News Broadcasting
BIS delineates set top box standards, invites comments by 15 June
The Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002 may still be awaiting clearance by the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament), but the wheels are moving in other areas.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued a set of specifications as regards the analog set top box that is the cornerstone of the roll out of the proposed conditional access system.
This specifies the performance parameters for analog set top boxes to be used by subscribers for viewing pay channels through the cable distribution system.
The second part of the six-page report outlines the specifications for digital set tops.
The systems – both analog and digital – are primarily intended for sound and television signals operating between 30 MHz and 1 GHz.
On the issue of subscriber management systems, which is one that has particularly worried broadcasters, the document states: “Operators free to choose but it should ensure consumer interest by efficient responsive and accurate billing and collection. At the same time an arrangement must be made between the broadcaster and the cable operator for access to the relevant data relating to the respective channels for billing purposes.”
As far as general requirements go it is stated that: “It should be mandatory for the manufacturer / operator / service provider to declare to the subscriber the capability of the set top box and its inter-operability on other networks so that the subscriber is under no illusion whatsoever regarding the same. The manufacturer should ensure that compatibility / interfacing of set top box with standard consumer electronic goods such as television audio systems and VCRs in the country.”
The BIS notification states that all the standards are subject to revision and invites comments on the issue on or before 15 June.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
