ITV

Category: I&B Ministry

  • Total of television channels in India rises to 892, with three cleared in June

    Total of television channels in India rises to 892, with three cleared in June

    NEW DELHI: With clearance to three private television satellite channels including two news channels in June, the total number has risen to 892 of which news and current affairs channels number 403.

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has said it had given permission to 1031 channels but later cancelled permission to 139. The number of general entertainment channels is 489 according to the list up to 30 June.

    Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country and there has been no change in this category.  

    A total of 776 channels including 395 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 96 including 81 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.  

    After 31 May, the news channels cleared are: ‘Total Haryana’ and ‘Total Rajasthan’ by Total Telefilms Pvt Ltd,

    The only Non-News channel cleared is MAAS TV owned by Gokann International Media Pvt. Ltd.

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry site (mib.nic.in) also contains the full details of the owners of these channels, the languages in which they will beam, and the date on which the clearance came. However, there are no details of channels denied permission.

  • Total of television channels in India rises to 892, with three cleared in June

    Total of television channels in India rises to 892, with three cleared in June

    NEW DELHI: With clearance to three private television satellite channels including two news channels in June, the total number has risen to 892 of which news and current affairs channels number 403.

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has said it had given permission to 1031 channels but later cancelled permission to 139. The number of general entertainment channels is 489 according to the list up to 30 June.

    Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country and there has been no change in this category.  

    A total of 776 channels including 395 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 96 including 81 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.  

    After 31 May, the news channels cleared are: ‘Total Haryana’ and ‘Total Rajasthan’ by Total Telefilms Pvt Ltd,

    The only Non-News channel cleared is MAAS TV owned by Gokann International Media Pvt. Ltd.

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry site (mib.nic.in) also contains the full details of the owners of these channels, the languages in which they will beam, and the date on which the clearance came. However, there are no details of channels denied permission.

  • Indian govt warns against re-transmission of Peace TV illegally

    Indian govt warns against re-transmission of Peace TV illegally

    NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Even as reports came that the Government is initiating a probe into how Peace TV is being beamed into the country, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued an advisory today asking all MSOs, cable operators  and DTH platforms against transmitting any un-authorized TV channels on their networks.

    Drawing attention to reports of “security threats due to TV content aimed at inciting communal and terrorist violence”, the government advisory said, “Reports are being received of such content being broadcast through private satellite TV channels, such as Peace TV channel, which are not permitted by this Ministry for downlinking into the country. It is, therefore, essential that broadcast or transmission of such non-permitted channels is stopped immediately by the cable operators and DTH operators.”

    Peace TV, twice denied landing rights in India earlier, airs sermons of Mumbai-based tele-evangelist Dr. Zakir Naik.

    The government warned that necessary action would be taken for any violations against defaulters.

    A Press Trust of India (PTI) report, separately, quoted home minister Rajnath Singh as saying that reports regarding Mumbai-based Zakir Naik, his sermons on Peace TV and the Islamic institution run by him have been taken note of and action will be taken as per law.

    Meanwhile, MIB sources said that the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau would be asked to probe how the channel is beaming into the country.

    The sources, who said that the channel had been denied permission twice to beam into India, added that the MIB would take the help of the External Affairs Ministry to approach the countries in west Asia from where the channel was being beamed.

    The government advisory to Indian media pointed out that non-permitted TV channels are in violation of the sub-rule 6(6) of the Cable TV Rules under programme code and “need to acted upon immediately”.

    Section 5 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995, amended in 1997,  states no person shall transmit or re-transmit through a cable service any programme unless such programme is in conformity with the programme code. In the Cable Television Network (CTN) Rules 1994, framed under the Cable TV Act, the nature of the contents prohibited to be transmitted or re-transmitted are given in the in the programme code under Rule 6 of these Rules.

    Sub Rule 6(6) of the Cable TV Rules specifies that no cable operator shall carry or include in his cable service any television broadcast or channel, which has not been registered by the Central Government for being viewed within the territory of India.

    The advisory said that a list of the private satellite TV channels permitted by the government was available on the website of MIB at www.mib.nic.in.

    Transmission or re-transmission of any TV channel in violation of the Section 5 of the Cable TV Act, read with Rule 6(6), by any cable operator is an offence which attracts action against the operators by authorized officers.

    The Central government advisory has been sent to various State governments too.

    Naik and his Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) came into limelight after a Bangladeshi newspaper, quoting local government officials, alleged that his sermons influenced the people who killed 20 people, comprising mostly foreigners, in Dhaka few days before Eid.

    According to Peace TV’s website, peacetv.in, on which its schedule is available, the channel is beamed off at least a dozen satellite transponders to reach viewers  in more than 200 countries.

