Direct Broadcasting Satellite (DBS) service is the state-of-the-art Direct-to-home (DTH) TV distribution in which a very large number of channels are all digitally compressed, encrypted and beamed from very high power satellites (with country specific coverage) so that these programmes could be directly received at homes using usually very small dish antennas and card operated Integrated Receiver Decoders (IRDS). It normally provides a basic service consisting of certain number of channels at a particular cost. However, the technology is such that it can provide a lot of other high revenue generating value-added services such as, Internet Access; Video Conference; Video On Demand (VOD); Home Security/Shopping/Banking; E-mail; Pay Per View (PPV); Near Video On Demand (NVOD); Data Broadcasts; Tale-medicine.

Another variation is "Intercast" which combines TV pictures with Data broadcast. NBC/CNN already used it to cover Atlanta Olympics. For such broadband broadcasting, PCs are equipped with TV tungs so that sports games can be seen in one window whereas the associated data-games statistics in the other window. The trend is discernible that PCs and TVs will be in multimedia convergence very shortly.

Normally DTH signals are transmitted in Ku-band. It may also be feasible in higher frequency Ka-band providing full interactivity via satellite. The argument that C-band DTH does not stand banned now cannot be used to legitimise the entry of Ku-band DTH as the difference between the two is qualitatively and quantitatively fundamental. It is practically impossible to run a C-band DTH service profitably mainly because of the large dish size (about 12 ft) and lack of power in C-band transpoders. So-called DTH on C-band being provided now by an existing foreign broadcaster is available in a few hundred households only, that too after heavy subsidisation. DTH modus operandi is unique. Its end-to-end service value-chain is complex, technologically sophisticated and includes almost all aspects of broadcasting such as satellite ownership/bulk leasing of transponders, large scale broadcasting studios/uplink earth-station, acquisition/production/arrangement of many programming channels, user-friendly creation of Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), sourcing/distribution/technical support of subscribers reception equipments, elaborate marketing of DTH service, comprehensive subscription billing systems & revenue collection, etc. What becomes most significant is that the DTH operator Satellite Service Provider usually controls all these directly. Presently there is no other service in broadcasting where one person controls almost all aspects of the business directly. Therefore, a comprehensive regulatory framework is a must, especially in a country like India, before such authority is granted.

Given such business characteristics, the DTH operator is understandably inclined to use proprietary technologies in hardware & subscription management software system, with the sole objective to keep the subscriber base fully captive. This technological approach affects seriously inter-operatability and compatibility between the competitive systems sacrificing the customer interests and universal service. What is required instead is technology standardization fully promoting open system architecture as prevailing in cellular telephone. The argument that this analogy with cellular telephony is completely inappropriate since no content costs or copyright issues are involved, is incorrect. It must be clearly understood that content costs and copyright issues have no relation whatsoever with provision of standardized decoder boxes as both can comfortably coexist. Free to air channels, available in every cable household, have content cost and copyright issues which they are able to take care through the existing laws enacted for that purpose. Similarly DTH television programmes delivered through open decoder boxes can also take care of content cost and copyright issues.

DTH being a new service can be used to enhance rapid growth of Indian satellite platform. Indian Satellite Policy has been announced and wherever possible yet to be passed Broadcast Bill must be harnessed to facilitate growth of Indian satellites. USA has successfully implemented this to become the Satellite Power in the World today.

In fact, coordination with International Telecom Union (ITU) before any satellite launch is only to avoid interference between various transmissions. It does not permit the duly frequency coordinated satellite to provide any service to a sovereign nation falling under the footprint of that satellite. It remains the prerogative of the sovereign nation to accept or reject a service from that satellite. Therefore, any existing or future non-India registered satellite, capable of providing DTH service into India, cannot claim it as a matter of right. We as a nation have the right to insist on the use of only India registered satellite for DTH. As a gesture of goodwill, we may not do the same for any other satellite which is already broadcasting into India through C-band transponders.

