Cable Operators Federation of India

13/97,SubhashNagar,NewDelhi110027

Ref/COFI/TRAI/05/2012 05February2012 TheChairman TelecomRegulatoryAuthorityofIndia NewDelhi110002 KindAttention:ShWasiAhmed COUNTERCOMMENTSONCOMMENTSOFSTAKEHOLDERSONTRAICONSULTATIONPAPER ONIMPLEMENTATIONOFDIGITALADDRESSABLESYSTEMSPAPERNO.8/2011 Sir, RefConsultationPaperNo8/2011datedDecember22,2011onissuesrelatedto implementationofDigitalAddressableCableTVSystems WeprovideourcountercommentsonvariouscommentsplacedonTRAIwebsite. WhatisTRAIstrueobjective? Primaryobjectiveofaregulationistoprotectconsumerinterest.MigrationtoDASistotally dependentontheacceptanceandinterestofthegeneralpublicandtheMarket.Thereisno doubtthatdigitalizationofcableTVnetworkswillusherinaneweraofconvergenceinthe countrybuttheprocessmuststartfromwheretheindustryisatpresent. Notechnologypush,butMarketPullisrequiredtointroducethenewtechnology.Regulations mustbemadeaccordingtothemarketsituationandeconomicconditionsofthecountry existingatpresentratherthantosatisfythedemandsofafewlargecompanies,whichisamply showninthepresentconsultation. Answersgivenbymanybroadcasters,theirDTHventures,Channelaggregators,distributorsand theirsupportingindustrybodiesareinsyncwithwhatlogicTRAIhasrelieduponintheir ConsultationPaperandframedthesequestionsinsuchawaysoastosatisfytheirneedsrather thanneedsofmillionsofconsumers,thousandsofsmallcableoperatorsandwhohavebeen servingtheindustrysincelast25years. ThepresentconsultationpaperonimplementationofDAShas20questionsoutofthe27, posedinamannertobenefitBroadcasters.

Question1to4tomakeforbearanceoftariffforbroadcasters. Q.5RetailTarifftofavourbroadcasters. Q.6Interconnectionfavouringbroadcasters. Q.78,RevenueShare. Q.9,10,11MustCarryFavouringbroadcasters Q12,13,14Carriagefeefavouringbroadcasters Q15StandardInterconnectionfavouringbroadcaster. Q.20PrepaidBillingfavouringbroadcasters. Q.25NonaddressableSTBtofavourbroadcasters.

Wedontfindanyquestionstoanswer Consumers a) Concernsofmillionsofsubscriberswhocannotaffordtobuyanaddressablesettopbox andpayaseparatefeetopaychannels(PleasetakeacluefromtheChennaiCAS Market) b) HowwillTRAIconvincemillionsofsubscribers(ExcludingDTHandCASareasubscribers) thatafterwatchingthepresentchannelsasFTAfor20years,theywillhavetopayfor eachchannelseparatelyorstopwatchingthem? c) WhowillfinancetheseSTBs;Broadcasters,MSOs,CableOperatorsorGovernment. d) HowwillthesupplyofmillionsofSTBsbemadetofulfillthedemandsbeforethesunset dates? e) HowwilltheRegulatorensurethatallexistingsubscribersgetwhattheyarewatching now,inalmostthesamecostastheyarepayingnowwhentheDASservicesare implemented? f) WithoutBISstandardsinplace,whoandhowwillensurethequalityoftheseSTBs? g) PortabilityofSTBsusingCAMandCItohelpconsumersshiftfromoneserviceprovider toanother? h) Noincentivesforlocalmanufacturinginplace. i) NowaiverofdutiesformakingtheimportedSTBsaffordable. j) Noissuesaddressedonrepair/replacementsoffaultySTBs. k) NopromotionofbroadbandfortheIndianmassesincludinginruralareas,thatcan uplifttheeconomyofthecountryandhasbeentalkedaboutbyTRAIinalltelecomand UnifiedlicensepoliciesdraftedbyTRAI.Whatregulationswilladdressthispoint? l) BlackoutofCableTVforconsumersisanINDIRECTPROMOTIONofDTHbythe governmenttopushthemtobecomeDTHsubscribers. SmallOperators a) PresentConsultationisnotMarketOriented.Itcaterstoonlythe20%cablemarket withbigplayersandnotthe80%marketbuiltbythousandsofselfemployed entrepreneurs.

