ITV

Category: Regulators

  • Broadcast expenditure 4x that of MIB’s information, film & secretariat sectors

    Broadcast expenditure 4x that of MIB’s information, film & secretariat sectors

    NEW DELHI: Expenditure on the broadcasting sector alone in the past three years up to March 2015 has been more than three to four times the total expenditure on the other sectors covered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB): secretariat, film and information.

    An audit of the Ministry’s accounts has revealed that during 2014-15, a total of Rs 2467.4 crore (including Rs 2004.41 crore as non-plan expenditure) as was set aside for broadcasting alone, while the expenditure on the information sector was Rs 466.4 crore (including Rs 269.84 non-plan); Rs 176.33 crore (including Rs 97.16 crore non-plan) on film and Rs 48.4 crore (including Rs 46.35 crore non-plan) on secretariat expenses.

    During 2013-14, expenditure on broadcasting was Rs 2157.19 crore (including Rs 1733.38 crore non-plan) as against Rs 474.73 crore (including Rs 247.83 crore non-plan) on information; Rs 153.99 crore (of which Rs 90.32 crore was non-plan) on film; and Rs 42.31 crore (including Rs 41.47 crore non-plan) on Secretariat expenses.

    The expenditure on broadcasting in 2012-13 was Rs 2069.09 crore (of which Rs 1654.33 crore was non-plan), as against Rs  381.22 crore (including Rs 234.75 crore non-plan); Rs 133.02 crore (including Rs 83.72 crore as non-plan); and Rs 41.93 crore (including Rs 40.36 crore non-plan) on Secretarial expenses.

     

  • TDSAT declines to implead Star & Zee in Indusind dispute with Media Pro

    TDSAT declines to implead Star & Zee in Indusind dispute with Media Pro

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has rejected a petition by IndusInd Media & Communications Ltd seeking to implead Star India and Zee on the ground that petition for the dues against Media Pro relate to a time when it was the distributor and content aggregator of these two broadcasters.

    However, Media Pro gave an undertaking that in case the petition succeeds, it would discharge its lawful dues in terms of the decree.

    The miscellaneous application was filed for impleadment of Star and Zee on the ground that it related to a time when it was the distributor and content aggregator of Star and Zee but had ceased to be so with effect from 1 April, 2014 and hence the two broadcasters should also be brought on record as respondents.

    The Tribunal noted, “Needless to that that the undertaking is subject to the respondent’s right to seek its relief against the Tribunal’s judgment, in case it goes against it.”

  • TDSAT declines to implead Star & Zee in Indusind dispute with Media Pro

    TDSAT declines to implead Star & Zee in Indusind dispute with Media Pro

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has rejected a petition by IndusInd Media & Communications Ltd seeking to implead Star India and Zee on the ground that petition for the dues against Media Pro relate to a time when it was the distributor and content aggregator of these two broadcasters.

    However, Media Pro gave an undertaking that in case the petition succeeds, it would discharge its lawful dues in terms of the decree.

    The miscellaneous application was filed for impleadment of Star and Zee on the ground that it related to a time when it was the distributor and content aggregator of Star and Zee but had ceased to be so with effect from 1 April, 2014 and hence the two broadcasters should also be brought on record as respondents.

    The Tribunal noted, “Needless to that that the undertaking is subject to the respondent’s right to seek its relief against the Tribunal’s judgment, in case it goes against it.”

  • SC dismisses as withdrawn IBF petition challenging Bombay HC’s DAS III stay order

    SC dismisses as withdrawn IBF petition challenging Bombay HC’s DAS III stay order

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court dismissed as withdrawn, the petition by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) challenging the Bombay High Court order on the Digital Addressable System (DAS) Phase III implementation.

    The two-judge bench of the court headed by Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar said that a reading of the Bombay High Court’s order did not necessitate any action by the Supreme Court. The court asked the petitioners the grounds on which the High Court order were being challenged.

    Justice Khehar observed that a reading of Bombay High Court doesn’t imply any pan India’s stay. 

    Senior advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi pointed out that other High Courts have also given stay orders in this matter.

    Thereupon, Justice Khehar said in that case IBF should have impugned the other orders and not merely to the Bombay High Court.

    Thereafter, Dr Singhvi withdrew the petition in light of observations made by the judge. It is learnt that a similar petition by the I&B ministry will be up for hearing on 24 February.

    Indiantelevision.com learns that several caveats have been filed by stakeholders who have approached various High Court in the country and got a stay of implementation of DAS Phase III.

  • SC dismisses as withdrawn IBF petition challenging Bombay HC’s DAS III stay order

    SC dismisses as withdrawn IBF petition challenging Bombay HC’s DAS III stay order

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court dismissed as withdrawn, the petition by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) challenging the Bombay High Court order on the Digital Addressable System (DAS) Phase III implementation.

    The two-judge bench of the court headed by Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar said that a reading of the Bombay High Court’s order did not necessitate any action by the Supreme Court. The court asked the petitioners the grounds on which the High Court order were being challenged.

    Justice Khehar observed that a reading of Bombay High Court doesn’t imply any pan India’s stay. 

    Senior advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi pointed out that other High Courts have also given stay orders in this matter.