    Its English HD feed is available off AsiaSat7 at 105.5 degrees East and off Arabsat BADR 4 at 26.0 degrees East. AsiaSat 7’s C-band transponders have coverage over South East Asia, West Asia, Asia and Australasia, while Arabsat BADR 4 allows it to reach out in Africa, West Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of Europe.

    The channel also has an India region targeted specific transponder on Intelsat12 at 45 degrees east. Indian government officials think that some cable operators and MSOs, probably, are latching on to this beam and (illegally) retransmitting Peace TV following requests from subscribers.

  • Indian govt warns against re-transmission of Peace TV illegally

    Indian govt warns against re-transmission of Peace TV illegally

    NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Even as reports came that the Government is initiating a probe into how Peace TV is being beamed into the country, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued an advisory today asking all MSOs, cable operators  and DTH platforms against transmitting any un-authorized TV channels on their networks.

    Drawing attention to reports of “security threats due to TV content aimed at inciting communal and terrorist violence”, the government advisory said, “Reports are being received of such content being broadcast through private satellite TV channels, such as Peace TV channel, which are not permitted by this Ministry for downlinking into the country. It is, therefore, essential that broadcast or transmission of such non-permitted channels is stopped immediately by the cable operators and DTH operators.”

    Peace TV, twice denied landing rights in India earlier, airs sermons of Mumbai-based tele-evangelist Dr. Zakir Naik.

    The government warned that necessary action would be taken for any violations against defaulters.

    A Press Trust of India (PTI) report, separately, quoted home minister Rajnath Singh as saying that reports regarding Mumbai-based Zakir Naik, his sermons on Peace TV and the Islamic institution run by him have been taken note of and action will be taken as per law.

    Meanwhile, MIB sources said that the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau would be asked to probe how the channel is beaming into the country.

    The sources, who said that the channel had been denied permission twice to beam into India, added that the MIB would take the help of the External Affairs Ministry to approach the countries in west Asia from where the channel was being beamed.

    The government advisory to Indian media pointed out that non-permitted TV channels are in violation of the sub-rule 6(6) of the Cable TV Rules under programme code and “need to acted upon immediately”.

    Section 5 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995, amended in 1997,  states no person shall transmit or re-transmit through a cable service any programme unless such programme is in conformity with the programme code. In the Cable Television Network (CTN) Rules 1994, framed under the Cable TV Act, the nature of the contents prohibited to be transmitted or re-transmitted are given in the in the programme code under Rule 6 of these Rules.

    Sub Rule 6(6) of the Cable TV Rules specifies that no cable operator shall carry or include in his cable service any television broadcast or channel, which has not been registered by the Central Government for being viewed within the territory of India.

    The advisory said that a list of the private satellite TV channels permitted by the government was available on the website of MIB at www.mib.nic.in.

    Transmission or re-transmission of any TV channel in violation of the Section 5 of the Cable TV Act, read with Rule 6(6), by any cable operator is an offence which attracts action against the operators by authorized officers.

    The Central government advisory has been sent to various State governments too.

    Naik and his Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) came into limelight after a Bangladeshi newspaper, quoting local government officials, alleged that his sermons influenced the people who killed 20 people, comprising mostly foreigners, in Dhaka few days before Eid.

    According to Peace TV’s website, peacetv.in, on which its schedule is available, the channel is beamed off at least a dozen satellite transponders to reach viewers  in more than 200 countries.

    Its English HD feed is available off AsiaSat7 at 105.5 degrees East and off Arabsat BADR 4 at 26.0 degrees East. AsiaSat 7’s C-band transponders have coverage over South East Asia, West Asia, Asia and Australasia, while Arabsat BADR 4 allows it to reach out in Africa, West Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of Europe.

    The channel also has an India region targeted specific transponder on Intelsat12 at 45 degrees east. Indian government officials think that some cable operators and MSOs, probably, are latching on to this beam and (illegally) retransmitting Peace TV following requests from subscribers.

  • Govt examining proposal to relax FDI norms in Print Media

    Govt examining proposal to relax FDI norms in Print Media

    NEW DELHI: After a recent slew of relaxations relating to foreign investment norms, the PM Narendra Modi-led government is said to be considering a proposal to liberalise investment levels in print media.

    Quoting unnamed Finance Ministry officials, Bloomberg reported that the ministry is of the view that foreign investment norms in India’s print media could be raised from the present 26 per cent to 49 per cent, bringing it at par with norms for TV news segment.

    The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under the Commerce Ministry will take a final call on the matter, the Bloomberg report quoted the government officials as saying.

    Though, foreign investment in India’s print media sector is limited, but from time to time global giants like News Corp, having widespread interest in media, have evinced interest in investing here but stopped short because of restrictive policies and an inherent opposition from big Indian media groups.

