News Broadcasting
Cable trade urges broadcasters to ‘educate’ viewer
MUMBAI: The Indian Cable Operators and Broadcasters Federation (ICOBF) representing the distributors/MSOs (multi system operators) and the Mumbai Cable Operators’ Federation (MCOF) representing the last mile operators, have urged broadcasters to flash scrawlers on the channels indicating the prices of the various channels within the bouquets.
ICOBF spokesperson Suvarn G Amonkar says: “Our intention was to educate the majority of consumers who were not aware of the fact that the Zee, Star, Sony and MEN bouquets had several channels in addition to the mainstream mass entertainment channels. We have also urged the broadcasters to continuously flash information related to the individual bouquet prices. I believe that Zee TV has been doing so but we want the others to also carry scrawlers.”
It is reliably learnt that the ICOBF has managed to get an okay in principle from several broadcasters who have agreed to flash on-screen messages on their channels informing viewers to cooperate with their cable operators. The ICOBF was formed one year ago and has been engaged in a continuous dialogue with broadcasters and the last mile operators (LMOs).
The representatives of both the federations (ICOBF and MCOF) claim that the 24-hour shutdown (midnight of Thursday, 20 February 2003 to midnight of Friday, 21 February 2003) of all pay channels was a successful exercise in creating public awareness.
Ever since politicians and consumer activists have coined their “Rs 150 per month” mantra, cable operators have been unable to collect money from the consumers. Industry sources confirm that the collections in the first two months of 2003 had plunged to abysmal levels. This had forced the MSOs and distributors to take action as they would have to pay the broadcasters from their own pockets.
At a meeting held recently in Mumbai’s western suburb Kandivali, the eight-member committee of the ICOBF informed broadcasters’ representatives that they would go ahead with the move of educating the consumers and solicited their support. This task force informed the various cable operators’ associations about their decision to go ahead with the blankout.
InMumbai Network’s senior VP Manoj Motwani adds: “The blackout wasn’t an act of rebellion against the broadcasters but a move which was conducted with their support and co-operation. Customers refuse to pay up and refer to the half-truth campaign initiated by the politicians and consumer activists. But the pay channels and broadcasters expect us (MSOs) to pay them at the end of every month.”
MCOF member Dinesh Devadia laments: “The adamant attitude of the consumers will spell doom for the small cable operators. We have to compulsorily collect and pay the MSOs at the end of every month. Several consumers from the lower strata of society refuse to pay us and collections have been bad.”
Sony CEO and Indian Broadcasting Federation VP Kunal Dasgupta was quoted in The Times of India as saying that consumers need to understand that they need to pay for pay channels. Dasgupta adds that all cable and satellite channels anywhere in the world are pay channels in one form or the other.
Dasgupta also mentioned that broadcasters cannot recover programming costs through advertising recovers and have to resort to extra subscription fee from subscribers.
However, there is a lot of uncertainty prevailing in the trade about the future – especially the 14 July deadline for the roll out of conditional access system (CAS).
“We have started the process of education and we feel that we have taken the first step in the direction. The consumers will be in a better state to understand the implications of CAS once the implementation starts,” says InMumbai’s Motwani.
ICOBF’s Amonkar says: “We are still unclear about the individual prices of pay channels. We are also awaiting guidelines from the I&B ministry. Our maintenance charges work out to Rs 60 per month and if the free-to-air channels are priced (by the government) at Rs 50, then the total monthly charges could reduce to sub-Rs 150 levels after incorporating the taxes. The small cable operators would hardly earn anything but at least there wouldn’t be any collection hassles.”
MCOF members however, disagree with this and claim that the maintenance charges are around Rs 75 per month and it will be difficult to charge less than Rs 150 per month.
MCOF’s Devadia further says that it will be very difficult to convince the slum-dwellers in Mumbai to purchase a set-top-box (STB). Well, only time will tell!
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
