MAM
C&S penetration grows 53% to 61 million homes in 3 years: NRS 2005
MUMBAI: Cable and Satellite penetration has increased by 53 per cent to 61 million homes in 2005, up from 40 million homes in 2002, according to the findings of the National Readership Study (NRS) 2005.
Television now reaches 108 million homes, which means it has crossed the 50 per cent mark of all homes for the first time, thus reflecting a growth of 32 per cent since 2002. Additionally, 56 per cent of all TV homes in India have C&S subscription.
The study revealed that the reach of satellite television has grown by leaps and bounds from 134 million individuals watching TV in an average week in 2002 to as many as 190 million individuals in 2005.
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have the highest C&S penetration (55 per cent each), followed by Karnataka (45 per cent).
Tamil Nadu has the highest TV reach of 77 per cent, whereas Andhra Pradesh has a 74 per cent reach. Karnataka, on the other hand, has a TV reach of 68 per cent.
Interestingly, two-thirds (70 per cent) of C&S homes have colour TV today. In 2002, only a little over half the C&S homes had colour TV. The growth of colour televisions have outstripped even the rapid C&S growth. Homes with colour TV have doubled to 58 million in 2005.
Internet reach has now exceeded the 10 million mark. The number of individuals aged 12 years and above who accessed the Internet in the last three months increased to 11 million in 2005. While 8 million of these are in urban India, close to 3 million Internet users reside in rural India.
Radio’s reach has stagnated at 23 per cent of the population listening to any station in the average week. It has improved its performance in urban India (23 per cent listen to radio as compared to 20 per cent three years ago) primarily due to FM. In rural areas, the reach has dropped from 25 per cent three years ago to 23 per cent this year.
Among the 183 million adults who listened to radio in the last three months, 43 per cent or 96.8 million, now tune on to any FM station, thus leading to an increase of more than 100 per cent over 2002. Also notable is the fact that FM has a larger audience base than Vividh Bharati (15.7 per cent compared to 11.3 per cent) in urban India.
Mobile phones have also emerged as a new medium. Almost 13.9 per cent mobile phone owners access value added features like downloads, accessing news and cricket scores, SMS etc. In the 35 metros that the survey covered, this figure stands higher at 24.7 per cent.
The NRS 2005 survey covered 261,212 respondents in India. NRSC research professional Kedernath Sharma, technical advisor Dr Shridhar and audit firm Ernst & Young were instrumental in the efforts behind the study. AC Nielsen was appointed as the research agency and significant improvements in design and methodology were made in order to yield robust readership estimates.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
