Transcript Slide 1

Seminar on Dispute Resolution in Telecom and Broadcasting Sectors
TDSAT
20th November 2010, Bangalore
India C&S Market
2004
 Total TV Household:102 mn
 Total C&S Cable Household:50 mn
 Total Subscription Revenue: INR 75 billion
 Number of channels :213
 Pay channels – 70
 FTA channels- 143
2009
 Total TV Households: 129 mn
 Total C&S Cable Households: 73 mn
 Total DTH Cable Households: 16 mn
 Total Subscription Revenue : INR 169 billion (Cable & DTH)
 Number of channel :550
 Pay channels – 129
 FTA channels - 421
Source:TRAI`s report on Tariff issues related to Cable Tv services in Non-CAS area, FICCI 2010 As on December 2009
Overview Judgments TDSAT
• Number of Judgments - 786
• Several precedents have
been set
• Disputes are skewed towards
analog cable
800
132
600
224
400
301
200
129
0
Judgements /TDSAT orders
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Distribution Chain -Comparison
Manufacturer
Distributor
Broadcaster
Distributor
Similar
•Several layers needed to reach end
consumer
•Highest investment by manufacturer
• The middle layers aggregate various
products from different manufacturers
Dissimilar
Wholesaler
MSO
Retailer
LCO`s
•Value chain from distributor to LCO`s in TV
industry does not carry risk of buying the
service upfront
• The economic risk lowers with each layer
down from broadcaster to LCO`s.
• The return is highest for the LCO`s, leading
to an inequitable distribution of wealth in
the value chain.
• Last mile monopoly in cable industry
Distribution of Analog Subscription Revenue
Revenue
(INR Crs)
Broadcasters
2004
2009
(as on Dec)
Pay Broadcaster
1500
2100
MSO `s/ ICO`s
700
700
LCO`s
5300
11212
Revenue
7500
14016
MSO`s
LCO`s
Consumer
Source: FICCI report 2010 &2008 & Industry Estimates
Distribution of Analog Subscription Revenue (%) Share of Stakeholders
Distribution chain
2004
Pay
Broadcasters
20%
15%
MSO`s/
ICO`s
9%
5%
LCO`s
71%
80%
Households
2009
% Share has reduced
from 2004 to 2009
% Share has reduced
from 2004 to 2009
• Broadcasters share has fallen to
a mere 15% of subscription pie
as against 50% globally
•Leakage of revenue leading to
tax evasion and revenue loss
Rs.1425 Crs
• Lack of transparency in
subscriber base
• The “Fight” is for the fair share
of total revenue collected from
the cable households
Suscription revenue in (%) Share
of Stakeholders
Distribution of Subscription Revenue (%) Share of Stakeholders
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2004
Pay Broadcaster
2009
Years End Operator
MSO/Head
LCOs
Low ARPU
• India’s monthly ARPU is far below the ARPU of international nations.
• This highlights the vast difference in India’s current retail pricing to
international benchmarks.
• If India was to increase its retail price to the average of developing
countries, then it would come to about INR 325.
42
38
31
26
25
4
UK
Japan
Hong Kong
Singapore
Thailand
India
Cable ARPUs - India vs Other Nations (US$)
Note: ARPU – Average Revenue Per User per Month
Source: World Screen
8
Areas of Dispute
1
2
3
4
Must Provide: Gross misuse of the Regulations; Operator moves
TDSAT/Courts without providing necessary details to commence meaningful
negotiations
Lack of Transparency in declared Subscriber Base : Monthly Subscriber
Statement a “myth”
Piracy – Area Transgression : Operator shifts area without any
agreement/license from broadcasters/aggregators
Frequent Migration of LCO’s: LCO’s leave huge defaults with MSO`s which has
a cascading impact on Broadcasters collections
Cause and Effect of Disputes
1
Root Cause of all Dispute : Lack of transparency and clarity on
Subscriber Base
2
Subscription Revenue is a factor of Rate/Charges and the Subscriber Base
3
Subscriber Base is the currency for negotiations
4
No data on the spread of Rs 14,016 crores collected from 73 mn
homes by 60,000 LCO’s
5
6
7
Imbalance in the existing Regulatory Framework – Does not impose
responsibility of reporting and disclosures to MSO’s and LCO’s
Environment incentivizes under reporting of Subscriber Numbers and
discourages implementation Digitization and Addressability
TRAI’s Recommendation/Roadmap on Licensing, Digitization
and Addressability put forward to MIB yet to be notified
Recommendations for Elimination of Disputes
1
2
3
4
“Must Provide”
• Requests should be subject to provision of complete information
proposed area of operation & subscriber base.
• Meaningless unless monopolies at the LCO level is eliminated
• Entry to existing MSO`s into new markets should be only on digital mode
Reporting and publishing of Tariff/Cable Charges must also apply to
MSO’s/LCO’s;
Interconnect Agreement Filings must also be extended to
MSO’s/LCO’s;
Effective Compliance and Enforcement of the Standards of Quality
of Service Regulations for Non CAS Areas;
Recommendations for Elimination of Disputes
5
6
7
8
Mandate Audit of MSO/LCO Subscriber Records by TRAI and
Broadcasters;
Shift consumer billing from LCO to MSO
Fast Track Implementation of Licensing Regime,
Digitization and addressability
Encourage forbearance and allow market forces to determine prices and
distribution of subscription revenue
Thank You