Category: Regulators

FM P-III second batch auction from 25 Oct; 14 in fray

NEW DELHI: The e-auction of the second batch of FM Phase III will commence on 25 October 2016 from 09.30am.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry announced that as stipulated in the Notice Inviting Applications of 20 June 2016, bidders are required to submit their bid for at least one city in the first Clock Round. Any bidder failing to do so in the first Clock Round will forfeit its EMD in its entirety.

The Ministry said any assistance in this regard is available on contact helpdesk +91-124- 430 2039 or support@c1eauctions.com. The second batch of FM Radio Phase-III channels comprises 266 channels in 92 cities. The channels include 227 channels in 69 fresh cities and 39 channels in 23 existing cities which had remained unsold as there were no bids.

As in the first stage, the e-auctions will be conducted by C1 India Private Ltd. A Pre Bid conference was held on 11 July 2016, following by training and then a mock auction earlier this month.

After the pre-qualification of bidders, the shortlist is:

| 1 | Abhijit Realtors & lnfraventures (P) Ltd. |
| 2 | Dharmik lnfomedia Private Ltd. |
| 3 | Entertainment Network (I) Ltd. |
| 4 | Hotel Polo Towers (P) Ltd. |
| 5 | JCL Infra Limited |
| 6 | Kal Radio Limited |
| 7 | Malar Publication (P) Ltd. |
| 8 | Purvy Broadcasts (P) Ltd. |
| 9 | Rockstar El Private Limited |
| 10 | Sambhaav Media Ltd. |
| 11 | South Asia FM Limited |
| 12 | The Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd. |
| 13 | The Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd. |
| 14 | Ushodaya Enterprises Private Limited |

The first payment of 25 per cent of the successful bid amount will be made within five calendar days, and the remaining within 15 calendar days of the close of the auction and notification of successful bidders by the Government. The e-auction of the first batch of private FM radio phase-III comprising 135 channels in 69 Phase-II existing cities commenced on 27 July and was completed on 9 September after 125 rounds of bidding. Out of these, no bid was received in 13 cities having 26 channels, and partial bids were received in 9 cities with 12 channels remaining unsold, which Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley justified on the ground of “the demand – supply based market economics and bidder’s strategy”. However, he told the Parliament on 4 December 2015 that the Ministry had received the full payment of Rs.1055.9 crore notified on 16 September by 1 October.

Against the cumulative reserve price of Rs.550.18 crore for 135 channels, the government received aggregate provisional commitment of Rs.1156.9 crore for 97 channels in 56 cities. Out of 97 channels, 53 channels in 35 cities were sold at a premium over reserve price whereas 44 channels in 21 cities were sold at reserve price. The Ministry had decided to conduct e-auction of FM Radio Channels in batches under the extant FM Phase-III Policy.

October 21, 2016
Free data, net neutrality: Discussion on TRAI paper to be held

NEW DELHI: Given the complicated issues around net neutrality, an open house discussion is to be held in Hyderabad this month on Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s consultation paper on free data. The OHD will be held at Hotel Trident in the Telangana capital on 24 October 2016.

On 14 June, TRAI had given more time to stakeholders to send in their comments and counter comments to the paper issued on 19 May 2016 with final replies to come in by mid-July.

Stretching the discussion on net neutrality, TRAI wants to know whether there is a need to have TSP agnostic platform to provide free data or suitable reimbursement to users without violating the principles of Differential Pricing for Data laid down by TRAI.

It also wants to know if free data or suitable reimbursement to users should be limited to mobile data users only or could it be extended through technical means to subscribers of fixed line broadband or leased line.

The paper says that in the recent past, some data services plans of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) came to the notice of TRAI which amounted to discriminatory tariff through offering zero or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms. The objective of offering such plans was claimed to be the desire of various service providers/content providers or platform providers to enable people of this country, especially the poor, to access certain content on the internet free of charge.

October 20, 2016
Free data, net neutrality: Discussion on TRAI paper to be held

NEW DELHI: Given the complicated issues around net neutrality, an open house discussion is to be held in Hyderabad this month on Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s consultation paper on free data. The OHD will be held at Hotel Trident in the Telangana capital on 24 October 2016.

On 14 June, TRAI had given more time to stakeholders to send in their comments and counter comments to the paper issued on 19 May 2016 with final replies to come in by mid-July.

