ITV

Category: I&B Ministry

  • MIB cancels permission of 126 TV channels; total permitted channels touch 857

    MIB cancels permission of 126 TV channels; total permitted channels touch 857

    NEW DELHI: While the total number of satellite television channels uplinking from or downlinking into India has risen to 857, the permission to as many as 126 channels have been cancelled.

    Thus, the government had given permission to a total of 983 channels, which included those whose permissions were cancelled later. Of the 29 channel permitted after 30 November, 19 were cleared in December 2015 and 1o in January 2016.

    Of the permitted channels, 399 are news and current affairs channels, while 458 are general entertainment channels (GECs).

    Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country, as on 31 January, 2016.  

    A total of 749 channels including 372 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 88 including 73 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.    

    The largest gainer after the last list of 30 November, 2015 was Star India, which launched 10 channels, while Viacom 18 launched seven. Sony and the Times Group launched four each, Zee launched two channels, and one channel each was launched by Travel XP Celebrities Management and Vijay TV.

    While Star India and Zee (Ten Sports) launched sports channels (which fall in the category of GECs), some others launched High Definition channels.

  • MIB cancels permission of 126 TV channels; total permitted channels touch 857

    MIB cancels permission of 126 TV channels; total permitted channels touch 857

    NEW DELHI: While the total number of satellite television channels uplinking from or downlinking into India has risen to 857, the permission to as many as 126 channels have been cancelled.

    Thus, the government had given permission to a total of 983 channels, which included those whose permissions were cancelled later. Of the 29 channel permitted after 30 November, 19 were cleared in December 2015 and 1o in January 2016.

    Of the permitted channels, 399 are news and current affairs channels, while 458 are general entertainment channels (GECs).

    Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country, as on 31 January, 2016.  

    A total of 749 channels including 372 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 88 including 73 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.    

    The largest gainer after the last list of 30 November, 2015 was Star India, which launched 10 channels, while Viacom 18 launched seven. Sony and the Times Group launched four each, Zee launched two channels, and one channel each was launched by Travel XP Celebrities Management and Vijay TV.

    While Star India and Zee (Ten Sports) launched sports channels (which fall in the category of GECs), some others launched High Definition channels.

  • Actors Kajol & Vikram Gokhale short-listed for filling vacancies in Prasar Bharati Board

    Actors Kajol & Vikram Gokhale short-listed for filling vacancies in Prasar Bharati Board

    NEW DELHI: Bollywood star Kajol and former editor of RSS mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ Seshadri Chari are among a fresh panel of names drawn up by Information and Broadcasting Ministry for the two vacant positions of part-time members of the Prasar Bharati Board.

    Some of the others names on the list include actors Minhaz Merchant and actor Vikram Gokhale.

    Around eight names have been prepared and forwarded to the selection committee headed by vice president M Hamid Ansari. The committee also comprises Press Council of India chairman Justice (retd) C K Prasad and I&B secretary Sunil Arora.

    Ministry sources said several of the names, including that of Kajol and Chari were also among those forwarded last time when four part-time members were chosen.

    In its earlier meeting in October last year, the three-member committee had chosen former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s media advisor Ashok Tandon and noted Bhajan singer Anup Jalota, businessmen Sunil Alagh and Shashi Shekhar, who headed an online media company, Niti Digital, as members of the board of the public broadcaster.

    As some members have completed their term, two vacancies have arisen and so the Ministry has now prepared a list for the Committee expected to meet towards the end of this month.

    Under the Prasar Bharati Act, the pubcaster should have six-part time members on its Board, which is headed by its chairman.

  • Actors Kajol & Vikram Gokhale short-listed for filling vacancies in Prasar Bharati Board

    Actors Kajol & Vikram Gokhale short-listed for filling vacancies in Prasar Bharati Board

    NEW DELHI: Bollywood star Kajol and former editor of RSS mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ Seshadri Chari are among a fresh panel of names drawn up by Information and Broadcasting Ministry for the two vacant positions of part-time members of the Prasar Bharati Board.

    Some of the others names on the list include actors Minhaz Merchant and actor Vikram Gokhale.

    Around eight names have been prepared and forwarded to the selection committee headed by vice president M Hamid Ansari. The committee also comprises Press Council of India chairman Justice (retd) C K Prasad and I&B secretary Sunil Arora.

    Ministry sources said several of the names, including that of Kajol and Chari were also among those forwarded last time when four part-time members were chosen.

    In its earlier meeting in October last year, the three-member committee had chosen former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s media advisor Ashok Tandon and noted Bhajan singer Anup Jalota, businessmen Sunil Alagh and Shashi Shekhar, who headed an online media company, Niti Digital, as members of the board of the public broadcaster.

    As some members have completed their term, two vacancies have arisen and so the Ministry has now prepared a list for the Committee expected to meet towards the end of this month.

    Under the Prasar Bharati Act, the pubcaster should have six-part time members on its Board, which is headed by its chairman.

