Joining the trend among most channels to switch from an analog feed, music channel MTV is preparing to go digital by end-July.
Sanjeev Hiremath, vice-president, network development, South Asia, licensing and merchandising, said till the full transition to digital was carried through, the channel would be operating a dual illumination feed, continuing the analog feed on the PAS 10 satellite.
Hiremath said that just over 1,500 Philips Cryptowork boxes had been seeded so far and that he expected to seed a total of 4,000 set tops by the time the channel switched to a completely digital feed by the end of July. Set tops were being supplied to cable operators at a subsidised rate of Rs 12,000 per box, Hiremath said.

Aside from improved transmission quality, a digital feed occupies less transponder space, which makes it far easier to introduce new channels when required, Hiremath said. Will India finally get to see Viacom channels VH1 and the like in the not too distant future? With the introduction of conditional access systems (CAS) around the corner, the possibilities can only increase.

Current Technical Specifications
Analog feed:
Satellite: Panamsat PAS-10
Transponder: 7C
Downlink Polarisation: Horizontal
Downlink Frequency: 4034 MHz

Digital feed:
Satellite: Panamsat PAS-10
Transponder: 11C
Downlink Polarisation: Horizontal
Downlink Frequency: 5154 MHz

Technical Specifications Post Digitalisation
Satellite: Panamsat PAS-10
Transponder: 7C
Downlink Polarisation: Horizontal
Downlink Frequency: 4034 MHz

Prasar Bharati is close to sewing up a terrestrial deal for the ICC-organized cricket telecast rights.
"We have explored various options and are close to hammering out a deal with WSG Nimbus for the terrestrial rights of cricket," a senior official of Prasar Bharati Corporation told indiantelevision.com.

According to the official, offers and counter offers had been made, but broadly, both the parties have come to a "consensus of sorts which revolves round revenue sharing." The deal that Prasar Bharati is angling for is to provide a platform for the telecast of ICC-organised cricket matches for the next six years wherein WSG Nimbus, the official holders marketing the telecast rights, pays a minimum assurance money to DD for every match telecast, apart from revenue sharing.

"What we are looking at is that WSG Nimbus assures a minimum amount per match telecast, then markets it or has its associate(s) do it. The revenue sharing happens from the first dollar where WSG Nimbus gets to keep the majority share," the official said.

Prasar Bharati is under tremendous pressure to get at least the terrestrial rights for the cricket matches in a cricket crazy nation like India. SET India has already bagged the satellite telecast rights for the cricket matches for the next six years which also includes two cricket World Cups.

"If we manage to hammer out a deal for the cricket telecast, then the matches would be telecast on DD‘s terrestrial network and not on DD Sports (which is a satellite channel), the Prasar Bharati official said, pointing out that DD‘s massive reach, compared to any satellite channel, is likely to ensure good advertising revenue.

In recent times, DD has lost out to private satellite channels where sporting events are concerned. This includes the just-concluded FIFA World Cup soccer and Wimbledon. While the soccer was an exclusive property of Ten Sports, Wimbledon was shown exclusive on Star Sports.