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‘As an industry, we should support unregulated Cas’
SET Discovery president Anuj Gandhi offers his take on how the distribution scenario would shape up in 2007 in the wake of digital cable and direct-to-home (DTH) penetration.
The year 2006 was when broadcasters consolidated their businesses and made money on the second bouquet. The incremental increase in revenues for distribution companies largely came from this.
The combined growth in pay TV revenues was in the region of Rs 2.5-3 billion. This included the southern channels and later in the year Sun TV, the most popular channel in the region, also turned pay. Star One, which had problems in Mumbai and Kolkata, got established. We also made money from our second bouquet.
Direct-to-home (DTH) also became a reality in the year. Though it took time, Star India and SET Discovery bouquets were available on DTH as rates became realistic.
On the cable TV front, progress was made towards implementation of Cas (conditional access system). The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) came out with more definite regulations and there was intervention from the various courts. Unlike 2003, Cas definitely is more structured and planned this time. It, however, remains to be seen in 2007 whether it turns out to be a success or not.
The big story in 2007 would be DTHccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc and digital cable. Pay broadcasters would expect to net Rs 3.5-4 billion from DTH and the bulk of it would be incremental without eating into cable TV.
We should see deals being struck on all addressable platforms. Digital cable, voluntary Cas, Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS) should all become a reality and make economic sense to distribution companies like us. As an industry, we should support unregulated Cas. Things will take time to settle down till digital gets in mass volumes.
The big problem area should be a la carte pricing, but I don’t see channels deciding to price themselves individually below Rs 5. We would also see bouquets emerging in the Cas areas. It won’t be easy for consumers to forget the channels that they were receiving for so long. Family packages, properly priced, should take off. Pricing and a lot of other things, though, will depend on volumes.
Equations will change in carriage payouts to multi-system operators (MSOs). As ratings towns get added, carriage will move there. And these towns would not have a digital story. But I don’t see budgets of broadcasters towards carriage really jumping. What would happen is that they would be picking and choosing the places where they want better placement and carriage.
IPTV will see trial runs in 2007 but the commercial launches should happen only a year after that. All in all, there will be lot of changes in the marketplace in 2007.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
