The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) issued a consultation paper, seeking public comments on whether private entities should be allowed to provide digital terrestrial transmission (DTT) services.
If adopted, this would end state-run Doordarshan’s (DD's) decades-old monopoly. DTT, an advanced technology used globally to transmit television signals, is allowed to be used by Prasar Bharti which operates 56 TV channels, including DD, and 24 radio services. DTT is a type of television broadcasting technology where the signals are transmitted from a land-based source, which is markedly different from the direct to home (DTH) or cable network services.
Since terrestrial transmission began in India in 1959, no private player has been allowed to use the technology. DD uses DTT and its signals can be received by antennas, without a receiver disc. Private players are operating through satellite transmission and cable networks.
“With the advent of digital media and alternate digital distribution platforms, customers today expect a better viewing experience and an increase in the number of TV channels even on the terrestrial transmission network. Most content production now takes place in a digital environment and is consumed on various devices in a diverse environment. To meet consumer expectations and ensure optimum utilisation of resources, digital terrestrial transmission of TV signals is the need of the hour,” says Trai in the consultation paper.
The broadcasting sector contributes to nearly 46 per cent of the total size of the media and entertainment sector. Currently, there are 869 private satellite TV channels that are permitted by the ministry of information and broadcasting to operate, in addition to 26 channels run by DD. By the 2011 census, there were about 100 million cable TV subscribers, 58.5 mn pay-DTH subscribers, and about 18 mn uses free-to-air DTH services.
“There are 247 million households in India. A large number, particularly in rural and remote areas, depend completely on the FTA terrestrial broadcasting TV services being provided by the public broadcaster,” said Trai.
DTT provides better quality TV reception — with enhanced picture and sound performance, apart from being efficient in usage due its ability to broadcast multiple TV channels through a single transmitter. The DTT platform is flexible and newer formats of TV channels such as HD TV, 3D TV, UHD TV, data and radio services can be delivered. The big advantage for the exchequer is that authorities can reclaim spectrum and reallocate it, if required, bringing additional revenue.
“It is important to note that multimedia traffic contributes to 70-80 per cent of total traffic on the internet. Which shows there is a demand for consumption of video content on mobile and handheld devices,” said Trai.