Classified, sensitive and culturally damaging video/data can be transmitted through the skies from a foreign country receivable in India by only a select few owning the specially programmed Access Card. Each subscriber has to identify himself to the Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD) through the Access Card and only then the signals get descrambled for him to view.

Any sensitive channel on a DTH platform being broadcast from a foreign country need not go through the Subscriber Management System (SMS) placed in India, if desired by the DTH operator. Therefore, the argument that DTH broadcast can be effectively controlled by the regulatory authority in India by supervising the SMS is meaningless.

This is a very sensitive matter for the protection of culture, sovereignty and security of the country. DTH operator must uplink from India for country to control sensitive and damaging broadcasts. DTH has not arrived but advertisements in newspaper dailies alongwith articles have started arriving regarding the offering of Adult Channel through DTH.

To provide interactivity in Ku band service, wherever required, the return link is usually via normal telphone lines (Plain Old Telephone System POTS) terminating at the IRDS alogwith use of increasing memory provisions in Smart Cards. Since the incoming traffic is approximately 90-95 per cent compared to outgoing 5-10 per cent, the system cost via satellite is generally estimated to be cheaper than 'hybrid' fibre-optic/coaxial networks in subscriber local loops. Therefore, the argument that DTH through Ku-band is not interactive is not correct. It is pertinent to mention here that DTH through Ka band can be fully interactive without the use of telephone lines.

Because of wide variety in programming and services, different packages are creatively customized to suit viewers choice, flexibility, demand pattern, affordability and competitive pricing. The service categories and tariff may be in basic tier, premium tier, PPV and/or value added communication services. In view of microprocessor control features in IRDS, viewers may even select programmes from different channels and create personalized virtual channel in a time schedule.

It is evident that DTH can be a very attractive proposition. DTH operator is expected to reveal all these salient interesting features once the permission permission is through and the real marketing starts. Therefore, the argument that DTH is only for a select few may not be quite correct.

Since any broadcasting service (DTH in particular) has to be sensitive to cultural and security considerations of the country, the extent of foreign ownership is most critical. Some examples: USA 25%, Canada 33% (with restrictions on foreign control), France 25%, Spain 25% Japan 25%, Thailand 49.9% (with restrictions on foreign control).

The foreign ownership aspect should particularly look into the equity structure of the actual operator, who is in control of uplink, programme, content, channels in the DTH bouquet, etc. Merely controlling foreign ownership of the Indian franchise or company with very limited responsibility is going to effectively regulate foreign ownership.

Most of the countries (developed & developing alike) have specific regulations in broadcasting and telecommunication. With emerging technologies and service like DTH, the regulatory framework invariably provides for licensing of the operator, uplinking, downlinking/receive only at viewers homes and even restriction on supply and sale of decoders.

DTH on Ku-band is the ideal platform for scores of purely foreign channels to enter India at a very low cost, if foreign ownership is not pre-defined. The impact of that on the Indian minds shall be considerable.

Idol of the Young
On the occasion of Silver Jublilee celebrations of Indian Independence in 1972 the Government of India brought out an anthology of short biographical sketches of eminent persons in all walks of national life covering the period 1857-1947. The four-volume anthology was edited by Shri S.P. Sen, Director, Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta. A write-up on Dr K.B. Hedgewar by S.A. Madan and D.V. Kale appeared in the second volume. Following is the text of the write-up.

Keshavrao Baliram Hedgewar, a patriot, seer organizer and founder of the RSS was the youngest of the six children of Balirampant and Revatibai (Paithankar). He was born at Nagpur on April 1, 1889. He remained a bachelor.

The Hedgewars were an orthodox Deshastha Brahmin family. Keshavrao imbibed this discipline and profound respect for Hindu traditions. Nagpur cherished memories of the old Bhonsla rulers and of the great Shivaji. They fostered in Keshavrao a love of freedom, intensified by the rising tempo of the political atmosphere since the partition of Bengal in 1905. Deliberately flouting the Risley Circular (1908), he courted rustication, studied in a national school, passed the Matriculation examination of the National Council of Education, Bengal (1909), joined the National Medical College at Calcutta (1910) and took his L.M. & S. degree in 1914. Admitted in this College days among the revolutionaries of Bengal and the Punjab, he organized a centre at Nagpur (1916-19), after he returned there.