Stretching the discussion on net neutrality, TRAI wants to know whether there is a need to have TSP agnostic platform to provide free data or suitable reimbursement to users without violating the principles of Differential Pricing for Data laid down by TRAI.

It also wants to know if free data or suitable reimbursement to users should be limited to mobile data users only or could it be extended through technical means to subscribers of fixed line broadband or leased line.

The paper says that in the recent past, some data services plans of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) came to the notice of TRAI which amounted to discriminatory tariff through offering zero or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms. The objective of offering such plans was claimed to be the desire of various service providers/content providers or platform providers to enable people of this country, especially the poor, to access certain content on the internet free of charge.

October 20, 2016
Prasar Bharati advisor reviews DD marketing and policies

NEW DELHI: Former Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) Secretary and now Prasar Bharati advisor Sunil Arora yesterday asked Doordarshan to adopt the best policies of the industry, even as he approved the planned auction of slots on DD National.

During a review meeting with Doordarshan where the director-general Supriya Sahu and other senior officials were present, Arora was apprised of the content mix, methodology of audience research and slotting process of the programmes.

Arora also reviewed the marketing strategies and efforts being made to augment revenues for Doordarshan. He emphasised that DD should leverage the flagship schemes of the government to showcase the developmental initiatives.

Arora is considered as one of the favourites to succeed Jawhar Sircar as the chief executive officer of Prasar Bharati who demits office in first week of November 2016. In the interim, member (personnel) Suresh Panda has been asked to hold interim charge by the Board, subject to the final approval of MIB.

Under the Prasar Bharati Act, a new CEO will be selected by a three-member high-level committee headed by the Vice-President of India.

October 19, 2016
Prasar Bharati advisor reviews DD marketing and policies

NEW DELHI: Former Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) Secretary and now Prasar Bharati advisor Sunil Arora yesterday asked Doordarshan to adopt the best policies of the industry, even as he approved the planned auction of slots on DD National.

During a review meeting with Doordarshan where the director-general Supriya Sahu and other senior officials were present, Arora was apprised of the content mix, methodology of audience research and slotting process of the programmes.

Arora also reviewed the marketing strategies and efforts being made to augment revenues for Doordarshan. He emphasised that DD should leverage the flagship schemes of the government to showcase the developmental initiatives.

Arora is considered as one of the favourites to succeed Jawhar Sircar as the chief executive officer of Prasar Bharati who demits office in first week of November 2016. In the interim, member (personnel) Suresh Panda has been asked to hold interim charge by the Board, subject to the final approval of MIB.

Under the Prasar Bharati Act, a new CEO will be selected by a three-member high-level committee headed by the Vice-President of India.

October 19, 2016
Suresh Panda may be Prasar Bharati interim CEO; liberal DD auction criteria recommended

NEW DELHI: Suresh Panda, member (personnel) in Prasar Bharati is expected to take over as the acting chief executive officer of the pubcaster after the incumbent CEO Jawhar Sircar demits office on 4 November.

The Prasar Bharati Board has recommended relaxation in the criteria for auction of prime time slots on DD National. This decision was taken at a meeting of the Board held today under the chairmanship of Dr Surya Prakash.

However, Prasar Bharati sources told indiantelevision.com that Panda’s ad hoc charge will be subject to approval by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

After 4 November, a high-level committee headed by India’s vice-president Hamid Ansari will meet as stipulated in the Prasar Bharati Act 1990 to select a new CEO.

Meanwhile, the Board also took some decisions with regard to the proposed auction of prime time slots on Doordarshan National.

It was decided, among other changes, to fix the minimum reserve price for the auction of half-hour slots at Rs 1,50,000. Full details were not available but there may also be a reduction in the total number of hours a prospective producer should have clocked either as a filmmaker or as television producer.

The slot auction was first announced in June but failed as there were no bidders, while those who bid the second time late last month failed to meet the minimum requirements.

The regulations had been relaxed and the second auction had been fixed for 5 September.

Under the rules until now, only producers/production houses that have produced at least 200 hours of general entertainment programming including feature film production in any Indian language in the last three years will be eligible to apply for bidding for slots on the national channel of Doordarshan.

