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Chrome Dii report unveils carriage fee spends in 2013-14
MUMBAI: The Indian distribution industry is a complicated one and plagued with issues.
In the fourth round of Chrome Dii (Distribution Investments Index), the Chrome Data Analytics & Media has revealed carriage fee numbers across cities, thus giving a semblance to the much unorganised distribution industry.
The study highlights that the carriage fees paid to the multi system operators (MSOs) and the local cable operators (LCOs) have sky rocketed year on year due to the limited bandwidth on the analogue platform. But post digitisation, there has been a substantial correction owing to the opening of analogue bandwidth bottleneck.
“Dii has emerged as a powerful tool used by most broadcasters for internal audits and renegotiations. This also helps them in channelising and rationalising their carriage fee spends. Dii clubbed with the sub-base, gives them the return on investments across cable networks in 450+ cities of India. It takes into account the footprint of individual cable networks and co-relates the same to the average carriage fee spend for a particular band/frequency on that particular network. It gives the region-wise, market-wise and MSO-wise carriage fee spends further broken down to individual cable operators across the country,” says media veteran and Chrome Data Analytics and Media executive director Jeffrey Crasto.
The audit company’s CEO and founder Pankaj Krishna adds, “Digitisation was expected to be a harbinger of correction leading to nullification of carriage fees. As per TRAI, they had anticipated the Chrome Dii to come down to Re 1, however though there has been a significant drop; it has not come down to Re 1 – as compared to R3, Dii has come down from Rs 11.6 to Rs 7.2. Broadcasters have always faced huge challenges towards drawing benchmarks and rationalising of carriage fee spends which continue to hound them- therefore Chrome Dii R4, the objective of which is to simply facilitate business planning on the back of content affinity, market segmentation and industry benchmarks – the key to optimise distribution investments. Having run a channel myself, I understand the importance of access to key information – The Distribution Investments Index leaves no room for ambiguity in carriage fee investment decisions across every possible carriage fee deal”
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Chrome Dii, has been worked out on basis of the deals done by broadcasters over the last one year, with information gathered from across various sources including broadcasters as well as distribution platforms. After eliminating high variance deals, an average of six solo deals per cable network were studied for their investments for S band and UHF. For the digital scenario, Chrome Dii indicates a benchmark carriage to be available on the Basic Tier i.e. channels under BST (Mandated FTA channels) along with the first tier of pay channels. The study is inclusive of both new launches/new deals done in the last one year and existing deals expiring in January/April 2014.
Chrome Dii R4 reveals that north India emerged as the costliest region with a whopping Rs 13.63 crore (Dii R3 Rs 16.7 crore) for a 100 per cent availability across Basic + S band for new launches and Rs 10.43 crore (Dii R3 Rs13.3 crore) for renewals of existing deals whereas central India was the lowest with Rs 1.62 crore (Dii R3 Rs 3.11 crore) and Rs 1.27 crore (Dii R3 Rs 2.73 crore) for Basic + S band for new launches and renewing existing deals, respectively.
Chrome Dii R4, which this year was pre-subscribed by 11 leading TV networks, also reveals that if the Dii (cost per contact for the Television channels) is studied, the data shows the cost (renewals, S-band) per contact (household) is the highest in west India with an average of 11.1 followed by the north and central India at 8. The national average for renewals stands at 7.2.
Some interesting facts according to Chrome Dii R4 –
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1.To cite an example as per the above data, comparing how much a Hindi News channel would spend for a 75% HSM availability as per Dii R4 as compared to Dii R3 – it would pay 75% of (23.37 minus 3.89) = Rs. 14.61 Crores as per Dii R4 whereas it would have paid Rs. 19.57 Crores as per Dii R3 – a saving of over 26%! But has the overall pie reduced, not really! As there has been an increase in network bandwidth, hence the number of takers has increased.
2.Out of a total universe of 47mn C&S HHs in Class I India, Chrome Dii study tracks 38mn homes and balance 9mn are DTH (approx)
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3.North emerged as the costliest region with Rs. 13.63 Crores for 100% availability across Basic + S Band and Rs. 10.81 Crores for 100% availability across Basic + UHF for New Launches. Renewals of existing deals for Rs. 10.43 Crores for Basic + S Band and Rs. 8.54 Crores for Basic + UHF.
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4. The study also provides a benchmark for carriage fee efficiency w.r.to the Investment indices i.e. Chrome Dii i.e. Cost per Contact. Chrome reveals that the Dii (renewals, S-band, household) is the highest in West India with an average of Rs 11.1 followed by the North & Central at Rs 8. The national average for renewals stands at Rs 7.2
5. In terms of highest Chrome Dii, West was followed by North, Central, East and South.
R4
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R3
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6.The gap between Dii for Existing and New Launches has reduced over the years owing to digitization and increase in bandwidth of the networks.
7.Further, the gap between Dii for S Band and UHF has also reduced due to digitization
8.Chrome Dii for a New Launch in Central and East India has halved.
9.Top 8 deals as per Chrome Dii R4 – (ranging upto 3 Cr )
a.DEN UP CORPORATE DEAL
b.FASTWAY PUNJAB COPORATE DEAL
c.GTPL AHMEDABAD CORPORATE DEAL
d.HATHWAY CENTRAL CORPORATE DEAL
e.DEN NORTH CORPORATE DEAL
f.SCV CHENNAI DEAL
g.IN CABLE CENTRAL CORPORATE DEAL
h.HATHWAY BANGALORE CORPORATE DEAL
10.Most expensive Deals – Cost per contact (MSOs) – (ranging 18 to 42 against a national average of 7.2 )
a.All in Consultant UP Deal
b.Hathway CG Corporate Deal
c.DEN Mumbai Satellite Deal
11.Most expensive Deal (Independents)(maybe owning to the posh locality it caters to)
a.7 Star Juhu (West Region)
12.Regional MSOs garner higher CPC – E.g Asianet in South region, Fastway in North region
13.DEN commands the highest Dii amongst National MSOs, followed by Digi Cable and GTPL
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.
