can now record and view programs on their tablets or smartphones at any place and time in offline mode via the Tata Sky app," the company said in a release.

The app is currently available for Apple and Android users.

Although the innovation is a first, the new STB takes the time of the content to transfer data via the Wi-Fi connection. Subscribers can also live-stream pre-recorded content on their mobile devices even if the STB is on and is catering to a television set.

Asked about the high price of the product, Puri said: "If the subscriber sees the entire deal, the package is inexpensive. Our existing customers will also have the option of upgrading to the new STB."

Also, the company has added features to its app. "Subscribers can watch previous five days episodes of their favourite shows and will be able to view live streaming of their favourite shows on close to 80 TV channels and also set reminders for the shows they want to catch," the company said.

"In addition, subscribers can give a command to record their desired programme by being anywhere outside their homes, through their smartphone, which the STB at home will execute. Once recorded, it can be viewed on the STB or transferred to view outside," it added.

Source: http://www.ibnlive.com

Airtel Digital TV launches 4K UHD channel after Tata Sky and Videocon d2h

Months after Videocon D2h and Tata Sky launched such pilot efforts, Airtel Digital has also joined the 4K UHD bandwagon launching its first channel.

“Airtel’s 4K UHD channel provides the best of picture quality which is 4 times superior to regular HD channels and will customers to engage in a theatre like experience in the comfort of their home.”

Though DTH operators have shown willingness to launch such channels and have even brought out special DTH set top boxes for the purpose, there are currently no 4K channel broadcasting in India. These 4K channels are therefore filled with special content such as sports broadcasts and movies sourced by these operators globally.

Airtel said it will showcase the world TV premiere of Salman Khan starrer blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijan on the newly launched channel (channel number 400/158) on coming Sunday, October 11.

Airtel will also show programs like Overhalin (from Discovery) and blockbuster movies like Singh is King, Kick, Jai Ho etc. on the channel over the coming days.

“Bajrangi Bhaijan is the first movie to premiere on Airtel’s 4K UHD channel. Available exclusively to users of the Samsung Smart Direct TV, the movie from Star Gold 4K will premiere at 12:30 pm on Sunday.”

The Samsung Smart Direct TV is an integrated digital TV pioneered and launched by Airtel Digital TV in partnership with leading TV manufacturer Samsung.

It is a technology platform that has miniaturized the set-top-box into a small smart card that fits inside the television set at the back panel.

“The elegant solution offers a smart TV viewing experience with minimal signal loss and maximum audio & video clarity while also ensuring maximum power savings. An industry first, it uses minimal wiring and a single remote solution powered by an intuitive user guide enabling built-in Smart Card that allows customers to enjoy TV viewing without an external set top box.”

Samsung’s J-Series Smart Direct TV comes with additional features such as in-built Wi-Fi, Skype calling, Smart Apps etc.

It was not immediately clear whether Airtel Digital would also launch a special set-top box like its peers Videocon D2h and Tata Sky for receiving 4K content.

4K TVs currently start from a price of around Rs 40,000, while an equivalent-size full-HD TV would cost only around Rs 22,000.

Airtel’s 4K UHD channel is available completely free of cost to users of the Samsung Smart Direct TV for a limited period.

Source:  http://rtn.asia