72 TV channels waiting in the wings

With over 70 new TV channels expected to be launched in the next three to six months, consumers will get more choice of television content.

But this is causing worry for cable operators because the technology currently being used allows only 70 channels to be telecast.

Applications from over 50 companies to launch 72 new cable channels are pending before the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) for necessary clearances.

The new launches will include channels from leading broadcasters and production houses such as NDTV, INX Media, BAG Films and TV18 group among others.

Currently, about 220 channels have the necessary permission to downlink their channels in India. Downlinking of channel means permission to download the channels from the satellite for further transmission and re-transmission.

Once the downlinking permission is granted, the total number of cable and satellite channels in the country will cross the 300 mark.

But the addition of more cable channels is a worrying factor for the local cable operators as most of the cable distribution platform in the country is in analogue (television channels distributed on co-axial wire).

In the analogue mode of distribution, cable operators can not offer more than 70 cable channels to consumers. Therefore, it will be difficult for cable operators to telecast all the new channels, industry experts said.

"For carrying most of the new launches as well as the current lot of cable channels, the country needs digital cable platform. Digitalisation can be implemented either through the rollout of conditional access system (CAS) or via direct-to-home (DTH) services," an industry expert said.

According to the government plan, India should switch from the current analogue transmission of cable channels to digital delivery between 2010 and 2015. While CAS has been implemented in parts of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, the government is still exploring faster rollout of digital cable in the country.

Apart from cable and satellite channels, there are a large number of local cable channels available in all parts of the country. In addition of satellite channels, there are over 200 local television channels available in the country.

According to sources in the I&B ministry, about half of the new applications are for news and entertainment channels while the rest are for regional channels.