All about set top box

Published in The Hitavada CityLine page 3 on March 30,2013

ALL ABOUT SET TOP BOX

By Kartik Lokhande

With the cable television signals going digital from analog from midnight of March 31, every household is talking about installation of set top box (STB). Though many in the administration and in households are talking about STBs, many aspects about this device are still not part of common knowledge in general public. ‘The Hitavada’ presents reality about set top box and busts myths associated with it.

Why Set Top Box? What is it?

Set Top Box is a device that converts digital satellite signals to television sets. Installation of STB has been made mandatory after passage of Digitalisation of Analog Cable System Ordinance, paving way for amendment to The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act.

The Government has made STB mandatory with the main intent of plugging revenue leak. The Government gets entertainment duty on every cable television connection. However, in the existing analog system, the Government machinery has to depend upon reporting of number of cable connections by local cable operator (LCO). Often, LCOs tend to under-report the number of connections to save money on paying entertainment duty to the Government. In many cases, LCOs had to oblige influential consumers/subscribers by offering them free connections. Under-reporting would make good this loss for LCOs. However, in any case, the Government lost entertainment duty.

With the television signals going digital, subscribers will not be able to watch ANY television channel without STB. In other words, STB will ensure that no cable television connection goes unreported. The Government will gain substantially from this. As per the estimates, the cable television business generates well over Rs 20,000 crore per annum from subscription fees paid by consumers. As per the guidelines of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the revenue thus generated should be shared in proportion 45:30:25 by broadcaster, multi-service operator (MSO) and LCO. Once all cable connections are reported with installation of STB, the Government revenue by way of entertainment duty collection, will go up significantly.

Different types of STBs

There are different types of STBs available in the market -- Standard STB, High Definition STB, Personal Video Recorder STB etc -- offering some unique features. Each television set requires a STB. With some channels switching over to high definition or ‘HD’ quality, High Definition STB will meet requirement for better picture and sound quality. Personal Video Recorder STB is for those who do not want to miss work and still want to watch their favourite television show or sports event or movie.

Post-digitalisation, can I watch free-to-air channels for free?

NO. According to those in administration, once the signals go digital, STB will be a mandatory requirement for decryption of signals. This means that antenna will be of no use. One will have to go through LCO and get STB. Even then, one cannot watch Doordarshan or free-to-air channels for free. Fixed subscription charge of Rs 100 per month shall have to be paid to LCO for these channels.

Will STB work well with old TV sets?

STB will work well with new television sets that have more than 100 channels. Old television sets did not have more than 15 or 30 channels. In case of such television sets, one will have to get help of converter to increase number of channels and then install STB. However, this may not be applicable in case of all television sets. With STB, one may be able to watch 500 channels, depending upon package subscribed.

Why different prices for STB?

As far as Nagpur city is concerned, you must be hearing that STB is available for Rs 350 only in some shops in market areas like Sitabuldi, Itwari, Gandhibagh. Nagpur city has four MSOs namely UCN, BCN, InCable, and GTPL. They are selling STBs at different prices ranging from Rs 550 to Rs 3,500. Of course, types of STB also is one factor behind varying prices. With deadline for going digital drawing closer, almost all of them have increased price of STB citing shortage. Apart from the price of STB, MSOs are charging anywhere between Rs 200 and Rs 400. “The Government has not apprised us of price regulatory mechanism so far,” said Asha Pathan, Additional Collector, when asked about varying prices.

Subscriber management system and grievances redressal

Under the new regime, onus of correct reporting of number of cable connections is put primarily on MSO and then on LCO. Subscriber management system is an integral part of this. For the system to be put in place, LCO has to get Customer Information Form filled up from subscriber. Once the duly filled up forms are collected, a subscriber database will be prepared by MSO. The MSO will then have to put in place grievances redressal mechanism, under which a subscriber may get a unique ID to lodge grievance online, if any. If the grievance is not redressed at the level of MSO within stipulated time, Nodal Officer shall come in picture. This will also bring cable TV subscribers in the definition of consumer as under Consumer Protection Act, as there will be consumer-supplier relation between a subscriber and cable operator.

Different modes of digitalisation of Cable TV

DTH: Direct-to-Home or DTH mode eliminates the link of LCO between MSO and subscriber. Cable TV transmission involves different stages. First, broadcaster encrypts signals and transmits them to satellite. Then, MSO download these signals and pass on to LCO. The LCO then carry these downloaded signals to subscribers through optical fibre cables or co-axial cables. Those adopting DTH mode do not have to deal with LCO. With the help of DTH ‘dish’, they can directly download signals from MSO. STB decrypts the signals and subscribers can watch channels of their choice.

IPTV: Internet Protocol TV is television service delivered using Internet Protocol technology. The service is delivered to television by encoding TV channels in IP format using a Set Top Box. IPTV service also includes ‘Video on Demand’ service similar to watching video CD/DVD using VCD/DVD player. Interactive learning devices, movies, instructional videos, and other content is available to customers in IPTV services. Many big companies are into this business in India, and it is gaining a strong foothold in metro cities.

HITS: Headend-in-the-sky broadcasting service has been permitted in India since the year 2009. HITS broadcasting service refers to downlinking and distribution of television programmes in specific bands. All pay channels are downlinked at a central facility, and then again uplinked to a satellite after encryption of channels. At the cable head-end, these encrypted pay channels are downlinked using a single satellite antenna, transmodulated, and sent to subscribers using co-axial cable or optical fibre cable network. After obtaining necessary licence, a HITS operator may enter into a contract with different broadcasters for buying content, aggregating the same at a central facility, uplinking with his own encryption to a satellite hired by him. Cable operators may downlink the uplinked channels using a dish antenna for onward distribution to subscribers through cable network. Thus, a HITS operator is akin to MSO.