• PAGE ONE
• INDEX
• HOME

ETC channels going digital

Our Bureau

MUMBAI, July 14

ETC Networks's channels -- ETC Music and ETC Punjabi -- are in the process of being digitalised.

However, the channels will not be encrypted, an official of ETC Networks said. The process of converting the channels from analogue mode to digital mode commenced on July 10 and is expected to be completed in three months, she said.

Having entered into a tie-up with the US-based 24-hour Hindi channel, T.V. Asia, ETC Networks is in the process of finalising its plans for providing non-exclusive content to channels in Canada. ``Talks are on with three channels currently and plans are likely to be finalised by August 2001,'' the official said.

In the UK, ETC Networks is awaiting a Government licence for setting up a channel while the transponder has been rented already. All of these plans are expected to be finalised by November 2001; therefore, the second half of the current fiscal is expecte d to see the benefits of these arrangements.

ETC Networks, which registered a profit after tax of Rs 2.44 crore on a total income of Rs 47.74 crore for the year ended March 31, 2001, is expected to remain free-to-air. ``There is no intention to go pay as of now,'' the official said.

``Our ad spot rates have been quite attractive and we have been able to sell properties of 30 seconds,'' she said. Recently, the channel has sold a property of 30 seconds for a promo on Aks which is sponsored by Pepsi.

``Our spot rates are in the range of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,800 per 10 seconds,'' she said.

The company's plans to set up a commercial teleport are under way. The entire process is expected to take at least six months. Once set up, the teleport will provide additional revenue streams by offering uplink services to other private channels and Int ernet service providers.