Well it has been a long weekend and a lot of things happened with regards to the cable tv crisis in Sri Lanka. We like to thank all of you who have been updating this blog while all of us were away enjoying the holidays.
The Sunday Leader reported that the Attorney General had directed the Media Ministry to issue temporary licenses to both CBNSat and LBN. He has also stated that if there are any security concerns, he has directed the Media Ministry to enter into an agreement with the operators. When contacted by the Leader, the Ministry has said that he will comply with the Attorney General. We hope he does so soon.
In other very revealing news, it has been revealed by The Sunday Leader that Mr. B.A.C Abeywardane who is the Managing Director of TV Lanka seems to be also one of the people behind this scandal, he seems to have had a hand in instigating this issue and has also written letters offering to restart the CBNSat and LBN under his license and management. Looks like he is civic minded too, too bad no one watches TV Lanka.
Looks like the whole plan was to take over a company and do business in a company where someone else had done all the hard work of building up. He seems to be having a case against him filed by SLT.
It is also reported that CBNSat have appealed to the Supreme Court although the date of the hearing is not known.
Well lets see what happens as the week progresses and lets hope that all the Cable TV operators are able to resume services as soon as possible. Please keep updating us on the latest developments.
The Sunday Leader reported that the Attorney General had directed the Media Ministry to issue temporary licenses to both CBNSat and LBN. He has also stated that if there are any security concerns, he has directed the Media Ministry to enter into an agreement with the operators. When contacted by the Leader, the Ministry has said that he will comply with the Attorney General. We hope he does so soon.
In other very revealing news, it has been revealed by The Sunday Leader that Mr. B.A.C Abeywardane who is the Managing Director of TV Lanka seems to be also one of the people behind this scandal, he seems to have had a hand in instigating this issue and has also written letters offering to restart the CBNSat and LBN under his license and management. Looks like he is civic minded too, too bad no one watches TV Lanka.
Looks like the whole plan was to take over a company and do business in a company where someone else had done all the hard work of building up. He seems to be having a case against him filed by SLT.
It is also reported that CBNSat have appealed to the Supreme Court although the date of the hearing is not known.
Well lets see what happens as the week progresses and lets hope that all the Cable TV operators are able to resume services as soon as possible. Please keep updating us on the latest developments.
10 comments:
Rupavahini will have to come to CBNSat again because INSAT-4C launch has failed.
INSAT disaster stalls DTH expansion dreams
BANGALORE: The failure of INSAT-4C has dealt a blow to the plans for DTH services and digital satellite news gathering by channels which had booked transponder space.
Sun TV had booked seven high-power Ku-band transponders six for DTH, and one for DSNG of the total 12 carried by INSAT-4C.
CNBC, Times TV and Kairali were among those which had booked space for DSNG operations on two transponders while the National Informatics Centre (NIC) had leased three for its VSAT connectivity.
Sri Lankan broadcaster Rupavahini is also said have booked space.The transponders were designed to provide DTH television services, facilitate video picture transmission and DSNG.
ISRO programmes, DTH TV braodcasting may take a hit
Our Bureaus / New Delhi/Bangalore July 11, 2006
The failure of the launch of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s much-hyped communications satellite INSAT-4C is a setback to the broadcasting companies in India, which would have otherwise benefited in delivering direct-to-home TV broadcasting.
Also, this is likely to delay the launch of some other satellites originally planned by the ISRO.
Though the blow to the DTH industry could not be estimated exactly, the broadcasting industry believes that it could delay the launch schedule of operators like Tata Sky DTH and Sun TV’s DTH platforms.
Similarly, for existing broadcasters and DTH services providers, who were planing to launch new channels and services, this could spell bad news.
India’s first heavy weight communication satellite, which was launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh today, would have boosted DTH and VSAT sectors with additional transmission facilities and bandwidth.
“The existing players like Doordarshan that could have migrated, would have to continue on their current satellite. The plans of DTH entrants like Sun TV would certainly get delayed until they put together arrangements for another private satellite or until the government hires another one,” said an expert.
Sun TV is believed to be depending heavily on INSAT 4-C — the heaviest satellite India has ever attempted to put in space — to roll out its DTH venture. The second entrant that could be affected is Tata Sky, the 80:20 joint venture between the Tata Group and STAR. A Tata Sky official refused to comment while Sun TV executives could not be reached for comments.
Zee TV’s Dish TV, which currently has a viewership of 1.2 million, doesn’t foresee any negative impact on its DTH business. “We have not booked any bandwidth on the satellite. We’ll continue operating through out current satellites,” said Sunil Khanna, chief executive officer, Dish TV.
INSAT-4C, which was equipped with 12 high power Ku-band transponders, was expected to provide India with a capacity primarily for direct-to-home TV broadcasting. It had a design life of 10 years.
Besides DTH, the 2.2 tonne satellite was also designed to provide services like digital satellite news gathering, digital picture transmission, meteorological imaging and services for the National Informatics Service.
“It will take not less than 2-3 months till the failure analysis committee of the ISRO delves into the data to find what exactly had led to the failure of the launch, although everything went as planned, starting from the making of the satellite to the testing of it,” said a space scientist in Bangalore on the condition of anonymity.
INSAT-4C is the second of a seven series of four satellites to be launched by the ISRO. So the delay in the launch of the satellite will definitely affect the future of these space initiatives which were to follow a successful INSAT-4C project.
ISRO, through the use of the indigenous vehicle for launching the satellite, expected to reduce the launch cost by around 40 per cent.
Although the first use of the indigenous Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle in April 2001 was a success, the failure of the launch vehicle in its second mission has no doubt put a question mark on the reliability of GSLV.
After INSAT-4C, ISRO had announced it would launch Cartosat, a remote sensing satellite in September, this year. No ISRO spokesperson was however available for comment on what would happen to the satellite launches that were said to be useful for large-scale mapping of natural resources.
There is another article on sunday times FT about CBNsat. The most important thing is that they have said they are not going to shut down. However is will be no escape for SATnet or TVlanka when CBN comes back on air. No one will buy SATnet and TVLanka will go down the drain if CBNsat enters foreign markets with local channels like Swarnavahini and Dearana. But they deserves it. Let's hope the media minister wont drag issuing of temp licences for the sake of 150000 customers.
P.S.- Rupavahini will now have to come crying back to CBNsat since INSAT-4C went boom.
Guys do not keep tons of hopes because we had bad experiences last few times. In this country, we cannot sure anything. We can have a smile when we see the green light of the decoder. Until then we have to fight. Don't stop writing until u see the green light.
Can anyone update the blog about the status of the temporary license issue..
Can we have some hope in this??
Sending e-mails will not help as the govt authorities lack the intelligence to read them. (maybe they are waiting till they regulate e-mail services). Best option is to send them by registered post.
Guys, any news regarding about temporary licenses.
Can we have some hope next week with this temporary license issue?? Can somebody who knows the current proceedings pls update this blog.
I watched the TNL programme yesterday...and it was really good. I am really sad for what this Government have done for a very successful business. We as Sri Lankans should be proud of such ventures
When i contacted customer care today, i was informed that they have been issued with the temporary licence. But in order to restart transmission, the judge was needed to be informed first and that will happen on the hearing on aug 15th.Thats what the customer care said. I dont see why they should delay this if they are issued with a temp licence. Can anyone contact customer care and confirm? And i forgot to ask about supreme court hearing and at the moement i do not have access to a telephone. Would be glad if someone confirms these.
If CBNSat have got the temporary license can't they inform the court and start transmission?? Do they have to wait till 15th August?? I don't think so.
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