IndianMascot
Core Member
Closure of second Phase of Digitisation is just a month and a half away and it appears all quiet on the war front. As I know, not even a single independent MSO has been registered for the second Phase. Does it mean that this market will also go to the favoured few MSOs? Ministry's website and Face book Page are silent these days on any development on the digital front. The only statement made by the ministry officials is that everything is going smoothly and on time.
However market reports are very different. It is confirmed that Gujarat cities have not seeded more than 30% STBs and in Chennai, the High Court has permitted analogue signals indefinitely. MPs in Maharashtra want MRP of Channels to be fixed. Things can't be better in other cities as shortage of STBs exist everywhere.
No state governments have received any taxes on sale of millions of STBs and consumer information is yet to go into the SMS computers. Subscribers are still paying the analogue cable rates and there are protests where ever MSOs are demanding hiked prices. I think the government will have a tough time with in a few months when subscribers gets the DAS bills that include heavy Entertainment Tax and Service Tax.
Situation is yet to stabilise to attract any new investments.
However market reports are very different. It is confirmed that Gujarat cities have not seeded more than 30% STBs and in Chennai, the High Court has permitted analogue signals indefinitely. MPs in Maharashtra want MRP of Channels to be fixed. Things can't be better in other cities as shortage of STBs exist everywhere.
No state governments have received any taxes on sale of millions of STBs and consumer information is yet to go into the SMS computers. Subscribers are still paying the analogue cable rates and there are protests where ever MSOs are demanding hiked prices. I think the government will have a tough time with in a few months when subscribers gets the DAS bills that include heavy Entertainment Tax and Service Tax.
Situation is yet to stabilise to attract any new investments.