Broadcast India 2009 recently held in Mumbai showcased latest innovations in products, technology, and services related to the media and broadcast industry. We as media partners met stalwarts from the broadcast industry. They were upbeat about the potential of the market resulting from the increasing number of channels, production houses, and distribution platforms.

HD cameras attracted the maximum attention as HD content creation is gaining ground worldwide. Next year promises momentum as confidence returns to the market and companies implement new projects.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has given two reference letters to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regarding foreign investment limits for broadcasting sector; and need for necessary modifications in the uplinking and downlinking guidelines for television channels. The ministry has requested TRAI to revisit the recommendations given earlier in April 2008 on these two issues. TRAI has further requested all the various segments of the broadcasting sector consisting of teleport, DTH, satellite radio, HITS, cable operators, and FM radio to submit their views on both the issues raised in the references received from the ministry.

DTH service providers are sprucing up their value added services by showcasing Hindi movies on the DTH platform shortly after their release on theatre screens. The service providers bag the rights for new releases as soon as the movie hits the big screen, and this should help the DTH platform gain further momentum.

The test and measurement (T&M) instrument industry had a reasonably good year with a turnover of Rs. 14.5 crore for the broadcast sector in 2008-09. The dependency of this industry on Doordarshan has declined as new channels are being introduced. Each new channel brings more business to the kitty.