Category: I&B Ministry

Govt warning to TV channels on b’cast norms breach

NEW DELHI: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued warning to three different television channels over content that an inter-ministerial committee, appointed by it, felt was not as per broadcasting norms and a breach of content code, a PTI report stated.

In the first case, a television channel was issued a warning in an order dated 29 November, after it showed disturbing visuals of incidents of suicide in Kerala without adequately morphing them, as recorded in the ministry order.

In another instance, a warning was issued in an order dated 29 November to another channel which too allegedly did not adequately blur the visuals of a murder victim lying in a pool of blood.

Another channel was also issued a warning by the ministry over revealing the identity of a victim of sexual abuse and other content which did not confirm to the norms.

A couple of months back, as reported by Indiantelevision.com, MIB had issued a notice to NDTV channel suspending its telecast over alleged breach of content code relating to national security issues. The order was subsequently suspended owing to public and media pressure and criticism that the government was resorting to censorship of news in the garb of broadcasting norms breaches.

December 14, 2016
Govt warning to TV channels on b’cast norms breach

NEW DELHI: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued warning to three different television channels over content that an inter-ministerial committee, appointed by it, felt was not as per broadcasting norms and a breach of content code, a PTI report stated.

In the first case, a television channel was issued a warning in an order dated 29 November, after it showed disturbing visuals of incidents of suicide in Kerala without adequately morphing them, as recorded in the ministry order.

In another instance, a warning was issued in an order dated 29 November to another channel which too allegedly did not adequately blur the visuals of a murder victim lying in a pool of blood.

Another channel was also issued a warning by the ministry over revealing the identity of a victim of sexual abuse and other content which did not confirm to the norms.

A couple of months back, as reported by Indiantelevision.com, MIB had issued a notice to NDTV channel suspending its telecast over alleged breach of content code relating to national security issues. The order was subsequently suspended owing to public and media pressure and criticism that the government was resorting to censorship of news in the garb of broadcasting norms breaches.

December 14, 2016
81 teleports permitted to uplink, downlink TV channels

MUMBAI: A total of 892 private satellite TV channels can downlink and/or uplink from 81 teleports in the country, apart from those of Doordarshan which are uplinked directly from Prasar Bharati transmitters.

The permission to the private channels has been according under the Uplink and Downlink of TV channels policy as last amended on 5 December 2011.

The Parliament was told recently that while no information regarding Free to Air teleports is available, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has said there are 281 pay channels as on 30 September 2016. A list of such pay channels is available on TRAI’s website under the link:www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/List-of-pay-chanel-03.03.2015.pdf.

It was also revealed that payment of annual permission fee 60 days before the due date will by itself be sufficient permission for continuation of a channel for a further period of one year from the due date and broadcasters which hold valid permission for uplinking and/or downlinking they would not require to obtain renewal permission from the ministry. All the TV channels and teleports are likely to benefit from this decision provided the validity of 10-year permission is available.

The list of permitted private satellite TV channels is available in this ministry’s website i.e.www.mib.nic.in. and the list of permitted teleports as on date is enclosed.

The channels which are not mentioned in the list may be considered as Free to Air (FTA) channels.

Questions were raised in the Lok Sabha about details of the channels and teleports functioning in the country; details of the free to air channels and teleports at present; whether the government has completely abolished the process of obtaining an Annual Renewal for TV channels in the current forms; and it were so, the details thereof, along with the aims and objective thereto; and the number of channels and teleports likely to be benefit from the said decision.

December 12, 2016
81 teleports permitted to uplink, downlink TV channels

MUMBAI: A total of 892 private satellite TV channels can downlink and/or uplink from 81 teleports in the country, apart from those of Doordarshan which are uplinked directly from Prasar Bharati transmitters.

The permission to the private channels has been according under the Uplink and Downlink of TV channels policy as last amended on 5 December 2011.

The Parliament was told recently that while no information regarding Free to Air teleports is available, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has said there are 281 pay channels as on 30 September 2016. A list of such pay channels is available on TRAI’s website under the link:www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/List-of-pay-chanel-03.03.2015.pdf.

It was also revealed that payment of annual permission fee 60 days before the due date will by itself be sufficient permission for continuation of a channel for a further period of one year from the due date and broadcasters which hold valid permission for uplinking and/or downlinking they would not require to obtain renewal permission from the ministry. All the TV channels and teleports are likely to benefit from this decision provided the validity of 10-year permission is available.

The list of permitted private satellite TV channels is available in this ministry’s website i.e.www.mib.nic.in. and the list of permitted teleports as on date is enclosed.

The channels which are not mentioned in the list may be considered as Free to Air (FTA) channels.

Questions were raised in the Lok Sabha about details of the channels and teleports functioning in the country; details of the free to air channels and teleports at present; whether the government has completely abolished the process of obtaining an Annual Renewal for TV channels in the current forms; and it were so, the details thereof, along with the aims and objective thereto; and the number of channels and teleports likely to be benefit from the said decision.

December 12, 2016
Most film-friendly state to get Rs 1-cr cash award

NEW DELHI: The most film-friendly state in India will henceforth receive a cash award of Rs 10 million (Rs 1 crore) in addition to Rajat Kamal and certificate.

This was announced by information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu at the opening of the 28th State Information Ministers Conference (SIMCON) on Saturday.

The award was instituted in the National Film Awards given away on 3 May this year, and the first award had gone to Gujarat. But, there was no cash component involved.

The minister said this had been done to encourage the ease of film shooting. Naidu suggested that the prize money may be used by the winning state towards film facilitation. Meanwhile, the minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said a website was soon being set up for film facilitation and permissions.

