[A2k] The Financial Express: Govt to sign global pact against TV signal theft

[James Love]

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=3D167290

The Financial Express: Govt to sign global pact against TV signal theft

Arun S & Sunny Verma

New Delhi, Jun 15  In a bold move that will help broadcasters like
Star TV, Zee TV and ESPN-Star Sports and cable-casting companies
prevent signal thefts, the government has agreed to certain parts of
an international treaty aimed at protecting signal rights of
broadcasting companies.

The government has agreed to accede to the protection of broadcasting
and cable casting signals while opposing to include web casting,
simulcasting and IPTV in the international broadcasting treaty being
devised under the aegis of World Intellectual Property Organisation
(WIPO), of which India is a signatory. The ministry of information
and broadcasting, in consultations with the department of industrial
policy and promotion (DIPP) and HRD ministry, has already finalised a
proposal to this effect. It also enjoys the backing of the Prime
Minister=92s Office (PMO).

A delegation from India is expected to clarify its stand during
discussions, to be held in Geneva between June 18 and 22.

Globally, satellite signal thefts are estimated at about $2 billion
(Rs 8,200 crore) annually. Although no ready figures for signal
piracy in India are available, industry sources say it is growing at
round 12% annually.

=93General entertainment channels get only 35% of the revenue that they
should actually get due to piracy and under-declaration by cable-
operators,=94 says an official, in condition of anonymity, of a leading
broadcasting company.

Tightening The Noose

=95 Globally, satellite signal thefts are worth $2 billion annually; in
India these are growing at 12%
=95 Entertainment channels get only 35% of the revenue due to piracy
and under-declaration by operators
=95 Broadcast industry is worth
Rs 19,000 cr and cable distribution biz stands at Rs 55,000 cr a year
=95 Experts, however, feel piracy needs to be defined clearly to rule
out scope for misuse and monopoly
The current size of the broadcast industry is pegged at Rs 19,100
crore per annum, as per a latest Ficci-PwC study, whereas cable
distribution business is estimated at Rs 55,000 crore per annum by
the cable operators federation of India (COFI). While favouring
protection of signals for broadcasters and cable-casters, India has
strongly opposed the inclusion of web casting in the treaty fearing
that it could slow down the growth of Internet in the country.

=93India=92s stand is that the scope of the treaty is confined to
broadcasting and cable casting in the traditional sense, which means
inclusion of only the C-band and Q-band signals. Inclusion of web
casting, simulcasting and IPTV would be kept outside it,=94 said an
official of information & broadcasting ministry.

Industry experts said while the treaty would be an important
development, piracy and theft of signals has to be clearly defined.
The treaty should not be miss-used to create monopoly, especially by
the broadcasters. It should clearly explain what constitutes piracy,=94
adds COFI president Roop Sharma.

As per the Indian government=92s up linking guidelines, signals can
only be down-linked at the permitted teleport of the licensee and up-
linked for broadcasting through permitted satellite through that
teleport only.

URL: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=3D167290


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James Packard Love
Knowledge Ecology International
mailto:james.love@keionline.org
tel. +1.202.332.2670 / U.S. mobile+1.202.361.3040, Geneva mobile
+41.76.413.6584

"If everyone thinks the same: No one thinks." Bill Walton"