Cable news: Go digit or blank

Bharati Pawaskar / The Goan | SEPTEMBER 29, 2012, 07:30 AM IST

Although digital operators are gung-ho on plans to digitisethe broadcasting industry in India, a big question mark remains whether apopulation of 1.22 billion is ready to welcome the “imposed” digitisation.

There were doubts on the ambiguity in pricing of the digitalpackages that various channels and cable operators would offer to theirprospective consumers

The fifth annual India Digital Operators’ Summit  (IDOS – 2012) organised jointly by indiantelevision.comgroup and Media Partners Asia, in Goa ended on a positive note on going digitalwith the support of the government, in a phased manner, starting with the fourmetros from November 1.

Most of the participants were vocal in welcoming thedigitisation era. Digitisation is the need of the hour.

“Eleven million households will be digitised in the firstphase, while customers will have to pay additional fees for second or third TVconnections,” said Anil Khera, CEO, Videocon d2h, the DTH arm of Videocon Groupthat has 411 channels.

Major operators were positive that digitisation would happenin India, though the huge population is a bit of a constraint to the practicalimplementation of it.

Digitisation will surely add value to life and consumerswill willingly pay more, the industry stalwarts said.

“The Indian broadcasting industry is on the cusp of changewith digitisation round the corner. Digitisation is expected to unlock valuefor all the constituents in the ecosystem,” said Anil Wanvari,Indiantelevision.com Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.

Broadcasters will be the biggest gainers but the realchallenge will lie in the content.

While there is still confusion amongst the consumers as towhich TV brand or broadcaster they should opt for, the DTH companies have anadvantage.

The responsibility to educate the consumers will fall on thecable operators as they are the ones who come in direct contact with theconsumers in their locality.

The three-day event was held at the Lalit Golf & SpaResort in Rajbag-Canacona and the participants included leaders from theregulatory, cable distribution, DTH, broadcast, TV distribution and technologysegments along with content providers and investors of the broadcasting andpay-TV industries. 

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