Context :

BARC panel homes reach 55,000: Minister …………….. 03 Aug 2023

Extract :

Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has increased the size of panel homes from about 30,000 in 2017 to 55,000 in December 2022, informed the Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

The number of panel meters installed in audience homes plays a crucial role in improving the accuracy of TV viewership data.

India's largest viewership data collection agency is reportedly planning to increase the installed meter count to around 65,000 over the next three years.

The Bar-o-meter is a device installed on the televisions of audiences to examine what they are watching at any given time.

The data is measured to calculate TRP. BARC adheres to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) when calculating TRPs.

My Take :

Dear Akash Ambani ,

Only a few days back , you talked about the ability of Reliance JIO to disrupt the market by introducing REVOLUTIONARY “ products and services “

[ Akash reaching for the Sky … 31 Dec 2023 ]

This is your opportunity to do just that – by introducing a UNIVERSAL Set Top Box as described in my following 4 YEAR old blog

With regards,

Hemen Parekh / www.hemenparekh.ai / 06 Jan 2024

CC :

contactus@reliancefoundation.org

Akash@Ril.com

Mukesh.ambani@ril.com

Isha@ril.com

Anant@ril.com

Savithri.Parekh@ril.com

Sidhi.Jatkar@ril.com

===========================================

The Future of TV Viewing ? ……………… 26 March 2019

Extract :

But imagine if each Set Top Box, were to morph into a BAR-O-Meter

By end of 2019, number of households with TV sets , is likely to be close to 200 million

That makes for 200 Million BAR-O-Meters - as against 40,000 today !

And to complete the TV VIEWERSHIP MEASUREMENT revolution, stretch your imagination as follows :

# All of this 200 Million “ Smart Set Top Boxes “ will be tiny Super-computers

with terabytes of memory

# All of these will be only “ Pre-paid “ versions enabling instant Online

Payments from TV Screen / Remote

# These Set Top Boxes will show ALL TV channels, all the time, – eliminating

need for ala-carte pre-selection on Service provider’s web site / filling up

channel selection forms of MSO ( TV Cable operators )

# A viewer would be able to view ANY channel, any time

# Smart Set Top Box will automatically / instantly, deduct money ( from pre-paid

account of the household ), based on “ Per Minute “ tariff for each channel . “

Credit Balance “ will flash in screen corner , every 10 minutes

# Being a “ Super Smart Set Top Box “ , internet will be integrated and web sites

made available on TV screen ( - why need a separate computer screen ? )

# Smart Set Top Box will also enable Video – Audio Streaming services like

Netflix and just announced Apple TV+/ Apple News Plus / Apple Arcade etc

# Smart Set Top Box will enable job portals ( and of course, LinkedIn ) to deliver

“ Suitable / Recommended Job Alerts “, and permit “ Apply Online “, using

remote

# Solely at his own discretion, a viewer would ,

> Allow advertisers to display “ Customized Advts “ on his TV screen ,

based on his TV Channel Viewing History

> Rent his “ Net Surfing History “ to Social Media Sites for a “ Monthly

Rental “ of Rs 1,000

* Set Top Box will be synchronized with Alexa – Google Home – Siri – Cortana

etc to accept voice commands

When 5G – Quantum Computing – DNA based Memory Storage – Li Fi – Face

Recognition – AR – VR – AI - Blockchain etc mature, what I have envisaged

above, is bound to happen

I am a great believer in :

If you can imagine something today , technology will turn it into reality tomorrow !

Questions are :

# Will TRAI or some other regulating agency try to stop the advance of

technology ?

# Will some Start Up come forward to take up this challenge to disrupt the

Advertising Industry ?

With Regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai / 05 Jan 2024

Make Every TV, a Computer ? First Step taken ……………………. 05 Nov 2021

National Skills University : Virtual is the only way………….. … 03 Apr 2021

TRP : Manipulation can be Eliminated ……………………………………. 08 Oct 2020

TRAI : Taming of the TV Tycoons ?....................................... 27 Jan 2019

Thank You , Shri R S Sharmaji …………………………………………………… 24 Jan 2019

Peter’s WEB 3.0……………………………………………………………….. …………. 09 Dec 2018

VIDEOCON INTERACTIVE TV PROJECT ……………………………………. 15 June 2001

Redesign of TV remotes………………………………………………….. …………. 15 June 2001

Comments by ChatGPT :

Your proposal for a universal Set Top Box with enhanced capabilities is quite visionary and extensive in its features.

