News Broadcasting
Excise duty cut on STBs bring little cheer to local manufacturers
MUMBAI: The finance ministry’s decision to notify a reduction in customs duty from 25 per cent to 5 per cent on key components of a set-top box — tuners, remote control units and RF-modulators – in addition to abolishing excise duty on set-top boxes (STBs) has upset local manufacturers. There is a feeling that locals who make these items for television and perhaps telecom equipment will be hit because imports of these components will be cheaper than local manufacture, in the absence of countervailing duty on the import.
Broadband Pacenet (India) CEO S Ravindran reacts by saying: “Considering the estimated demand of 40 million boxes, the only way the government can give a boost to the local Indian industry is if the IPR for the design of the box and CAS is held in India. Otherwise, import is cheaper and the government will only play into the hands of foreign manufacturers. The moot point is that the box and CAS are integral units – that is why STBs can be rented (avoiding sales tax) because the box is part of the plant controlled by CAS.”
Experts are also critical of the fact that the ministry has not exempted the key components from excise duty. Sanjiv Narayan, president, Electronics Component Industry Association (Elcina), was quoted in a leading business daily as saying that if the components manufactured locally carry a 16 per cent excise duty but there is no excise duty on a finished STB, there is no set off for the manufacturer and the value-addition chain is broken.
HTMT group director and CTO KV Seshasayee says that the situation will not be clear until notiifcation comes through. “There is no excise duty if these items are imported – the components are not sold to customers. Presently these componenets are not made in India. ELCINA should be able to get clarification from the Ministry that if they supply these items locally, the STB manufacturer should be able to claim drawback on this, or the tuner manufacturer should be excise exempt when delivering to STB vendor. The remote control units are already made in India, and costs are comparable,” he adds.
Seshasayee also adds: “These are operational matters which component manufacturers have to work out with government. We as MSOs can help in the process.”
Broadband’s Ravindran also feels that the government’s strategy is anti-consumer. “The royalty on CAS can be calculated at $10/box and smart cards are replaced every year and cost $4. These will be continuous outflows and the subscriber will have to bear this cost. Certainly the government is not endeavouring to make it consumer friendly as other countries have done. In China, the government has made Chinacrypt as standard–so consumer gets flexibility and the government gets security. “
According to industry sources, manufacturers in China are able to supply globally because domestic policy allows them to manufacture locally for exports as well as domestic consumption.
Asked to comment on the government’s latest effort to get STBs moving in the market and the reaction of local manufacturers, HTMT group director and CTO KV Seshasayee said the situation would only be clear after the government notification came through.
He however made two points. The first being that there is no excise duty if these items are imported (the components are not sold to customers).
And referring specifically to the complaints made by local manufactuerers, Seshasayee said, “Presently these componenets are not made in India. Elcina should be able to get a clarification from the ministry that if they supply these items locally, the STB manufacturer should be able to claim a drawback on this, or the tuner manufacturer should be excise exempt when delivering to STB vendor. Remote control units are already made in India, and costs are comparable.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