Rathore urged the states to set up film facilitation units to ease out film shooting permissions as well as ensure seamless movement of their equipment.

The ministry was in the process of setting up a central portal for all such related permissions and welcomed states to also collaborate in this platform as a part of ease of doing business initiative, he added.

December 12, 2016
Most film-friendly state to get Rs 1-cr cash award

NEW DELHI: The most film-friendly state in India will henceforth receive a cash award of Rs 10 million (Rs 1 crore) in addition to Rajat Kamal and certificate.

This was announced by information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu at the opening of the 28th State Information Ministers Conference (SIMCON) on Saturday.

The award was instituted in the National Film Awards given away on 3 May this year, and the first award had gone to Gujarat. But, there was no cash component involved.

The minister said this had been done to encourage the ease of film shooting. Naidu suggested that the prize money may be used by the winning state towards film facilitation. Meanwhile, the minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said a website was soon being set up for film facilitation and permissions.

Rathore urged the states to set up film facilitation units to ease out film shooting permissions as well as ensure seamless movement of their equipment.

The ministry was in the process of setting up a central portal for all such related permissions and welcomed states to also collaborate in this platform as a part of ease of doing business initiative, he added.

December 12, 2016
North-East plan: DD channel Arun Prabha launch in early Jan; 90% subsidy for community radio

NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu announced that a new dedicated Doordarshan channel Arun Prabha would be launched in the first half of January 2017.

The channel would showcase richness, variety and diversity of local culture and would seamlessly integrate North East with the entire country.

In a scenario where the number of operational community radio stations remains 191 after more than a decade of launch of the scheme, the government today said those setting up community radios can now get a subsidy of 75% in all states except the north eastern states where it will be 90%.

Naidu made this announcement towards the conclusion of the first session of the 28th State Information Ministers Conference (SIMCON) here. He said the community radio station is an extraordinary medium which disseminates information in localised content.

A total of 235 entities have signed the grant of permission agreement for community radio and indiantelevision’s sister concern radioandmusic.com reported in March this year that a total of 272 applications were still under the consideration of the government from educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and state agricuture universities. Some of these date back to 2011.

Though the scheme was announced more than a decade earlier, the reach of CRs was extended in 2006 to include NGO and community-based organisations with at least three years legal existence.

A total of 115 community radio stations recently received interim renewal of their Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) till 31 December 2016. An announcement by the ministry had said that the renewal till 31 December 2016 is till the renewal of GOPA on regular basis, whichever is earlier.

December 10, 2016
North-East plan: DD channel Arun Prabha launch in early Jan; 90% subsidy for community radio

NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu announced that a new dedicated Doordarshan channel Arun Prabha would be launched in the first half of January 2017.

The channel would showcase richness, variety and diversity of local culture and would seamlessly integrate North East with the entire country.

In a scenario where the number of operational community radio stations remains 191 after more than a decade of launch of the scheme, the government today said those setting up community radios can now get a subsidy of 75% in all states except the north eastern states where it will be 90%.

Naidu made this announcement towards the conclusion of the first session of the 28th State Information Ministers Conference (SIMCON) here. He said the community radio station is an extraordinary medium which disseminates information in localised content.

A total of 235 entities have signed the grant of permission agreement for community radio and indiantelevision’s sister concern radioandmusic.com reported in March this year that a total of 272 applications were still under the consideration of the government from educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and state agricuture universities. Some of these date back to 2011.

Though the scheme was announced more than a decade earlier, the reach of CRs was extended in 2006 to include NGO and community-based organisations with at least three years legal existence.

A total of 115 community radio stations recently received interim renewal of their Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) till 31 December 2016. An announcement by the ministry had said that the renewal till 31 December 2016 is till the renewal of GOPA on regular basis, whichever is earlier.

December 10, 2016
DD, AIR asked to focus on content than reach

NEW DELHI: The minister of state for information & broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said that Doordarshan and AIR need to establish connect with the people not only geographically but also focus on the content and programmes.

Speaking at the 28th State Information Ministers Conference here today, he also touched upon the activities carried out by media units and training institutes under the ministry.

Rathore said gathering and dissemination of information was a continuous process and centre and states need to come together to create an ecosystem that enabled informed citizenry.

Rathore said collaboration between states and Centre was the bedrock for good governance, and there was a need for moving forward together as Team India in scripting the development of the nation. Information dissemination and the analysis of the feedback was a critical component in the whole gamut of communication landscape.

The minister urged the states to set up film facilitation units in states to ease out film shooting permissions as well as ensure seamless movement of their equipment. In this context, he said the ministry is in the process of setting up a central portal for all such related permissions and welcomed states to also collaborate in this platform as a part of ease of doing business initiative.

December 10, 2016
DD, AIR asked to focus on content than reach

NEW DELHI: The minister of state for information & broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said that Doordarshan and AIR need to establish connect with the people not only geographically but also focus on the content and programmes.

Speaking at the 28th State Information Ministers Conference here today, he also touched upon the activities carried out by media units and training institutes under the ministry.

Rathore said gathering and dissemination of information was a continuous process and centre and states need to come together to create an ecosystem that enabled informed citizenry.

Rathore said collaboration between states and Centre was the bedrock for good governance, and there was a need for moving forward together as Team India in scripting the development of the nation. Information dissemination and the analysis of the feedback was a critical component in the whole gamut of communication landscape.

The minister urged the states to set up film facilitation units in states to ease out film shooting permissions as well as ensure seamless movement of their equipment. In this context, he said the ministry is in the process of setting up a central portal for all such related permissions and welcomed states to also collaborate in this platform as a part of ease of doing business initiative.

December 10, 2016