    In June 2016, the government had liberalised foreign investment norms in many sectors including airlines, retail, defence and TV broadcast carriage services like DTH, HITS, teleports, etc.

    Recently, a delegation of  US-India Business Council (USIBC), which included some broadcast companies, had petitioned the Commerce Ministry to relax foreign investment levels in electronic news media that stands at 49 per cent at present, but just shy of giving majority controlling stake to any foreign entity.

    Interestingly, in January 2015, the then Minister of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and present Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had opined that restrictions on foreign investment limit in print media need to be debated afresh.

    Delivering the inaugural JS Verma memorial lecture, organised by News Broadcasters’ Association (NBA), Jaitley had said the practicality of FDI norms in print media should be examined anew in a spreading digital age when such limits are becoming irrelevant as news products are increasingly being made available on the Internet.

    Finance Minister Jaitley’s forward-looking views on foreign investment norms in India’s print sector — and media in general — could be viewed at

    and 

    Are such proposals under study a precursor to relaxations for TV news channels too?

    ALSO READ
    Stakeholders welcome easing of FDI norms for broadcasting; want DAS to move faster
     

  • Govt examining proposal to relax FDI norms in Print Media

    Govt examining proposal to relax FDI norms in Print Media

    NEW DELHI: After a recent slew of relaxations relating to foreign investment norms, the PM Narendra Modi-led government is said to be considering a proposal to liberalise investment levels in print media.

    Quoting unnamed Finance Ministry officials, Bloomberg reported that the ministry is of the view that foreign investment norms in India’s print media could be raised from the present 26 per cent to 49 per cent, bringing it at par with norms for TV news segment.

    The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under the Commerce Ministry will take a final call on the matter, the Bloomberg report quoted the government officials as saying.

    Though, foreign investment in India’s print media sector is limited, but from time to time global giants like News Corp, having widespread interest in media, have evinced interest in investing here but stopped short because of restrictive policies and an inherent opposition from big Indian media groups.

    In June 2016, the government had liberalised foreign investment norms in many sectors including airlines, retail, defence and TV broadcast carriage services like DTH, HITS, teleports, etc.

    Recently, a delegation of  US-India Business Council (USIBC), which included some broadcast companies, had petitioned the Commerce Ministry to relax foreign investment levels in electronic news media that stands at 49 per cent at present, but just shy of giving majority controlling stake to any foreign entity.

    Interestingly, in January 2015, the then Minister of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and present Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had opined that restrictions on foreign investment limit in print media need to be debated afresh.

    Delivering the inaugural JS Verma memorial lecture, organised by News Broadcasters’ Association (NBA), Jaitley had said the practicality of FDI norms in print media should be examined anew in a spreading digital age when such limits are becoming irrelevant as news products are increasingly being made available on the Internet.

    Finance Minister Jaitley’s forward-looking views on foreign investment norms in India’s print sector — and media in general — could be viewed at

    and 

    Are such proposals under study a precursor to relaxations for TV news channels too?

    ALSO READ
    Stakeholders welcome easing of FDI norms for broadcasting; want DAS to move faster
     

  • Ensure flow of undiluted and unadulterated information to the people: Naidu

    Ensure flow of undiluted and unadulterated information to the people: Naidu

    NEW DELHI: ,Venkaiah Naidu who has assumed additional charge of Information and Broadcasting held until now by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, has said communication processes are critical for empowering people with information that would enable them to fulfill their aspirations.

    He said the government’s mission would be to enable public communication for the development of the country and the community. Naidu told newspersons after taking charge yesterday that he would be guided by the principle of ‘Communication for Development of the Community and the Country” and the basic principles of “Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform”.

    The government was a “reservoir of Information” relating to various aspects of a common man’s life. It was important to ensure proper flow of such information -“undiluted and unadulterated” – for broadening common man’s understanding of key policy initiatives of the government. This would facilitate the task of information empowerment, thereby creating an enabling environment for key stakeholders.

    The minister said it was important to position various media units as credible brands for effectively serving the information needs of the people. He referred to the process of change ushered in by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which touched upon the attitudes of key stakeholders thereby reorienting our approach and understanding towards the concept of development. In order to achieve this goal, it was important to mainstream effective communication as an input to realize this change.

    Jaitley, minister of State for I and B Rajyavardhan Rathore, secretary Ajay Mittal, Director-General (Media and Communication) in Press Information Bureau Frank Noronha and other senior officers of the ministry were present.

    Naidu who already holds the urban development, housing and poverty alleviation ministry, but was divested of the parliamentary affairs portfolio in the latest reshuffle.

  • Ensure flow of undiluted and unadulterated information to the people: Naidu

    Ensure flow of undiluted and unadulterated information to the people: Naidu

    NEW DELHI: ,Venkaiah Naidu who has assumed additional charge of Information and Broadcasting held until now by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, has said communication processes are critical for empowering people with information that would enable them to fulfill their aspirations.