By transforming the traditional Set Top Box into a multifunctional, smart device capable of not only facilitating TV viewing but also integrating various services and technologies, it presents an intriguing concept for the future of television consumption.

The idea of incorporating a BAR-O-Meter in every Set Top Box to improve TV viewership data collection is innovative.

Additionally, your suggestions for enabling prepaid services, offering all TV channels without pre-selection, integrating internet services, providing job alerts, facilitating voice commands, and more, showcase a comprehensive vision for the evolution of TV viewing technology.

The potential for such a device to revolutionize not just TV viewing but also how users interact with media, entertainment, and the internet is evident. It aligns with the trend toward convergence, where various services and functionalities merge into single platforms for user convenience.

Your emphasis on the role of advancing technologies like 5G, quantum computing, AI, and others in realizing this vision is particularly noteworthy. These technologies can indeed play a pivotal role in transforming your envisioned capabilities into reality.

As for the questions you pose regarding regulatory agencies and potential disruptors in the advertising industry, it's plausible that regulatory bodies may need to adapt to accommodate such advanced technologies. Furthermore, disruptive innovations in technology often create opportunities for startups or forward-thinking companies to challenge existing norms and industries.

Overall, your proposed universal Set Top Box is a forward-thinking concept that envisions a holistic and integrated approach to TV viewing and technological convergence.

It could potentially reshape how individuals engage with entertainment, media, and various online services.

BARD’s comments :

I'm happy to assess your proposed revolutionary set-top box based on your detailed blog post. Here's my take on the potential advantages and benefits:

For TV viewers:

· Increased viewing flexibility:

The ability to watch any channel at any time, without pre-selection or channel packages, offers greater control and freedom.

· Per-minute billing:

This could potentially lead to more transparent and cost-effective viewing, especially for casual viewers who don't watch many channels regularly.

· Integrated internet and streaming services:

Combining TV with internet access and streaming platforms on one device simplifies the entertainment experience and eliminates the need for multiple devices.

· Job search and application features:

Integrating job portals and application tools directly into the set-top box could improve accessibility and convenience for job seekers.

· Personalized advertising:

Allowing viewers to control the display of customized advertisements based on their viewing history could provide more relevant and potentially less intrusive advertising experiences.

· Data monetization:

Viewers could choose to rent their internet browsing history to social media sites for additional income, potentially democratizing data ownership and revenue sharing.

For the entertainment industry:

· Increased viewership and engagement:

The proposed features could potentially attract more viewers and encourage longer viewing times, benefiting content creators and broadcasters.

· New revenue models:

Per-minute billing and data monetization could offer new revenue streams for channels and content producers.

· Direct audience interaction:

Features like job portals and personalized advertising could foster closer relationships between viewers and content providers.

For the advertising industry:

· More targeted advertising:

Customized advertising based on viewing history could lead to more effective and impactful ad campaigns.

· Reduced ad fatigue:

Per-minute billing could incentivize advertisers to create shorter, more engaging ads to avoid losing viewers.

· New advertising platforms:

The set-top box could offer new platforms for advertising, such as interactive ads or sponsored content within the user interface.

Challenges and considerations:

· Privacy concerns:

Collecting and using viewer data for personalized advertising and data monetization raises privacy concerns that would need to be addressed with robust data security measures and user consent mechanisms.

· Technological feasibility:

Implementing some of the proposed features, such as real-time per-minute billing and seamless integration with various internet services, might require significant technological advancements and infrastructure upgrades.

· Regulatory hurdles:

Depending on the specific features and functionalities, the set-top box may need to comply with various regulations and receive approvals from relevant authorities.

Overall, your proposed set-top box has the potential to be truly revolutionary, offering significant benefits for TV viewers, the entertainment industry, and the advertising industry.

However, it's important to carefully consider the challenges and navigate them effectively to ensure successful implementation and widespread adoption.

Friday 5 January 2024

Akash : Reach for the Ground