Following a revision of terms after June, the Prasar Bharati Board had said that production houses with a turnover of minimum Rs 3 crore per annum in the field of TV and Film production in the last three financial years are eligible to apply.

Applicants for weekend slots in the genres of Reality, Game, Quiz, should have produced 100 hrs of such content in the last 3 years.

Earlier, only those with production in television and a minimum of 300 hours had been allowed. But this has been amplified ti include film production houses and 200 hours of entertainment programming.

Successful bidder(s) will produce fresh programmes in various genres of general entertainment programme for Doordarshan adhering to the programming/broadcasting codes of Prasar Bharati.

October 17, 2016
Suresh Panda may be Prasar Bharati interim CEO; liberal DD auction criteria recommended

NEW DELHI: Suresh Panda, member (personnel) in Prasar Bharati is expected to take over as the acting chief executive officer of the pubcaster after the incumbent CEO Jawhar Sircar demits office on 4 November.

The Prasar Bharati Board has recommended relaxation in the criteria for auction of prime time slots on DD National. This decision was taken at a meeting of the Board held today under the chairmanship of Dr Surya Prakash.

However, Prasar Bharati sources told indiantelevision.com that Panda’s ad hoc charge will be subject to approval by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

After 4 November, a high-level committee headed by India’s vice-president Hamid Ansari will meet as stipulated in the Prasar Bharati Act 1990 to select a new CEO.

Meanwhile, the Board also took some decisions with regard to the proposed auction of prime time slots on Doordarshan National.

It was decided, among other changes, to fix the minimum reserve price for the auction of half-hour slots at Rs 1,50,000. Full details were not available but there may also be a reduction in the total number of hours a prospective producer should have clocked either as a filmmaker or as television producer.

The slot auction was first announced in June but failed as there were no bidders, while those who bid the second time late last month failed to meet the minimum requirements.

The regulations had been relaxed and the second auction had been fixed for 5 September.

Under the rules until now, only producers/production houses that have produced at least 200 hours of general entertainment programming including feature film production in any Indian language in the last three years will be eligible to apply for bidding for slots on the national channel of Doordarshan.

Following a revision of terms after June, the Prasar Bharati Board had said that production houses with a turnover of minimum Rs 3 crore per annum in the field of TV and Film production in the last three financial years are eligible to apply.

Applicants for weekend slots in the genres of Reality, Game, Quiz, should have produced 100 hrs of such content in the last 3 years.

Earlier, only those with production in television and a minimum of 300 hours had been allowed. But this has been amplified ti include film production houses and 200 hours of entertainment programming.

Successful bidder(s) will produce fresh programmes in various genres of general entertainment programme for Doordarshan adhering to the programming/broadcasting codes of Prasar Bharati.

October 17, 2016
Govt. accepts Jawhar Sircar’s request for early retirement

NEW DELHI: A media-savvy chief executive of Prasar Bharati Jawhar Sircar used the social media to announce yesterday that the Indian government has accepted his resignation from the pubcaster and acceded to his request for an early retirement.

Sircar was originally to complete his term as the Indian pubcaster’s chief executive and attain superannuation first quarter of 2017.

On a quiet Sunday, when most Indians were getting ready for a new season of Big Boss later in the evening having watched Indian cricket team romp home to victory over Black Caps in a 50-over game in Dharamshala, Sircar used Facebook to announce that the government had formally cleared the way for his early ride into the sunset.

“Time to quit, after eventful 41.5 years in IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and beyond. Central Govt (government) has accepted my resignation. Done enough: no more govt or private jobs. Free man, finally. Only books !” Sircar posted on his FB page Sunday evening in his usual flamboyant style.

Interestingly, it was another September weekend — Saturday to be specific — when Sircar had used FB to state and clarify he wanted to quit Prasar Bharati before his tenure ended officially and alluded to a time-frame too. “Since news is out today…I hope to be back in Kolkata by NOV(ember),” he had then said on social media.

Sircar, who took office mid-February 2012 has been at odds, at times, with Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), including Ministers, and even the Prasar Bharati Board. Still, he had told indiantelevision.com in September when contacted that MIB and Prasar Bharati Board were “in sync and supportive.”