    He said the government’s mission would be to enable public communication for the development of the country and the community. Naidu told newspersons after taking charge yesterday that he would be guided by the principle of ‘Communication for Development of the Community and the Country” and the basic principles of “Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform”.

    The government was a “reservoir of Information” relating to various aspects of a common man’s life. It was important to ensure proper flow of such information -“undiluted and unadulterated” – for broadening common man’s understanding of key policy initiatives of the government. This would facilitate the task of information empowerment, thereby creating an enabling environment for key stakeholders.

    The minister said it was important to position various media units as credible brands for effectively serving the information needs of the people. He referred to the process of change ushered in by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which touched upon the attitudes of key stakeholders thereby reorienting our approach and understanding towards the concept of development. In order to achieve this goal, it was important to mainstream effective communication as an input to realize this change.

    Jaitley, minister of State for I and B Rajyavardhan Rathore, secretary Ajay Mittal, Director-General (Media and Communication) in Press Information Bureau Frank Noronha and other senior officers of the ministry were present.

    Naidu who already holds the urban development, housing and poverty alleviation ministry, but was divested of the parliamentary affairs portfolio in the latest reshuffle.

  • Venkaiah Naidu gets additional charge of MIB; Manoj Sinha bags Communications portfolio

    Venkaiah Naidu gets additional charge of MIB; Manoj Sinha bags Communications portfolio

    NEW DELHI: M. Venkaiah Naidu is the new boss for India’s media and entertainment sector at Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) as the senior minister replacing Arun Jaitley who continues to be country’s finance minister.

    Similarly, there’s a new Communications boss at the Capital’s Sanchar Bhawan that houses one part of the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MoCIT). Manoj Sinha will hold independent charge of Communications portfolio in the bifurcated MoCIT.

    Earlier MoCIT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad retains control over IT & Electronics departments in MoCIT, while being given additional charge of Ministry of Law.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi affected a reshuffle of his Cabinet on July 5, 2016, bringing in new people as senior and junior ministers and re-jigging portfolios of some existing ministers. With the induction of the newcomers, the council of ministers has been expanded to 78 members.

    Both Naidu and Sharma, at the helm of crucial ministries, have additional responsibilities too.

    While Naidu also holds charge at Ministry of Urban Development Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Sharma too is a junior minister at Ministry of Railways.

    Naidu will be accompanied at MIB by Olympics medallist-turned-politician Rajyavardhan Singh RathoreRajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who continues as the junior minister.

    It remains to be seen how quickly the new ministers grasp complex issues such as digitisation, broadcast licences, content regulations, Net Neutrality, spectrum auctioning, while keeping pace with newer technologies being embraced by India’s media & entertainment and communications sectors.

    Political observers of India’s complicated polity were divided in their opinion on whether the Cabinet reshuffle reflected talents been rewarded or people given ministerial berths with an eye on some up and coming State-level elections that are crucial for the nationalist BJP, which leads the government in New Delhi.

  • Venkaiah Naidu gets additional charge of MIB; Manoj Sinha bags Communications portfolio

    Venkaiah Naidu gets additional charge of MIB; Manoj Sinha bags Communications portfolio

    NEW DELHI: M. Venkaiah Naidu is the new boss for India’s media and entertainment sector at Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) as the senior minister replacing Arun Jaitley who continues to be country’s finance minister.

    Similarly, there’s a new Communications boss at the Capital’s Sanchar Bhawan that houses one part of the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MoCIT). Manoj Sinha will hold independent charge of Communications portfolio in the bifurcated MoCIT.

    Earlier MoCIT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad retains control over IT & Electronics departments in MoCIT, while being given additional charge of Ministry of Law.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi affected a reshuffle of his Cabinet on July 5, 2016, bringing in new people as senior and junior ministers and re-jigging portfolios of some existing ministers. With the induction of the newcomers, the council of ministers has been expanded to 78 members.

    Both Naidu and Sharma, at the helm of crucial ministries, have additional responsibilities too.

    While Naidu also holds charge at Ministry of Urban Development Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Sharma too is a junior minister at Ministry of Railways.

    Naidu will be accompanied at MIB by Olympics medallist-turned-politician Rajyavardhan Singh RathoreRajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who continues as the junior minister.

    It remains to be seen how quickly the new ministers grasp complex issues such as digitisation, broadcast licences, content regulations, Net Neutrality, spectrum auctioning, while keeping pace with newer technologies being embraced by India’s media & entertainment and communications sectors.

    Political observers of India’s complicated polity were divided in their opinion on whether the Cabinet reshuffle reflected talents been rewarded or people given ministerial berths with an eye on some up and coming State-level elections that are crucial for the nationalist BJP, which leads the government in New Delhi.