Digital TV set to top cable

The shift in focus

The conversion to ‘digital addressable cable systems’ in India,mandated by the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill,2011,is meant to replace analogue signals — currently used by cable TV providers other than DTH operators — with digital signals,which take up less bandwidth and are of better quality.

The shift will also bring in more regulation. Unlike the old system,where one cable connection could serve a dozen TV sets with the help of a splitter,a set-top box will be required for each TV set. This makes it possible for authorities to determine the number of connections given out by an operator,by merely monitoring the set-top boxes,which are connected to the operators’ servers.

CHOOSE WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Both cable operators and officials driving the change say there are many advantages of digitisation.

In addition to better quality and less bandwidth requirement,the conversion to digital signals will mean that consumers will be able to handpick the channels they wish to see,and pay only for those,instead of paying for a motley bunch of 70-odd channels that cable operators now offer via analogue at a fixed price,say members of a task force formed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to oversee the switch.

“Digitisation will give consumers the freedom to choose any channel. Use of digital signals will mean that hundreds of channels can be transmitted in the same bandwidth required to transmit 70-odd channels. A customer will be able to choose any channels from among the 820 channels available in India. As channels are individually priced,operators cannot dump packages on the consumers. The only issue is that of installing set-top boxes. There is no need to buy set-top boxes as they can be rented,and if the user wants to change cable operators,they can just return the set-top box and choose another connection,” says Rajiv Takru,Joint Secretary,Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,who heads the task force.

Most of the modalities for digitisation are complete,and the TRAI is expected to come out with the rates for individual channels,as well as revenue sharing models between local cable operators,Multiple System Operators (MSOs) and broadcasters.

SOME CRY SHORTAGE

The digitisation process had a precursor in 2007,when South Delhi shifted to digital signals. While there was huge shortage of set-top boxes then,there is no supply problem anticipated now,says K R Jayaraman of Hathway,a major service provider in Delhi.

“In 2007,there was very little time provided to implement digitisation,as it was based on a court order. This time,we have been given about six months,and there have been periodic reviews. We have already placed orders and there will be no shortage. Most importantly,we have been offering digital signals voluntarily to customers in recent years. Around 22 per cent of our customers in Delhi already use digital signals,” he says.

“Set-top boxes have already started reaching us. I have been getting calls from customers and I have been assuring them that I will come install the boxes. I don’t see any problem,” says Arvind Kumar Mandal,a local service provider in Madhu Vihar,East Delhi,who offers connections of two major MSOs.

But smaller,independent MSOs say things are not as bright as they are made out to be. Vikki Choudhary,Managing Director of Home Cable Network,says a shortage of boxes can be expected as the requirement is more what the Ministry has estimated.

“We expect a shortage of set-top boxes,like what we faced in 2007 when South Delhi shifted to the Conditional Access System. I have been talking to vendors,mainly in China,and because of the sudden demand they have asked for 8-10 weeks or more,which means the boxes will reach me a few days before the deadline. The actual physical process of distributing these to local operators,getting agreements signed,installing set-top boxes in homes and getting the customer’s preferences fed into the system will take time. We need to train staff and we don’t have the manpower to do all of this in a few days time. There is a need for flexibility. If there is a blackout of analog and things go wrong,customers will suffer,” he says.

But Jayaraman is not worried. “Set-top boxes require hardly five minutes to install,unlike DTH where the installation takes hours. The deadline is reasonable and I see no reason why consumers will be inconvenienced. The only need is for a wider media campaign to create awareness among customers,” he says.

Vijay Dev,Secretary (Revenue) of the Delhi government,who is overseeing the digitisation process for the Capital,says,“We will start a full-fledged campaign as soon as TRAI releases the tariff for channels. Special teams will be constituted to monitor the implementation. If operators are found to be transmitting analogue signals after the deadline,they will face prosecution.”

The SOUTH DELHI example

South Delhi residents,who have already been through the switch,vouch for the benefits of digital TV. “The reception is much better and so is the quality of output. Though we paid for the set-top box,the service is so much better that it is worth it,” says K M Chandrashekaran,a businessman.

While South Delhi shifted to the Conditional Access System in 2007,analogue service continued in the area for months after the implementation,says Choudhary of Home Cable Network. “There was a lot of panic initially and we couldn’t cut off signals,so analogue continued till things settled down. In the end it was a great success,” he says.

Residents in other parts of Delhi who are gearing up for the transition,hope that the new system is delivered without a glitch.

“I am looking forward to the transition. We have been told that we’ll be able to choose which channels we need and that is a great,” says a resident of East Delhi.