  • I&B Ministry mandates BECIL to undertake bidding for social media agency

    I&B Ministry mandates BECIL to undertake bidding for social media agency

    NEW DELHI: In an attempt to strengthen its Social Media Communication Hub, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has invited tenders for selection of agencies for Response Management Services related to 24×7 function, operation and maintenance apart from testing of software and a separate one for Monitoring services.

    The Broadcast Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd (BECIL) has been engaged by the Ministry to undertake the bid process management and execute the project and functioning, operationalisation and maintenance of the social media communication hub. 

    Bidding will be conducted through the Two Envelope Competitive Bidding procedures specified in the GFR Procurement Manual/BECIL Purchase procedure, and are open to all eligible bidders as defined in the Ministry website. 

    The operation agency will be responsible for one year from the date of award of work order extendable for a period of two year (if required) in case of renewal at the same terms and condition of work order. 

    The estimated date of start of operations and services will be from April 2016. 

    The selected agency must have all the facility and solution in-house, so that the 
    “project” can be made operational within the stipulated time frame and keep it functional thereafter on 24×7 basis. 

    All other requirements such as essential equipment / hardware, software, networking and required services etc including bandwidth will have to be provided by the selected agency.

  • I&B Ministry mandates BECIL to undertake bidding for social media agency

    I&B Ministry mandates BECIL to undertake bidding for social media agency

    NEW DELHI: In an attempt to strengthen its Social Media Communication Hub, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has invited tenders for selection of agencies for Response Management Services related to 24×7 function, operation and maintenance apart from testing of software and a separate one for Monitoring services.

    The Broadcast Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd (BECIL) has been engaged by the Ministry to undertake the bid process management and execute the project and functioning, operationalisation and maintenance of the social media communication hub. 

    Bidding will be conducted through the Two Envelope Competitive Bidding procedures specified in the GFR Procurement Manual/BECIL Purchase procedure, and are open to all eligible bidders as defined in the Ministry website. 

    The operation agency will be responsible for one year from the date of award of work order extendable for a period of two year (if required) in case of renewal at the same terms and condition of work order. 

    The estimated date of start of operations and services will be from April 2016. 

    The selected agency must have all the facility and solution in-house, so that the 
    “project” can be made operational within the stipulated time frame and keep it functional thereafter on 24×7 basis. 

    All other requirements such as essential equipment / hardware, software, networking and required services etc including bandwidth will have to be provided by the selected agency.

  • FM players seek FDI at par with GECs since only AIR news permitted

    FM players seek FDI at par with GECs since only AIR news permitted

    NEW DELHI: The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the radio sector should be increased and the government should consider a 15 per cent national ceiling for future auctions and allow news on private FM radio, private FM players have said.

    A Stakeholders’ Consultation on 22 January on the Phase III e-Auction showed that the players wanted a lock-in period of three years on composition of largest Indian shareholder.

    Information & Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Sunil Arora said that the aim of FM Phase III was to enhance radio density in the country and efforts should be made for supporting FM radio to grow into a viable business model. He wanted all stakeholders to give their suggestions and inputs in writing by 30 January if they so desire considering that some stakeholders have already submitted their suggestions in meeting.

    FM operators felt that the reserve prices recommended by TRAI on 24 March 2015 were very high and unviable. However, Ministry officials said the TRAI recommendations were advisory in nature.

    Similarly, it was stated that the rentals by Prasar Bharati were very high.

    It was also argued that the FDI limit could be increased to 100 per cent to bring it at par with the general entertainment channels as no news other than that from All India Radio was permitted.

    This suggestion from Reliance Broadcasting found favour with many of the participants but some companies like ENIL and DB Corp wanted permission to make news bulletins on their own. The Association of Radio Operators in India (AROI) said news from PTI and ANI could be permitted.

    AROI said if subsequent auction takes place in batches without relaxing the 15 per cent national cap, then this cap should be applied on overall number of channels being put to auction in phase III and not batch wise. 

    ENIL found it unreasonable that Phase II migrant licenses were made to undergo three years’ lock-in restriction under Phase III regime as well when they had already served five years’ lock-in under Phase II. But HT Media said the lock-in requirement was fundamental to FM Phase III policy.

    Representative of Digital Radio Broadcasting also suggested that connected companies of a Group be treated as a single entity for participation in online bidding / auction process.

    Suggestions for future rounds included more clock rounds per day; increase of Auction Activity Requirement (AAR); apart from auction report at the end of the day, and report of each round.

    ENIL referred to delay of security clearance of its directors and key operatives from Home Ministry.

  • FM players seek FDI at par with GECs since only AIR news permitted

    FM players seek FDI at par with GECs since only AIR news permitted

    NEW DELHI: The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the radio sector should be increased and the government should consider a 15 per cent national ceiling for future auctions and allow news on private FM radio, private FM players have said.

    A Stakeholders’ Consultation on 22 January on the Phase III e-Auction showed that the players wanted a lock-in period of three years on composition of largest Indian shareholder.

    Information & Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Sunil Arora said that the aim of FM Phase III was to enhance radio density in the country and efforts should be made for supporting FM radio to grow into a viable business model. He wanted all stakeholders to give their suggestions and inputs in writing by 30 January if they so desire considering that some stakeholders have already submitted their suggestions in meeting.

