The Indian post-production market stood at Rs. 162.8 crore in 2008. The market consists of four main segments, namely digital video editing, digital video effects, graphics and titling, and film and video restoration. These segments claimed market share of Rs. 78.7 crore, Rs. 15.78 crore, Rs. 64 crore, and Rs. 3.7 crore respectively. Key players in this market forecast a robust year ahead. Overseas players have indicated a positive and confident outlook for the coming year too.

The satellite transponder market in India saw restricted usage of transponder space from the DTH industry in 2008. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the sole domestic satellite operator providing transponders on lease, has urged all DTH operators to pool resources as the demand for transponders has grown manifold since last year. ISRO's commercial arm, Antrix Corporation, plans to more than double its satellite transponder capacity. Out of the existing 211 transponders, 100 are leased to DTH players; another 300 would be added in the next five years for communication purposes. Currently, 50-60 percent of Antrix revenue comes from transponder service.

IPTV in India, although in its nascent stage, is expected to substantially grow in the coming years. As per an IDC report, the number of subscribers in India is likely to reach around one million by 2011. IDC further expects 15.9 percent of all residential broadband subscribers in India to use IPTV by the end of 2011.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) received strong comments on issues related to quality of service for cable TV services in non-CAS areas and DTH services. Stakeholders have urged that non-standardized equipment for transmission should be phased out and ISI-marked equipment should be distributed among cable operators to improve delivery of signals in non-CAS areas. This is in line with the regulator's earlier recommendation that all cable operators need to improve the signal quality and digitize their cable networks.

BES Expo 2009 is scheduled at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from February 23-25. We have a display booth at the event and look forward to seeing our readers at the show.