b) Whyprovisionofbroadbandtripleplayservicesthroughcableoperators,whichisthe mostimportantissueatpresent,notaddressedintheconsultation? c) WhyCAMbasedheadendsarenottalkedaboutintheconsultation?Thesecompact headendsaretentimescheaperincostgivingabetterqualityofdigitalsignalandare usedallovertheworldincludingEuropeandUSandmanysmallcableoperatorscan affordthem. d) LargeMSOsarepresentinTAMcitiesonly,tobringmoreadrevenuetobroadcasters whoown/supporttheseMSOs.IndiaismuchmorethantheTAMcities.The consultationpaperdoesnotshowanyconcernfortheCableOperatorsinnonTAM cities. e) Only20percentofLCOsmaybejoinedwiththelargeMSOs.Manyofthemmayliketo retaintheirindependentbusinessinvestingontheirownratherthanbeapartofthe largeMSOswhomtheyjoinedoutofcompulsionbecausetheMSOsaresupportedby BroadcastGroupstoultimatelycapturetheirbusinessthroughexploitativemethods. Theseoperatorsareexpectingthegovernment/theregulatortohelpthemretaintheir businessandemploymentoflacsofpeopleworkingforthembymakingsupportive regulations.Nosuchconcernisvisiblefromthepresentconsultationwhereasthiswas themainconcernofmanyMPs,expressedduringdiscussionsinboththehousesof Parliament.HonourableMinisterofInformationandBroadcastinghadassuredthem thattherewillbenounemploymentduetoDASandsmalloperatorsconcernswillbe lookedafter. Ourresponseindetailhasalreadybeensubmittedbutwewishtocountersomeoftheanswers whichmanybroadcasters,DTHoperators,ChannelAggregatorDistributorsandIndustry Associationshavegivenintheirresponse.Beforeexpressingourviewsontheissues,wewishto knowwhatdoesTRAIwanttoachievefromtheseRegulations? InvolvethefragmentedCableTVindustrytobecomebroadband infrastructureastheprimaryobjectiveoftheseregulationsortoclosedownall smallnetworksearningtheirlivelihoodformanyyearsandblackoutmillions ofpoorsubscribersbymakingverytoughconditionsforthemtocontinue further. Dotheywanttoempowerthemasseswithaffordableentertainment andinformationserviceormakelargemediagroupsmakehugeprofitsfrom sellingtheircontenttovulnerableconsumers,whomtheyhavemade accustomedtotheircontent,providingitfreeinnonaddressablesystemsfor thelast20years? PrerequisitestoDigitalisationnotmetbythegovernment TRAIinitsrecommendationsdated05August2012,hadrecommendedsomemeasurestohelp implementdigitalizationexpeditiously.Theseare:

a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i)

UseofBISstandardscompliantequipment AmendmentofCableTVAct, LicensingforMSO&LCOs, Alldigitalnetworksbetreatedastelecomnetworks(ofcourse,onlyafterBECILoranother authorizedagencycertifiesit) CustomdutytobeZerofornextthreeyears, Rationalizationoftaxesandlevies, RightofWay, Massiveeducationprogrammeand Laydownpracticaldeadlines.

