India: Digitisation and Beyond

Digitisation and Beyond

Hong Kong (8 March 2012) – Despite a nearly US$7 billion multichannel TV market, only 60% of India’s vast population owns a television. The CASBAA India Forum 2012: Beyond Digital, staged on 20 March 2012 at the Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi, will examine important issues affecting multichannel TV in India.

The government mandate to digitise India’s fragmented cable TV networks should provide a boost for the economy and increase consumer choice, competition, broadcast revenues, cable and direct to home (DTH) subscriptions – and investment. But with the deadline for the digitisation of cable TV systems in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai just months away, how will India cope with the transition from analogue to digital?

“Recognising the capacity for massive growth tempered by regulatory and logistical challenges, CASBAA continues to focus its attention on the multichannel TV industry in India,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO, CASBAA.

Topics covered at the Forum will range from the impending digitisation deadline to bandwidth supply, India’s regulatory environment, content creation and advertising opportunities.

A roster of influential global and domestic speakers will provide insights into the future of multichannel TV in India through thought-provoking keynotes and panel discussions including senior officials from the Indian government, Uday K. Varma (Secretary, MIB), JS Sarma (Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) and Supriya Sahu (Joint Secretary (Broadcast & Policy), MIB).

Among other confirmed participants at this year’s Forum are Sanjay Behl (CEO – DTH & IPTV and Group Head – Brand & Marketing, Reliance Communications), Paul Brown-Kenyon (CEO, MEASAT), Rajiv Khattar (General Secretary, DTH Association of India), Sunil Lulla (Treasurer, IBF; MD & CEO, Times TV Network), Ashok Mansukhani (President, MSO Alliance), Deepak Mathur (SVP, Sales, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, SES), Harit Nagpal (MD & CEO, Tata Sky), Anil Prakash (General Secretary, IPTV India Forum), Narayan Rao (President, News Broadcasters Association; Exec Vice Chairperson, NDTV), Vikram Sakhuja (CEO, GroupM South Asia), Roop Sharma (COFI), Sadanand Shetty (VP & Sr. Fund Manager, Taurus Asset Management Co. Ltd.) and RC Venkateish (CEO, Dish TV).

The CASBAA India Forum 2012 is generously supported by Forum Partner STAR India and sponsors ABS, AsiaSat, Eutelsat, MEASAT and SES.

For more information, please visit the CASBAA India Forum 2012 at www.casbaa.com.

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About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com

Established in 1991, CASBAA is the Association for digital multichannel TV, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across Asia for the past two decades. Spanning 17 geographic markets, CASBAA and its Members reach over 420 million connections through a footprint ranging from China to Australasia, Japan to Pakistan. The CASBAA mission is to promote the growth of multichannel TV and video content through industry information, networking exchanges and events while promoting global best practices. To view the full list of CASBAA members please visit here.

For enquiries, please contact:

Desmond Chung
PR & Communications Manager, CASBAA
Tel: +852 3929-1712
Email: desmond@casbaa.com

Adela Chen
Director, Marketing & Communications, CASBAA
Tel: +852 3929-1711
Email: adela@casbaa.com