The Digital TV Transition Continues

The broadcast industry is undergoing a dramatic change with the transition to multiplatform on-demand television. Media management companies cover content acquisition, creation, management, exchange and delivery to consumers spanning across the entire media value chain.

By integrating technology and services, they enable media service providers to enhance their ARPUs by optimal utilization of resources, content, or network. Their portfolio of managed services enables broadcasters to make significant operational and capital savings as they assume responsibility for technical platforms, while speeding time-to-market and minimizing business continuity risks.

There is a remarkable increase in consumption of video content on mobile devices anytime, anywhere, and this trend will continue. On-Demand, Second Screen, and Over-the-Top services are expanding the way we experience TV.

Digitizing cable platforms also presents huge opportunity for players to offer next-generation services. The implementation of digital addressable cable TV systems (DAS) is in progress, with the sunset date of December 31, 2015 for analog TV transmission in urban areas. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has notified a comprehensive regulatory framework encompassing interconnection, QoS, consumer complaint redressal regulation, and tariff orders. Twelve Regional Units for workshops on digitization, with the district nodal officers nominated by state governments have been set up. Issues as shortage of set-top boxes and yet no major orders placed on the indigenous industry remain.

India may finally have an open sky policy that will allow private companies to buy or lease foreign communication satellites and operate over Indian skies and the South Asian region. DTH and VSAT operators would no longer have to depend on ISRO’s Antrix Corporation for connectivity requirement through satellites.

Sunil Arora has been appointed as secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. He succeeds Bimal Julka.

IBC sits at the global crossroads of the electronic media and entertainment industry and provides a full and vibrant experience. At the forefront of industry innovation, providing unrivalled networking opportunities, held at the Amsterdam RAI, from September 10-15, we highly recommend the event!