OutoftheaboveonlyCableActAmendmenthasbeendonesofar.How dothegovernmentandtheregulatorbelieve,DASwillbeimplemented withouttheotherimportantprerequisitesasrecommendedbyTRAI? Actionnotyettaken TherearenoBISstandardsforDAS Nolicensingguidelineshavebeenissued NoCustomDutywaived Noactofrationalizationoftaxesandleviesinsight NostategovernmenthasmadeanyrulesforRightofWay Notraininghasstarted.BECILtrainingisaprivateventurewitha costandnotsponsoredbyTRAI. NootheragencyforcertificationandauditexceptBECIL.Monopolyinthis processisdangerousandexploitativeasthepreviousexperience. Howcantheinvestmentscomeunlessthereisaconduciveenvironment? BasicServiceTierfortheDigitalAddressableCableTVSystems 1.Whatshouldbetheminimumnumberoffreetoair(FTA)channelsthatacable Operatorshouldofferinthebasicservicetier(BST)?Shouldthisnumberbedifferent? Fordifferentstates,cities,townsorareasofthecountry?Ifso,whatshouldbethe Numberandcriteriafordeterminationofthesame? 2.inthecompositionofBST,whatshouldbethegenrewise(entertainment, Information,educationetc.)Mixofchannels?Shouldthemixofchannelsand/orthe CompositionofBSTisdifferentfordifferentstates,cities,towns?Ifso,howshoulditbe? 3.WhatshouldbethepriceofBST?Shouldthispricebedifferentfordifferentstates? Cities,townsorareasofthecountry?Ifso,whatshouldbethepriceandcriteriafor?

Determinationofthesame? 4.WhatshouldbealacarterateofchannelsthatformpartofBST?Shouldtherebea linkagebetweenalacarterateofchannelsintheBSTtotheBSTpriceoraveragepriceofa channelintheBST?Ifso,whatshouldbethelinkageandwhy? CounterCommentsto1,2,3,4CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,Media Pro,Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,Motion Picture,DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels. Ingeneral,allofthemhaveexpressedthat a) Thereisadequatecompetition.(TRAIhasexpressedthesameinCosultationPaper) b) Thereshouldbenooutdatedandunnecessaryconstraintsnowaorebearanceshould prevail. c) TariffOrderdated21July,2010meantforDTHandotheraddressablesystemsshouldbe applicableonDAS. d) ConsumershaveenoughchoiceandiftheyfindDASBSTcostly,theycanshifttoDD DirectPluswhichisafreeservice. COFICounterComments ThereisnoAdequateCompetitionasthereisnoLevelPlayingField Thereisnocompetitioninthemarketatlowerlevelfortheconsumers.Thisisafalsestatement madetofavourlargeMediagroupstryingtomonopolizethemarketwiththeirDTHoperation andMSOoperations. AlthoughthereisenoughcompetitionamongthesixDTHplayers,cableoperatorsareinno positiontocompetewiththemconsideringtheirscaleofworking.AlsothereisnoIPTVtogive competitiontoDTH. Nootheroperation(DTH,IPTVorMobileTV)caterstothepoorsegmentofIndiansociety exceptCableTV.Morethan70%ofIndiaispoorand63.5%populationisunderfoodsecurity. AllfinancialinvestmentsareopentothebigplayersbutcableTVhasnone. AllIndustryAssociationslikeFICCI,CII,CASBAAandMPAlobbyfortheBigCorporatebutnoone fightsforthesmallscalebusinessenterprisesofcableoperationorthepoorconsumers. DTHoperationisregulatedbyGuidelineswhicharenotstatutory,butcableTVbusinesshas beenregulatedwithrestrictivelawssince1994.