He never practised as a doctor. He advocated full political freedom and devoted himself entirely to national work, irrespective of party affiliations, and was equally at home with the revolutionaries, the Congress and the Hindu Mahasabha. He galvanized the youth of the region, participated in the Home Rule Comapign of Lokamanya Tilak in Vidarbha (February 1918), organized and commanded the volunteer Corps at the Congress Session at Nagpur (1920), was arrested and gaoled for Satyagraha, both in 1921 and in 1931, carried the Dindi Styagraha (against ban on music before mosque) to success (1923), inspired the Hindu to face Muslim aggression with tact and courage (1927), and presided over the Hindu Yuvak Parishad (Poona, 1938). But his greatest achievement was the foundation of the RSS on the Vijayadashami day (27 September 1925).

He had found that they people were hopelessly divided and that the methods tried till then for removing this greatest defect were unsuccessful. He realized that Indians lay prostrate before the foreign rulers mainly due to lack of unity and vitality and that they needed to be revived and reinvigorated with a militant spirit. A consciousness of the glorious past of India would revive their confidence and a sense of their boudun duty to regain its independence would help to develop their initiative. He asserted that the Hindus, as the majority community has a special responsibility. They must develop a strong sense of unity and show a readiness to sacrifice their lives for the uplift and omancipation of India. This teaching has a life-long bearing and he devised a novel type of organization which converted the whole country into a vast continuous and continuing school, harbouring a set of disciplined friendly groups unaffected by any legal or overformal regulations, self-dependent and autofinancing. This he called the RSS or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, i.e. the National Volunteer Union—with all the implications that every one of the three words bear. No person or god but the impesonal Bhagawa Dhwaja (saffron coloured flag) was the Guru of the preceptor; the members alone raised the needed funds from their own contributions in the form of gurudakshina and the command was vested in the 'Sar-sanghchalak. This was his most memorable contribution to the national armoury of India, a nation-wide union of zealous citizens, whose inspiration would be spiritual and whose outlook would be patriotic, yet modern.

The Sangh was started at Nagpur. The next centre was at Wardha. Slowly evolving its own technique and studiedly keeping aloof from party or sectional loyalities, the Sangh ploughed its lonely furrow and had to face misunderstanding and opposition, both from the people and from the Government. The CP Government prohibited Government and Distric Council servants from joining the RSS on the ground that it was communal and political (1932, 1933); but the Government was defeated on that issue by a cut motion passed with a considerable majority in the CP Legislative Council (March 1934). Mahatma Gandhi paid a visit to a camp at Wardha (25 December 1934), where, with many other admirable things, he discovered that untouchability was surprisingly absent. The Sangh spread its wings and gathered momentum as its branches were started in the Berars, CP, Maharashtra, Delhi and the Punjab. It soon spread to UP, Central India, Mahakoshal, Gujarat, Bihar and Karanataka, as the people realized that it was constructively striving to make the Hindu unconquerable by lostering in him the essential spirit of nationalism and social solidarity. The demands of this growing organization increased its problems and even the iron constitution of the founder began to feel the strain from 1932. Against medical advice, he took neither full treatment nor rest, and worked day and night even when in bad. He was in a hurry to educate his countrymen to deserve their freedom, whenever it came.

To this end he sent a clarion call to the hearts of young men to unite in the service of the motherland, not with any limited end in view, but for the sake of building from within, the allround strength and power that comes from organizing oneself for organization's sake. He thus occupies a unique position among the nation-builders of India and no wonder is hailed as the idol of the young. He died of high blood pressure on 21 June 1940, at a time when his guidance was needed and even sought every where in the country, against the background of the Second World War.