    FM operators felt that the reserve prices recommended by TRAI on 24 March 2015 were very high and unviable. However, Ministry officials said the TRAI recommendations were advisory in nature.

    Similarly, it was stated that the rentals by Prasar Bharati were very high.

    It was also argued that the FDI limit could be increased to 100 per cent to bring it at par with the general entertainment channels as no news other than that from All India Radio was permitted.

    This suggestion from Reliance Broadcasting found favour with many of the participants but some companies like ENIL and DB Corp wanted permission to make news bulletins on their own. The Association of Radio Operators in India (AROI) said news from PTI and ANI could be permitted.

    AROI said if subsequent auction takes place in batches without relaxing the 15 per cent national cap, then this cap should be applied on overall number of channels being put to auction in phase III and not batch wise. 

    ENIL found it unreasonable that Phase II migrant licenses were made to undergo three years’ lock-in restriction under Phase III regime as well when they had already served five years’ lock-in under Phase II. But HT Media said the lock-in requirement was fundamental to FM Phase III policy.

    Representative of Digital Radio Broadcasting also suggested that connected companies of a Group be treated as a single entity for participation in online bidding / auction process.

    Suggestions for future rounds included more clock rounds per day; increase of Auction Activity Requirement (AAR); apart from auction report at the end of the day, and report of each round.

    ENIL referred to delay of security clearance of its directors and key operatives from Home Ministry.

  • Lack of cooperation among Prasar Bharati divisions led to avoidable complications: MIB audit

    Lack of cooperation among Prasar Bharati divisions led to avoidable complications: MIB audit

    NEW DELHI: “The lack of co-operation among divisions of Prasar Bharati has led to several court cases and it is suggested that a centralised Cadre Controlling Authority may be set up to handle the service matters of the entire employees of Prasar Bharati.”

    Making this observation, the Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said after a Test Audit/Check of Non-Plan expenditure under Salary and Salary-related heads against the Grants-in-Aid released by the Ministry, “Separate bank accounts may be opened for Non-Plan Grants-In-Aid (Salary) and other heads. A comprehensive audit of Prasar Bharati units may be conducted by Prasar Bharati itself to have a complete and fair picture of their accounts/ expenditures.”

    The audit of amounts released for salary and salary-related expenses showed that while the grants-in-aid of Rs 5381.98 crore was given by the Ministry from 2012 to 2015, the expenditure incurred on Salary and Salary-related expenses was Rs 5694.92 crore and Rs 312.94 crore was from Prasar Bharati’s Internal and Budgetary Resources (IEBR).

    In this, the grant-in-aid in 2014-15 was Rs 2001.98 crore while the money for salaries and salary-related expenses was Rs 2033.70 crore and Rs 31.72 crore came from IEBR.

    The internal audit helped to save Rs 1188.14 crore under various heads including long-pending dues from other government departments.

    In all, grants-in aid amounting to Rs 6640.48 crores was released in the last three years to Prasar Bharati, of which Rs 2437.98 crore was during the year 2014-15.

    Of the total Rs 6640.48 crore given in the last three years, the aid in 2012-13 was Rx 2062.5 crore and in 2013-14 was Rs 2140 crore.

      

  • Lack of cooperation among Prasar Bharati divisions led to avoidable complications: MIB audit

    Lack of cooperation among Prasar Bharati divisions led to avoidable complications: MIB audit

    NEW DELHI: “The lack of co-operation among divisions of Prasar Bharati has led to several court cases and it is suggested that a centralised Cadre Controlling Authority may be set up to handle the service matters of the entire employees of Prasar Bharati.”

    Making this observation, the Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said after a Test Audit/Check of Non-Plan expenditure under Salary and Salary-related heads against the Grants-in-Aid released by the Ministry, “Separate bank accounts may be opened for Non-Plan Grants-In-Aid (Salary) and other heads. A comprehensive audit of Prasar Bharati units may be conducted by Prasar Bharati itself to have a complete and fair picture of their accounts/ expenditures.”

    The audit of amounts released for salary and salary-related expenses showed that while the grants-in-aid of Rs 5381.98 crore was given by the Ministry from 2012 to 2015, the expenditure incurred on Salary and Salary-related expenses was Rs 5694.92 crore and Rs 312.94 crore was from Prasar Bharati’s Internal and Budgetary Resources (IEBR).

    In this, the grant-in-aid in 2014-15 was Rs 2001.98 crore while the money for salaries and salary-related expenses was Rs 2033.70 crore and Rs 31.72 crore came from IEBR.

    The internal audit helped to save Rs 1188.14 crore under various heads including long-pending dues from other government departments.

    In all, grants-in aid amounting to Rs 6640.48 crores was released in the last three years to Prasar Bharati, of which Rs 2437.98 crore was during the year 2014-15.

    Of the total Rs 6640.48 crore given in the last three years, the aid in 2012-13 was Rx 2062.5 crore and in 2013-14 was Rs 2140 crore.