DTHhasflourishedonlybyviolatingallguidelineslikemandatoryinteroperability,mandatory alacarteetc,overlookedbytheGovernmentandRegulator. EventhebroadcastershaveverylightregulationsthroughGuidelinesandselfregulations. a) DTHOperationisverydifferentinnaturefromCableTV ItiscompletelyunfairandirrationaltocompareDTHoperatorswithasmallcable operatorworkingindependentlyinasmallareaorinruralIndia. AccordingtoTRAI,averagesubscriberofanLCOisabout1000andtherearethousands ofsuchoperators,somehavingonly300500subscribers.WhereaseachDTHoperator hasmillionsofIndianhouseholdsastheirsubscribers,thuscantakefulladvantageof economyofscalenotavailabletosmalloperators. DTHoperationhasbeenstartedbyBroadcasterswhorefusetoprovidecontenttosmall operators. DTHhasbeengrowingsincelastsevenyearsasadigitaladdressableservicewithoutany competitionfromanyotherdigitalserviceafterCablesadvancementwashaltedbythe governmentdeferringCASimplementation.CableDAShasnotevenstartedbutisfacing thecompetition.ThefirstgovernmentadmakingpublicawareofDAShasbeen counteredbysomeDTHcompaniesinthesamenationalnewspapercallingitasan inferiorservice(Dabba)on5thFebruary2012.Wonderhowdidtheysynchronized theiradwiththeI&BMinistryonthesameday! ThereisapricefreezeoncableretailTVratesbutnosuchfreezeonDTHserviceexcept Rs150limitontheirbasicpackage. b) DTHTariffcannotbeappliedonCable CableSubscriberisverymuchdifferentfromDTHsubscriber.DTHsubscriberstaysin mostlycabledryareasandknowsthathewillhavetopayfortheSTBandpaychannel packageswhereascablesubscriberinNonCASareasdonotknowthattheyarebeing forcedtobuytheSTBandpaymoretowatchwhattheyhavebeenwatchingforthelast 25years.TheyalsodonotknowthatincasetheycannotaffordtheDASservice,they shouldstopwatchingcabletelevision. Duetoeconomicdisparity,presentcablesubscribermaynotoptforanypaychannel becauseofthecostsinvolved,evenifhehadbeenwatchingthesechannelsformany yearsservedbycableoperatorsasasinglepackage.ThishashappenedinChennaiand willhappenalloverIndia. DTHsubscriberpaysRs100150forbasicpackagewhereastherearecablesubscribers payingonlyRs50orevenlessoncable. c) DDDirectPlusisnotanalternativetoCableservice

DDDirectPlusisnotaddressablewhereasinDAS,allchannelsareaddressable. DDDirectPlusdoesnotcareforCONSUMERCHOICE/preferences.Theytakehighestbid amounttoplaceachannelbyeauctioning. DDDirectPlusdoesnotcatertoconsumerinterest. FTABSTshouldnotbecomparedwithDDDirectPluswhichishavingonly58channelsat present. CompositionofDDDirectPlusisfixedforallIndiaandwillnotcatertotheneedsof consumersofeveryregion.EvenwhenDDDirectPlusbeams200channels,thereare about600FTAchannelswhichtheycannotbroadcastduetononavailabilityof transponders. DDDirectplusSTBishalfthepriceofDASSTB.AddingprivatechannelsonDDDirect PlusthatwasstartedasonlyaDDchannelserviceposesanunfaircompetitiontoCable. DDDirectpluswasnevermeanttobeacompetitiontocable.Itisapublicsectorproject andcannotbecomparedwithaprivatebusiness. . d) MonopolyofBECILforTechnicalAuditFavoursBigCompaniesonly BECIL,appointedbyTRAI,hasamonopolyinthetechnicalauditbusinessbecauseTRAI hasnottriedtoappointanyotheragencytilldatethattheyrecommendedin2010. BECILchargesRs5lakhtoauditbothanMSOheadendhavingconnectionsinmillions andasmallindependentMSOoraCableOperatorhavingjustafewhundredor thousandconnections. BECILwillobviouslyfavorlargeplayersbecausebeingacommercialventure,they expectmorebroadcastingbusinessfromthemratherthanfromasmallplayerhaving limitedbusiness. NoBECILauditismandatoryforDTHnetworks,IPTV,MobileTV,broadcaststationsor uplinkcenters. CONTENTSisnotgivenbyBroadcastersevenaftertakingBECILcertificate.Hehastogo toTDSATtogetthat(ICCPuneCase). RetailTarifffortheDigitalAddressableCableTVSystems 5.ShouldtheretailtariffbedeterminedbyTRAIorlefttothemarketforces?Ifitistobe determinedbyTRAI,howshoulditbedetermined? a) Shouldthealacartechannelpriceattheretailbelinkedtoitswholesaleprice?Ifyes, whatshouldbetherelationbetweenthetwopricesandtherationaleforthesame? b) Shouldtherebeacommonceilingacrossallgenresforthepaychannelsordifferent ceilingsfordifferentgenres?Whatshouldbetheceilingsineachcaseandthereasons thereof?

