Concerns have been voiced by the All Local Cable Operator Association (ALCOA) in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on how JIO TV's live broadcasting may affect their business.&nbsp;

They argue that the cable TV industry is suffering major financial losses and employment reductions as a result of JIO TV's live and linear content broadcasting on its OTT platform.

JIO TV's conduct is not compliant with current regulations, according to a letter from ALCOA to the Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).&nbsp;

ALCOA states that only IPTV providers, Direct-to-Home (DTH) players, Multi-System Operators (MSOs), and Headend in the Sky (HITS) operators should transmit live content. They also claimed that streaming linear material is against the Cable Act of 1995 and should not be allowed on OTT services such as JIO TV.

The letter notes that the number of homes with televisions in India rose from 197 million in 2018 to 210 million in 2020. Even with this increase, the number of households with cable TV services fell from 120 million in 2018 to 90 million in 2020, and the decline has persisted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-forest-officials-rescue-6-tribals-including-4-kids-after-wayanad-landslides-in-8-hour-mission-746878">Kerala forest officials rescue 6 tribals, including 4 kids after Wayanad landslides in 8-hour mission</a>

According to ALCOA, broadcasters including INDIACAST and STAR INDIA Pvt. Ltd. transmit linear content on their respective OTT platforms, JIO TV and Disney + Hotstar.&nbsp;

Due to this practice, consumers are switching from cable TV to OTT platforms, which are more affordable and superior, especially for young people, housewives, and students.

Additionally, ALCOA noted that the cable TV sector is unfairly competing with OTT platforms, which frequently offer major networks at no additional cost. They highlighted the harmful social effects caused by the unchecked spread of content on these platforms.

(With inputs from agencies)

Concerns have been voiced by the All Local Cable Operator Association (ALCOA) in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on how JIO TV's live broadcasting may affect their business.

Concerns have been voiced by the All Local Cable Operator Association (ALCOA) in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on how JIO TV's live broadcasting may affect their business. They argue that the cable TV industry is suffering major financial losses and employment reductions as a result of JIO TV's live and linear content broadcasting on its OTT platform. JIO TV's conduct is not compliant with current regulations, according to a letter from ALCOA to the Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). ALCOA states that only IPTV providers, Direct-to-Home (DTH) players, Multi-System Operators (MSOs), and Headend in the Sky (HITS) operators should transmit live content. They also claimed that streaming linear material is against the Cable Act of 1995 and should not be allowed on OTT services such as JIO TV. The letter notes that the number of homes with televisions in India rose from 197 million in 2018 to 210 million in 2020. Even with this increase, the number of households with cable TV services fell from 120 million in 2018 to 90 million in 2020, and the decline has persisted. Also read: Kerala forest officials rescue 6 tribals, including 4 kids after Wayanad landslides in 8-hour mission According to ALCOA, broadcasters including INDIACAST and STAR INDIA Pvt. Ltd. transmit linear content on their respective OTT platforms, JIO TV and Disney + Hotstar. Due to this practice, consumers are switching from cable TV to OTT platforms, which are more affordable and superior, especially for young people, housewives, and students. Additionally, ALCOA noted that the cable TV sector is unfairly competing with OTT platforms, which frequently offer major networks at no additional cost. They highlighted the harmful social effects caused by the unchecked spread of content on these platforms. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi cable operators challenge JIO TV's live streaming: Impact on local businesses

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Coronavirus has now put Disney+ plans in the backburner s they have now indefinitely delayed the launch.&nbsp;

It was to launch in India on March 29 as part of Disney’s India streaming service Hotstar, coinciding with the beginning of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament which is a major crowd puller.&nbsp;

Ever since the tournament was postponed because of coronavirus scare, Disney officials have also stalled their plans for now. Uday Shankar, president of The Walt Disney Company APAC, and chairman of Star and Disney India, said in a statement: “We recently announced that Disney Plus would launch in India through the Hotstar service in conjunction with beginning of the Indian Premier League cricket season. Given the delay of the season, we have made the decision to briefly pause the roll-out of Disney Plus and will announce a new revised premiere date for the service soon.”

