Date: 23 Nov 2004 13:40:45 -0000
From: "sajan venniyoor" <venniyoor@rediffmail.com>
Subject: [cr-india] regulating satellite radio
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TRAI is consulting AIR and private FM radio stations for formulating satellite radio norms (see story below). This raises a couple of interesting issues:
1. Why is TRAI consulting only AIR and commercial broadcasters? Does TRAI assume that commercial FM broadcasters have a special interest in and/or knowledge of satellite radio that is somehow beyond the grasp of lesser mortals like, say, community radio groups? As far as I know, there are 36 WorldSpace channels available over India, and none of the private FM channels appear on that list. Besides, as the CEO of one of the private networks puts it, "What they (WorldSpace) sell is alternative music, not radio; radio is about offering local colour and content. Plus it is not mobile like FM radio." So much for private FM operators' passion for WorldSpace.
2. Does this mean we are going to have entirely separate norms for FM radio and satellite radio? Will they now proceed to legalize news on FM radio, or ban it on satellite radio, or tie themselves in regulatory knots? And what about all those foreign channels on WorldSpace?
3. Ever noticed how they rush in to regulate everything without encouraging anything? TRAI is concerned about “the implications of having more players in satellite radio,” when the only player in the Indian market is $1.4 billion (that’s a billion, not a typo) in debt and having a pretty torrid time drumming up customers.
And what have they achieved with all this regulation?
a) There are more government departments (33) giving clearances for private radio stations than there are private radio stations in the country (21).
b) The number of private radio stations is actually coming down. Or as the head of Radio Mirchi puts it, “By now, you should have had at least 400 radio stations in India. And here we are looking at who’s going to shut down next.”
c) There is one campus radio station in India.
d) There are no community radio stations in India.
e) 92% of all radio stations in India is owned by one corporation.
f) Digital (terrestrial) radio is unheard of in India.
g) Radio listenership across India has fallen from a peak of 56% to 15%.
Sajan.
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Department of space advising Trai on sat radio norms
November 22, exchange4media
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is in consultation with the Department of Space, private FM radio stations and All India Radio (AIR) for formulating norms in the area of satellite radio. In addition, US-based consulting firm Telecomm Strategies is in the process of giving an overview of the international scenario in satellite radio.
Sources indicated that Trai would submit its report to the government in another two months or so.
Currently, there are no regulatory norms for satellite radio in India. Significantly, even in the US, thereÂ’s no government or regulatorÂ’s control over content in satellite radio. But, US satellite radio stations need to obtain licence from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).In India, even as there are norms for private FM radio, thereÂ’s none for satellite radio.
US-based consulting firm Telecomm Strategies was recently appointed by Trai for recommending norms in the satellite radio segment. Telecomm Strategies would be expected to give an overview of the international scenario and also suggest a growth path for the India market. It would also focus on the implications of having more players in satellite radio. The idea is also to have a more organised satellite radio market.
For more India specific inputs, the department of space and radio players such as AIR and private FM operators will offer their views, sources added.
At present, WorldSpace is the only satellite radio platform available in India. The country receives satellite radio signal through WorldSpaceÂ’s AsiaStar satellite, and it is uplinked from Singapore.
Globally speaking, well-known satellite radio players are Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio. Both operate in the US.
Trai had recently appointed Ernst & Young and Media Partners Asia (MPA) for advice on digitisation of cable TV in the country.
Source: Financial Express
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