c)ShouldtherebeacommonceilingacrossallgenresfortheFTAchannelsordifferent ceilingsfordifferentgenres?Whatshouldbetheceilingsineachcaseandthereasons thereof? d)Anyothermethodyoumayliketosuggest? CounterComments5a),b),c),d)CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia ,MediaPro,Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa, MotionPicture,DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobaland others. CounterComments TRANSITIONPERIOD. ThereshouldbenoforebearanceinRetailMarketforthenextfiveyearsasthereis verticalmonopolyofBroadcasters.DuringtransitionperiodfromAnalogtoDigital, MSO/LCOshavetospendlargeamountofmoneyandrequirelotoftimetoaligntheir networksandneedprotectionthroughregulations. ThereisnomarketforceforPaychannels.Ideallytoprotecttherevenueofpay channelbroadcastersandaddresstheirconcerns,allpaychannelsbemandatedtogo throughaddressablesystemsandFTAchannelsthatdonotdependonsubscription revenues,bedistributeddigitally,withoutaddressability.Thereisnoaddressability requiredforFTAchannels.ButthiskindofmarketdoesnotexistinIndiawhere subscribersinanalogmarketdonotevenknowwhatisaPaychannel?Majorityof Indiacanhardlyaffordsuchaluxuryatthismoment. Consideringaffordabilityofconsumersofalleconomicstrataandteethingproblems facedbyMSO/LCOinimplementingtotaldigitaladdressability,Tariffshavetobe protectedbyTRAIalongwithprotectionfromunfaircompetition.AnalogMarketisnot preparedformigrationtoatariffregimeofPaychannels.Hence,TRAImustfixthe tariffforaminimumperiodofnextfiveyearstoletthemarketbecomestable.Only afterthatforbearancemaybeintroducedafterareview. ThelargeMSOshavingsupportofBigBroadcastingGroupsandFDIinvestorscaninany case,investinDigitaladdressabilityworkingonalargescale.Buttheydonotcontrol morethan20%ofthemarket.Smallcableoperatorsservingtherestof80%market, comprisingoflowerandmiddleclassIndiaandwhoalsoneedtimetoconsolidatetobe abletoavailscalesofoperationfordigitalservices,needprotectionfromthe governmentinespeciallytransitionperiodwhichshouldbeoffiveyears.

PRICINGOFCONTENT. Itisnotdifficulttopricethecontentasyearlyaccountsofbroadcasterscanrevealall thecostsandtheiraccountbookscanshowhowmuchtheyhavespentoncreating/ acquiringcontent. AdvertisementonthechannelinternationallyandwithinIndia. Samecontentdubbedindifferentlanguagesandsoldindifferentmarkets. ContentproducedinIndiabutdistributedallovertheworldtoearnforsubscription,ads andotherincomeinforeigncountries. AllIntellectualPropertiescanbepriced.Theevaluationsaredoneevenwhen broadcastrightsorcopyrightsaresold.