Earlier, on March 11, Disney+ went live in India. It was taken back after the company declared that they were merely beta testing.&nbsp;

Coronavirus has been having quite an impact on OTT platforms with Netflix also taking some measures given that more number of people are self isolating and are at home. With more people in their homes, there is more consumption of the internet. Thus, Netflix has announced that it will slightly reduce the video quality on its service in Europe for the next 30 days, to reduce the strain on internet service providers.

The video-streaming provider said lowering the picture quality would reduce Netflix data consumption by 25%. But movies will still be high-definition or ultra-high definition 4K. The change will apply to the UK as well as other European countries.

Coronavirus has now put Disney+ plans in the backburner s they have now indefinitely delayed the launch. It was to launch in India on March 29 as part of Disney’s India streaming service Hotstar, coinciding with the beginning of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament which is a major crowd puller.

Coronavirus has now put Disney+ plans in the backburner s they have now indefinitely delayed the launch. It was to launch in India on March 29 as part of Disney’s India streaming service Hotstar, coinciding with the beginning of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament which is a major crowd puller. Ever since the tournament was postponed because of coronavirus scare, Disney officials have also stalled their plans for now. Uday Shankar, president of The Walt Disney Company APAC, and chairman of Star and Disney India, said in a statement: “We recently announced that Disney Plus would launch in India through the Hotstar service in conjunction with beginning of the Indian Premier League cricket season. Given the delay of the season, we have made the decision to briefly pause the roll-out of Disney Plus and will announce a new revised premiere date for the service soon.” Earlier, on March 11, Disney+ went live in India. It was taken back after the company declared that they were merely beta testing. Coronavirus has been having quite an impact on OTT platforms with Netflix also taking some measures given that more number of people are self isolating and are at home. With more people in their homes, there is more consumption of the internet. Thus, Netflix has announced that it will slightly reduce the video quality on its service in Europe for the next 30 days, to reduce the strain on internet service providers. The video-streaming provider said lowering the picture quality would reduce Netflix data consumption by 25%. But movies will still be high-definition or ultra-high definition 4K. The change will apply to the UK as well as other European countries.

Disney+ postpones launch, Netflix reduces video quality in times of coronavirus

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You should probably say&nbsp;goodbye to uncensored entertainment content on OTT&nbsp;platforms in India after recent news reports suggest that leading platforms such as Netflix, Hotstar, Zee5 among many others have been holding discussions with the Indian government to employ a self-regulation code for the content they show.&nbsp;

India currently has no official guidelines for OTT platforms while the film and television space is regulated by official bodies.&nbsp;

The issue first came to news when last year a streaming platform was hit with a lawsuit over one of its original series that was said to have hurt a political party’s sentiment.&nbsp;

Then in January, the OTT platforms came together to sign and follow an industry code of conduct and self-regulation for online content. Taking it forward, at a Film Bazaar event in Goa, a session titled ‘The New Matrix of OTT Business,’ which included representatives from Netflix, Zee5 and a senior government official, gave further insights on how the self-regulation code is now being discussed with the government before it is finalised.

"We have had consultations with platforms like Netflix and Zee5 on this issue and the common consensus is that it [streaming] is an emerging area which is taking place on the Internet and hence the old frameworks for print, film and TV should not be applied here and that there should be a different treatment," said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting additional secretary Atul Tiwari.

He also pointed out that "there is a need for some amount of regulation. Ultimately, it is about self-restraint which is going to be very important, and there is also talk of who will [implement] that, whether all OTT platforms should come together so that there is some form of enforcement and respect for these guidelines and some deterrent action for those who violate the guidelines."

