Knowledge Centre

A: Phases of Digitalization of CATV in India

A: Digital Addressable System (DAS) is a description normally used for a set of hardware devices and connected software used at different stages of distribution of a TV channels through which the channels are transmitted in encrypted form. It contains the following attributes:

The subscriber is given an authorization depending upon his request to view one or more of such encrypted channels of his choice.

The subscriber will pay for those channels which he or she has chosen to view in such a system.

The authorization is given and controlled by the Multi System Operator (MSO) who owns the DAS in a Cable Television Network. In this, he is often assisted by the Local Cable Operator."Addressable system" signifies that a subscriber is identifiable.

The Multi System Operator and the broadcaster will know the exact number of subscribers of a channel or a bouquet of channels and the amount that is due from that subscriber.

A: Introduction of addressable systems requires large investments in equipment such as Head end, encryption, Subscriber management system and set top boxes. This level of investment cannot be done by the local cable operator. Hence an MSO sets the platform to receive signals from the broadcasters, adapts it to provide for addressability, keeps the consumer database, ensures compliance of quality of service and other regulations of TRAI and through Local cable operators or in some cases directly provides channels to subscribers. Thus the local cable operator is supposed to enter into an agreement with one of the permitted MSOs.

(As per TRAI guidelines)

A: A subscriber can get a Set Top Box as mentioned below:

i) On a rental basis from the Multi System Operator under a Standard Tariff Package prescribed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority or under any alternative tariff package offered by the multi system operator.
ii) A subscriber is also free to buy on outright basis the set top box from the Multi system operator.
iii) A subscriber can also get a Set Top Box against a security amount paid to Multi System operator or Cable operator.

A: "Bouquet" and "A-la-carte" can be explained as:

"Bouquet" or "Bouquet of channels" means an assortment of distinct channels, offered together as a group or a bundle."Bouquet rate" means the rate at which a bouquet of channels is offered to the distributor of TV channels or to the subscriber.

"A-la carte" with reference to offering a TV channels means offering the channel individually on a standalone basis and "A-la-carte rate" means the rate at which a standalone individual channel is offered to a distributor of TV channels or to the subscriber.

A: A subscriber can get a Set Top Box as mentioned below:

(i). Every multi service operator or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, shall provide to the subscriber the Set Top Box conforming to the Indian Standard, if any, set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
(ii). A subscriber can also get a STB on rent/hire basis and every MSO shall publicize the salient feature of various schemes available for outright purchase or rent or hire purchase of Set Top Boxes from it, in addition to the scheme as regards pricing, hire purchase or renting of Set Top Box, if any, specified by the Authority.
(iii) A subscriber can also get a Set Top Box against a security amount paid to Multi System operator or Cable operator.

A: When we pay for a pay channel, we are mainly paying for two components of it., viz.,

a) Payment to the broadcasters who own the channels and who charge for the "content", and
b) Payment to the MSO/Cable Operators who own the cable network infrastructure and who have to be paid for transmitting signals to our homes (which is the "carriage" part). In the case of FTA channels, there is no payment for "content" component to the broadcasters, but payment will have to be made for the "carriage" component because the physical infrastructure of cable network is used for transmitting signals.

A: Your local cable operator and multi system operator will give you the details along with the application form. The details will also be available on the Broadcasters site. Press releases from Broadcasting and Cable services division as available on TRAI's website www.trai.gov.in also give the details.

A: The following benchmarks are to be observed in regard to the redressal of complaints:

i) All complaints will be attended to or at least responded to within eight hours of receipt of complaint, except those received during the night which will be attended to the next day and satisfaction report obtained from subscriber.
ii) Where it is not possible to attend /respond to the complaint within this time limit, the response should indicate the anticipated time for redressal of the complaint.
iii) If it is not feasible to comply with the benchmarks indicated hereafter for reasons beyond the control of the cable operator /MSO, the reasons for the same will be communicated to the subscriber, while responding to the complaint.
iv) A system of rebates in the form of discounts to the subscriber due to interruptions on account of no signal or weak signal or disruption of service will be put in place by the cable operator or MSO, as the case may be, and the subscriber should be made aware of the same. (As per TRAI guidelines)

A: Every multi-system operator shall offer cable TV services on both pre-paid and post-paid payment options to the subscriber and shall be responsible for generation of bills for the subscribers. It shall be open to the subscriber to choose either the pre-paid or post-paid option.

In case of post-paid bills, the subscriber shall be billed, generally on monthly basis and the bill shall contain the Service Tax Registration Number and the Entertainment Tax Registration number of the multi-system operator. The entries in the bills shall be itemized to indicate the price of individual channels or bouquet of channels along with the names of channels in the bouquet, charges for basic service tier and the channels comprised therein, charges for set top box, taxes along with the rates of taxes levied and the charges for value added services availed by the subscriber, if any. Provided that this sub-regulation shall not in any manner prevent the multi-system operator from promoting different schemes of payment.

Every multi-system operator or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, shall on request from a subscriber, who has been provided pre-paid service, supply to such subscriber, at a reasonable cost, the information relating to the itemized usage charges showing actual usage of service.