DTHTariffnotapplicabletoCable. TariffOrderdated21July2010meantforDTHandotheraddressablesystemsprimarily dealwithDTHandotheraddressablesystemsthatcoverthewholecountrycateringto millionsofsubscribers.TheTariffOrderdoesnotcovertheCableTVdistribution businessdonethroughthousandsofsmalloperators,takingfeedsfromMSOsor generatingtheirownsignalsthroughsmallheadends.Tariffissuesandbusiness dynamicsaretotallydifferentintheircaseastheyworkondiagonallyoppositescales ofoperation. Therearemorenumberofstakeholderstosharetherevenueincable,whereasinDTH itisallinthehouse,asbroadcasterswhoprovidecontentalsoowntheDTHoperations. Allnetworkswhoonlyinstalldigitalheadendsbutcannotaffordaddressability,canat leastcontinuetheirbusinesswithFTAchannelsindigitalmodedeployinglowcost digitalheadendsthatcosttentimesless. FixationofAlaCarterates:Somestakeholdershavecommentedthatthereshouldbe nofixationofalacarteratesbyTRAI.SomearticlesfromtheUSNewspapershavebeen giveninsupport.ThesearenothingbutamethodoflobbyingbysomeUSbased broadcasters.Actually,itwasprovedthatalacartechoiceisbestforconsumersand FCChadchangedtheirmindonlyafterathoroughresearch.Ratesmustbefixed otherwiseweareleavingtheIndiansubscribersatthemercyofthesepowerful broadcastersforexploitation.PleasefindtheoriginaldocumentsfromFCCandsome pressarticlesfromConsumerOrganisationsattachedasfollows: i) FCCFurtherReportOnthePackagingandSaleofVideoProgrammingServicesTo thePublic. ii) ConsumersUnionLaunchesCampaigntoOverturnFCCRuleChanges:Statementof GeneKimmelman,ConsumersUnionontheFCCdecisiononMediaOwnership.

iii) TestimonyofGeneKimmelman,SeniorDirectorofAdvocacyandPublicPolicy, ConsumerUniondated14July2004 InterconnectionintheDigitalAddressableCableTVSystems 6.DoesanyoftheexistingclausesoftheInterconnectionRegulationsRequire? Modifications?Ifso,pleasementionthesamewithappropriatereasoning? CounterComments6:CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,Motion Picture,DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers. COFICOUNTERCOMMENTS: PublicNoticePeriodforDisconnection:A21daynoticeperiodshouldnotbereducedasit takestimeforcompletingallthelegalandotherformalities,particularlyinsmallcities.A prematuredisconnectionadverselyaffectsthebusinessofacableoperatorwhoworksinacut throatcompetitionenvironment.7daysperiodisnotinConsumerinterest. LockinPeriod:Shouldbeonlyonemonthtogivesubscribersfreedomofchoosingtheevent theywishtowatch.Else,channelsmaychargeaspayperviewbasisforspecialevents. Audit&Penalties:Powertoauditshouldbevestedwithagovernmentappointedagencyand notbroadcaster.Thereare800broadcastersatpresentandcableoperatorscannotbeleftto thewhimsandfanciesofthebroadcasters.Broadcastersshouldnotforcetheirbusiness conditionsonMSO/MSOI/CableOperators. TherearethousandsofcablenetworksinIndiaandauditingthemisnotasimpletask.A certificatetothiseffectatthetimeofregistrationandrenewalshouldsuffice,otherwiseitwill leadtocorruptionandfavoritism. AntiPiracy:Broadcastershavevoicedthispointonlytokeeptheirmonopoliesintactby blamingcableoperatorswhowishtooperateindependently,whenevertheyincreasetheir connectivityanddemandhigherratesarbitrarily.Toprotecttheirproduct,theymustkeeptheir ownchecksandbalancesandnotbediscriminatoryintheirapproach. FingerPrinting:EveryMSOhashisfingerprintingintheCASsystemandfollowsthe internationalnormsasIndianstandardsdonotexist.Passingtheoriginalfingerprintingof broadcastershouldbeoptional.Thiswillspeeduptheprocessofdigitalizationtoagreatextent aseventhesmallCableoperatorswillbeabletoinstallCAMbasedheadendsthatcostten timescheaper.Within1520lakhs,theycaninstallaheadendof160channels. Ifbroadcastersdonothavediscriminatorypoliciesinprovidingtheirsignals,mostofthe problemsofsocalledpiracywillgo.