It is still inconclusive whether the OTT platforms will implement the same standards of self-regulation in its international content versus its Indian content.&nbsp;

Netflix India's director of original film Aashish Singh said, "I don't have a clear-cut answer yet because the code is still being evolved between all the platforms. But currently, the stand is that we will continue to support the creative producers so that they have the choice and freedom to make what they want and give consumers the option to choose what they want to see."

Zee5 program head Aparna Acharekar added that talks with the government "have been very encouraging and unlike what we feared how they would be...they don't want to be regressive at all." She said that the government "just want us to respect the law of the land, which all of us as OTT platforms are happy about. We have had a lot of sessions and hopefully, something positive will come out for the industry."

Among various proposed guidelines, the OTT platforms have prohibited content that "represents a child engaged in real or simulated sexual activities, or any representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes" or that "deliberately and maliciously disrespects the national emblem or national flag." They will also avoid content that "deliberately and maliciously intends to outrage religious sentiments of any class, section or community" or programming that "deliberately and maliciously promotes or encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state (of India) or its institutions."

Meanwhile, the five-day Film Bazaar, organised by the government's National Film Development Corporation&nbsp;concluded Sunday. 
&nbsp;

You should probably say goodbye to uncensored entertainment content on OTT platforms in India after recent news reports suggest that leading platforms such as Netflix, Hotstar, Zee5 among many others have been holding discussions with the Indian government to employ a self-regulation code for the content they show.

You should probably say goodbye to uncensored entertainment content on OTT platforms in India after recent news reports suggest that leading platforms such as Netflix, Hotstar, Zee5 among many others have been holding discussions with the Indian government to employ a self-regulation code for the content they show. India currently has no official guidelines for OTT platforms while the film and television space is regulated by official bodies. The issue first came to news when last year a streaming platform was hit with a lawsuit over one of its original series that was said to have hurt a political party’s sentiment. Then in January, the OTT platforms came together to sign and follow an industry code of conduct and self-regulation for online content. Taking it forward, at a Film Bazaar event in Goa, a session titled ‘The New Matrix of OTT Business,’ which included representatives from Netflix, Zee5 and a senior government official, gave further insights on how the self-regulation code is now being discussed with the government before it is finalised. "We have had consultations with platforms like Netflix and Zee5 on this issue and the common consensus is that it [streaming] is an emerging area which is taking place on the Internet and hence the old frameworks for print, film and TV should not be applied here and that there should be a different treatment," said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting additional secretary Atul Tiwari. He also pointed out that "there is a need for some amount of regulation. Ultimately, it is about self-restraint which is going to be very important, and there is also talk of who will [implement] that, whether all OTT platforms should come together so that there is some form of enforcement and respect for these guidelines and some deterrent action for those who violate the guidelines." It is still inconclusive whether the OTT platforms will implement the same standards of self-regulation in its international content versus its Indian content. Netflix India's director of original film Aashish Singh said, "I don't have a clear-cut answer yet because the code is still being evolved between all the platforms. But currently, the stand is that we will continue to support the creative producers so that they have the choice and freedom to make what they want and give consumers the option to choose what they want to see." Zee5 program head Aparna Acharekar added that talks with the government "have been very encouraging and unlike what we feared how they would be...they don't want to be regressive at all." She said that the government "just want us to respect the law of the land, which all of us as OTT platforms are happy about. We have had a lot of sessions and hopefully, something positive will come out for the industry." Among various proposed guidelines, the OTT platforms have prohibited content that "represents a child engaged in real or simulated sexual activities, or any representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes" or that "deliberately and maliciously disrespects the national emblem or national flag." They will also avoid content that "deliberately and maliciously intends to outrage religious sentiments of any class, section or community" or programming that "deliberately and maliciously promotes or encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state (of India) or its institutions." Meanwhile, the five-day Film Bazaar, organised by the government's National Film Development Corporation concluded Sunday.

OTT platforms like Zee5, Netflix in talks with Indian government for self regulation

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