Sircar, who took early retirement as Secretary, Ministry of Culture, to take up the challenging job of chief executive of Prasar Bharati, which manages All India Radio and Doordarshan, is an expert in art and culture and has lectured on the issues in India and abroad.

ALSO READ:

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October 17, 2016
Govt. accepts Jawhar Sircar’s request for early retirement

NEW DELHI: A media-savvy chief executive of Prasar Bharati Jawhar Sircar used the social media to announce yesterday that the Indian government has accepted his resignation from the pubcaster and acceded to his request for an early retirement.

Sircar was originally to complete his term as the Indian pubcaster’s chief executive and attain superannuation first quarter of 2017.

On a quiet Sunday, when most Indians were getting ready for a new season of Big Boss later in the evening having watched Indian cricket team romp home to victory over Black Caps in a 50-over game in Dharamshala, Sircar used Facebook to announce that the government had formally cleared the way for his early ride into the sunset.

“Time to quit, after eventful 41.5 years in IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and beyond. Central Govt (government) has accepted my resignation. Done enough: no more govt or private jobs. Free man, finally. Only books !” Sircar posted on his FB page Sunday evening in his usual flamboyant style.

Interestingly, it was another September weekend — Saturday to be specific — when Sircar had used FB to state and clarify he wanted to quit Prasar Bharati before his tenure ended officially and alluded to a time-frame too. “Since news is out today…I hope to be back in Kolkata by NOV(ember),” he had then said on social media.

Sircar, who took office mid-February 2012 has been at odds, at times, with Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), including Ministers, and even the Prasar Bharati Board. Still, he had told indiantelevision.com in September when contacted that MIB and Prasar Bharati Board were “in sync and supportive.”

Sircar, who took early retirement as Secretary, Ministry of Culture, to take up the challenging job of chief executive of Prasar Bharati, which manages All India Radio and Doordarshan, is an expert in art and culture and has lectured on the issues in India and abroad.

ALSO READ:

Jawhar Sircar sets 12-point action plan before early retirement

Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar officially seeks early retirement

Prasar Bharati’s monopolistic-era mind-set has to change: CEO Jawhar Sircar

October 17, 2016
Carriage fee in interconnect draft aimed at reducing litigation

NEW DELHI: The draft of the Interconnect regulations issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has given a formula for calculation of the carriage fee.

The carriage fee for each month or part thereof during the term of the interconnection agreement shall be calculated as given below:-

1. If the number of average active subscribers in a month for a channel in the target market is less than five percent of the average subscriber base of the distributor in that month in the target market, then the carriage fee amount will be equal to the rate of carriage fee per channel per subscriber per month, as agreed under the interconnection agreement, multiplied by the average subscriber base of the distributor in that month in the target market.

2. If the number of average active subscribers in a month for a channel in the target market is greater than or equal to five percent but less than ten percent of the average subscriber base of the distributor in that month in the target market, then the carriage fee amount will be equal to the rate of carriage fee per channel per subscriber per month, as agreed under the interconnection agreement, multiplied by 0.75 times of the average subscriber base of the distributor in that month in the target market.

3 If the number of average active subscribers in a month for a channel in the target market is greater than or equal to ten percent but less than fifteen percent of the average subscriber base of the distributor in that month in the target market, then the carriage fee amount will be equal to the rate of carriage fee per channel per subscriber per month, as agreed under the interconnection agreement, multiplied by 0.5 times of the average subscriber base of the distributor in that month in the target market.

4 If the number of average active fawadkhanin a month for a channel in the target market is greater than or equal to fifteen percent but less than twenty percent of the average subscriber base of the distributor in that month in the target market, then the carriage fee amount will be equal to the rate of carriage fee per channel per subscriber per month, as agreed under the interconnection agreement, multiplied by 0.25 times of the average subscriber base of the distributor in that month in the target market.

5 If the number of average active subscribers in a month for a channel in the target market is greater than or equal to twenty percent of the average subscriber base of the distributor in that month in the target market, then the carriage fee amount will be equal to ‘Nil’.

But TRAI said the average subscriber base of the distributor in a month will be calculated in a manner as prescribed in schedule VII of the regulations.

The target market refers to the relevant geographical areas, as specified in the interconnection agreement for carrying the channel.

ALSO READ:

TRAI on carriage fee, other issues in draft interconnect guidelines

October 14, 2016