 ThereisnoneedforTRAItomakeitmandatorytopassfingerprintingofBroadcastersonthe cablenetwork.Unnecessaryputtingsuchrestrictionsoncablenetworksmeansmakingit difficultforsmallplayerstoimplementdigitalizationsothatthesmallerplayersareforcedto eitherjointhelargeMSOswhoareownedbythebroadcastersorgetaDTHconnection, whichwillhelptoincreasetheirmonopoly.Sucharegulationwillbediscriminatoryforsmall operatorswhostillwishtocontinuetodotheirbusiness. SMSReports:ThereportgiventobroadcastersmaybebasedupontheSTBIDnumberandnot adetailedsubscriberreportasdesiredbysomebroadcastersgivingdetailsofcustomer telephonenumber,emailetc.However,thedetailedreportcanbemadeavailabletoanyaudit authoritydeputedbythegovernmentattheofficeoftheoperator. MustProvide:QualifiedMustProvideisnotrequired.Regulationstakecareoftheregistration andrevokingofit.Asfarasunauthorizedtransmissionisconcerned,itisamatterofdisputeto beresolvedbyacompetentauthority.SuchproblemsariseonlywhenBroadcasterstryto establishtheirmonopoliesthroughtheirownMSOs/Distributornetworks,harmingthe businessofotherMSO/Operatorswhoarecompetingwiththem. 7.ShouldthesubscriptionrevenuesharebetweentheMSOandLCObedeterminedbyTRAI orshoulditbelefttothenegotiationsbetweenthetwo? ItishighlyrequiredtobedonebyTRAIbecausetherearelargescalemonopoliesinthemarket andcableoperatorsandconsumersmustbeprotectedduringthetransitionperiod,atleastfor nextfiveyears. 8.IfitistobeprescribedbyTRAIwhatshouldbetherevenueshare?Shoulditbe? SameforBSTandrestoftheofferings? CounterComments:7,8CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,MotionPicture, DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels. RevenuesharebetweenMSOandLCOsshouldnotbelefttothemarketforcesasthereareno marketforcesduetomonopoliesofafewbroadcasters.Infact,theydeserveabiggershare thantheMSO. LCOisnotaDealer/AgentofMSO.Heisanindependentownerofalastmilenetworkandnot amereinstallerofSTBandcollectorofsubscription.Hebuilds,maintainsandoperateshis networkwithhisownmoneyandprovidessubscriberstoanMSOoroperatesindependently. HemaintainsrelationshipwiththeconsumerforthebenefitoftheMSOandtroubleshootsthe connection.InDTHandTelecom,dealersdonotdoanyofthis.ItistheLCOnetworksthatneed

morecapitalfordigitalization.MostoftheMSOsalreadyhavetheirdigitalinfrastructurein place.MSOsbusinesstotallydependsonanLCO. 9.ShouldthemustcarryprovisionbemandatedfortheMSOs,operatingintheDASareas? 10.Incasethemustcarryismandated,whatqualifyingconditionsshouldbeattachedwhen abroadcasterseeksaccesstotheMSOnetworkundertheprovisionofmustcarry? 11.Incasethemustcarryismandated,whatshouldbethemannerinwhichanMSOshould offeraccessofitsnetwork,forthecarriageofTVchannel,onnondiscriminatorytermstothe broadcasters? CounterComments:9,10,11CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,Media Pro,Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,Motion Picture,DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels. 12.ShouldthecarriagefeeberegulatedforthedigitaladdressablecableTVsystemsinIndia? Ifyes,howshoulditberegulated? 13.Shouldthequantumofcarriagefeebelinkedtosomeparameters?Ifsowhatare? Theseparametersandhowcantheybelinkedtothecarriagefee? 14.Canacapbeplacedonthequantumofcarriagefee?Ifso,howshouldthecapbe? Fixed? CounterComments:12,13,14CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,Media Pro,Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,Motion Picture,DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels. CarriagefeemustbesharedwithLCOsbecausetherearemostimportantlinktocarrychannels tothesubscribers. 15.ShouldTRAIprescribeastandardinterconnectionagreementbetweenservices? ProvidersonsimilarlinesasthatfornotifiedCASareaswithconditionsas ApplicableforDASareas?Ifyes,why? CounterComments:15CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,MotionPicture, DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels.

