News Broadcasting
BIS task-force on STB specifications for DTH
NEW DELHI: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has decided to form a task force to come up with recommendations on the specifications of set-top boxes (STBs) for KU-band direct-to-home television service, even as Star felt that interoperability, as suggested in the government guidelines, is not a workable model.
The task force would include representatives from the BIS, the two DTH applicant companies (the Subhash Chandra promoted ASC Enterprises and a Star affiliate, Space TV), Doordarshan (DD) , All India Radio (AIR) and a consumer activist.
The task force has to come up with its recommendations for the main committee of the BIS. What can make the work of task force difficult is the fact that BIS’ viewpoint is that it has to operate within the broad framework of the policy guidelines which states that for KU-band DTH service an open architecture has to be followed.
At a meeting held here yesterday, a Star India representative, according to BIS sources, opined that inter-operability or an open architecture would make starting a DTH service in India difficult as it is “not a workable model” to follow.
The reasons given, according to the sources, was that if an open architecture STB is insisted upon by the government, then it would make the STB expensive and difficult for a would-be service provider to subsidise the STB as exclusivity and captive consumers would not be assured.
Thomson India and CETMA, the apex body of consumer electronics goods manufacturers in India, supported the stand of Star, said to be represented by the Mumbai-based head of the company’s DTH operations in India. The information and broadcasting ministry had referred to the BIS the issue of specifications for STBs for DTH last year.
What does the government mean by an open architecture? In layman’s language it means that if a consumer buys a STB for a KU-band DTH service in India, then the STB should be capable of working if the smart card of another DTH service provider is inserted in it. This theory is based on the presumption that there would be several DTH service providers in India, though globally, this sector works best with monopoly or at best a duopoly.
Though BIS today made it clear it has to work within the DTH policy framework, announced by the government late 2000, some time back officials of the BIS had admitted to indiantelevision.com in private that an open architecture, as being insisted by the government, is a very difficult modele to adhere to as its prevalence is rare worldwide and would make the whole operation costlier for the consumer.
Still, there are people in the broadcasting and cable industry who feel that open architecture is a possibility and the interest of the consumer would be protected.
A debate, it seems, that will take some more time before a working consensus emerges.
News Broadcasting
India Today Group debuts AI anchor ‘Sutra’ at AI Impact Summit 2026
Sutra aims to simplify live policy debates using sovereign AI models
NEW DELHI: India Today Group has unveiled Sutra, an AI-driven news anchor designed to deliver real-time, contextual reporting, marking the group’s latest push to integrate artificial intelligence into mainstream journalism.
The AI anchor was introduced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi and developed in collaboration with BharatGen, with the initiative showcased by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
India Today Group said Sutra is built to navigate complex policy discussions and fast-moving developments by synthesising information into concise, accessible insights, aimed at narrowing the gap between high-level debates and public understanding. The AI anchor was used to surface live takeaways from key sessions at the summit.
India Today Group chief AI officer Nilanjan Das, said the project was focused on clarity and accessibility without diluting editorial rigour. He added that working with BharatGen aligned the group’s AI ambitions with India’s broader push towards sovereign technology capabilities.
BharatGen CEO Rishi Bal, said the partnership reflected a shift from basic automation towards deeper contextual intelligence in media. He emphasised the importance of indigenous, multimodal AI models capable of understanding Indian languages, regional dialects and cultural nuance, particularly as AI-driven news formats gain traction.
The launch positions India Today Group among the first major Indian media houses to deploy an AI anchor backed by home-grown technology, underscoring a growing convergence between journalism, public policy and sovereign AI infrastructure.