TRAImustprescribeastandardinterconnectionagreementbecausetherearelarge monopoliesinthemarketandbiggerandstrongerpartneralwaystriestocapturethebusiness oftheweakerpartnerwithsuchmanipulatedagreements.Becauseoflackofunderstandingof legalterms,IndependentMSO/LCOshavealwayssuffered.Broadcasters/largeMSOsdonot evengivebackasignedcopyofagreementtotheLCO. QualityofServiceStandardsfortheDigitalAddressableCableTVSystem 16.DoyouagreewiththenormsproposedfortheQualityofServiceandredressalof? ConsumergrievancesforthedigitaladdressablecableTVsystems?Incaseof Disagreement,pleasegiveyourproposednormsalongwithdetailedjustifications. Inanaddressablesystemthereisnoneedtodeployindependentsurveyagenciestoverify subscriberbase. TRAIshouldaskallBroadcasterstofilewiththemtheiragreementswithcontentproducers, copyrightowners,advertisers,DistributionAgencies,MSOs,CableOperatorsetc.andupload theseinapublicdomaintobringtransparencytotheiroperation. 17.Pleasespecifyanyothernorms/parametersyoumayliketoaddwiththerequisite. Justificationsandproposedbenchmarks. CounterComments:16,17CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,MotionPicture, DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels. 18.Whoshould(MSO/LCO)beresponsibleforensuringthestandardsofqualityof Serviceprovidedtotheconsumerswithrespecttoconnection,disconnection, Transfer,shifting,handlingofcomplaintsrelatingtonosignal,settopbox,billing Etc.andredressalofconsumergrievances? CounterComments18CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,MotionPicture, DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels. 19.WhetherBillingtothesubscribersshouldbedonebyLCOorshoulditbedonebyMSO?In eithercase,pleaseelaboratehowsystemwouldwork. CounterComments:19CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,Motion Picture,Col.Khare,DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobaland others.Satellitechannels.

OnlytheLCOshouldbilltothesubscribersasonlyheisindirecttouchwiththem. 20.ShouldprepaidbillingoptionbeintroducedinDigitalAddressableCableTV? Systems? CounterComments20:CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,Motion Picture,Col.Khare,DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobaland others.Satellitechannels. MiscellaneousIssues BroadcastingofAdvertisementfree(adfree)channels 21.WhetheranadfreechannelisviableinthecontextofIndiantelevisionmarket? 22.Shouldtherebeaseparateprescriptioninrespectoftariffforadfreechannelsat Boththewholesaleandretaillevel? 23.Whatshouldbetheprovisionsintheinterconnectionregulationsinrespectofadfree channels? 24.Whatshouldbetherevenuesharingarrangementbetweenthebroadcastersand Distributorsinrespectofadfreechannels? CounterComments21,22,23,24:CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia ,MediaPro,Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa, MotionPicture,DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers. Satellitechannels. NonaddressabledigitalSettopboxes 25.IncaseyouhaveanyvieworcommentonthenonaddressableSTBs,youmay Pleaseprovidethesamewithdetails. CounterComments25:CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,MotionPicture, DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels. TherewillbeatotalblackoutofconsumersifnonaddressableSTBsarebannedalloverIndia. TheyshouldcontinuetoexistevenaftertheSunsetDatesasDoordarshanandDDDirectPlus areallnonaddressable.Itwillbeanticonsumerifwedoso.Bysuggestingthis,Broadcasters wishtofurthermonopolizethemarketthroughtheirDTHcompaniesandMSOventures.

ReferencepointforwholesalepricepostDASimplementation 26.Wouldtherebeanimpactonthewholesalechannelratesafterthesunsetdatei.e. 31stDec2014,whenthenonaddressablesystemswouldceasetoexist?Ifso,what Wouldbetheimpact? CounterComments26:CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,MotionPicture, DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels. 27.Anyotherrelevantissuethatyoumayliketoraiseorcommentupon. CounterComments27:CountercommentsagainstIBF,ZeeNetwork,StarIndia,MediaPro, Casbaa,ESPNStar,NEOSports,MSM,MediaPro,Zoom,TV18,MPA,CII,Casbaa,MotionPicture, DTHAssociation,DEN,IMCL,Hathway,Digicable,Ortel,TimesGlobalandothers.Satellite channels.