    Thereupon, Justice Khehar said in that case IBF should have impugned the other orders and not merely to the Bombay High Court.

    Thereafter, Dr Singhvi withdrew the petition in light of observations made by the judge. It is learnt that a similar petition by the I&B ministry will be up for hearing on 24 February.

    Indiantelevision.com learns that several caveats have been filed by stakeholders who have approached various High Court in the country and got a stay of implementation of DAS Phase III.

  • Jaitley, Bar Council deplore attacks on media; SC asks police to ensure safety

    Jaitley, Bar Council deplore attacks on media; SC asks police to ensure safety

    NEW DELHI: Even as the Bar Council of India condemned the attacks by lawyers on media persons at Patiala House courts where the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union Kanhaiya Kumar was being produced, the Supreme Court asked the Delhi Police to ensure the security of all including media persons.

    The apex court also agreed to hear a petition by media persons in this regard. 

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, himself an eminent lawyer, also condemned the attacks in a tweet, saying: “Media has an unhindered right to report. Attack on Media persons is highly improper and condemnable.” 

    Media persons in Mumbai and Kolkata also held demonstrations in support of their Delhi colleagues. As was previously reported by Indiantelevision.com, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) also deplored the attacks.

    Earlier reiterating that attacks on journalists discharging their professional duties was not acceptable, the Press Council of India had sought a report from the Delhi Police regarding the assault on media persons in the Patiala House Court complex.

    The events at Patiala House court resulted in a massive outrage and top editors of national media and hundreds of journalists yesterday demonstrated on the streets demanding action against those involved in beating up members of their fraternity in police presence and sought Supreme Court’s intervention in protecting freedom of speech.

  • Jaitley, Bar Council deplore attacks on media; SC asks police to ensure safety

    Jaitley, Bar Council deplore attacks on media; SC asks police to ensure safety

    NEW DELHI: Even as the Bar Council of India condemned the attacks by lawyers on media persons at Patiala House courts where the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union Kanhaiya Kumar was being produced, the Supreme Court asked the Delhi Police to ensure the security of all including media persons.

    The apex court also agreed to hear a petition by media persons in this regard. 

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, himself an eminent lawyer, also condemned the attacks in a tweet, saying: “Media has an unhindered right to report. Attack on Media persons is highly improper and condemnable.” 

    Media persons in Mumbai and Kolkata also held demonstrations in support of their Delhi colleagues. As was previously reported by Indiantelevision.com, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) also deplored the attacks.

    Earlier reiterating that attacks on journalists discharging their professional duties was not acceptable, the Press Council of India had sought a report from the Delhi Police regarding the assault on media persons in the Patiala House Court complex.

    The events at Patiala House court resulted in a massive outrage and top editors of national media and hundreds of journalists yesterday demonstrated on the streets demanding action against those involved in beating up members of their fraternity in police presence and sought Supreme Court’s intervention in protecting freedom of speech.

  • Paradigm shift in I&B Ministry to digitise: Arun Jaitley

    Paradigm shift in I&B Ministry to digitise: Arun Jaitley

    NEW DELHI: Information & Broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley today said there has been a paradigm shift to digitise various Government Publications in order to reach out to online readers globally.

    Releasing the print and digital versions of India 2016 and Bharat 2016, the Minister said digital version of the books will be 25 per cent cheaper than print versions and will also help in saving paper consumption. Jaitley also stated that Annual Reference Book was an asset and a repository of information for all stakeholders.

    Additionally, the Minister launched the online payment service and subscription of popular journals and Employment News of the Publications Division through Bharat Kosh, Non Tax Receipt portal of the Finance Ministry.

    While launching the online subscription service, he said that the objective of technology was to provide solutions to complicated issues. He mentioned that Bharat Kosh portal would enable direct transfer of money received from the sale of journals to the Consolidated Fund of India.

    Jaitley also launched the service of sale of printed version of the prominent books of the division through e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart. The Reference Book India 2016 along with 49 other important titles would now be available on Flipkart.

    I&B Secretary Sunil Arora said that India Reference Book was a signature book brought out by Publications Division. It was a ready reference for academicians and students preparing for various competitive examinations and should be a must read for anyone who wanted authentic and credible information about India.

    The digital versions of the Publications Division books would be available on Kobo for online readers.

  • Paradigm shift in I&B Ministry to digitise: Arun Jaitley

    Paradigm shift in I&B Ministry to digitise: Arun Jaitley

    NEW DELHI: Information & Broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley today said there has been a paradigm shift to digitise various Government Publications in order to reach out to online readers globally.

    Releasing the print and digital versions of India 2016 and Bharat 2016, the Minister said digital version of the books will be 25 per cent cheaper than print versions and will also help in saving paper consumption. Jaitley also stated that Annual Reference Book was an asset and a repository of information for all stakeholders.

    Additionally, the Minister launched the online payment service and subscription of popular journals and Employment News of the Publications Division through Bharat Kosh, Non Tax Receipt portal of the Finance Ministry.

    While launching the online subscription service, he said that the objective of technology was to provide solutions to complicated issues. He mentioned that Bharat Kosh portal would enable direct transfer of money received from the sale of journals to the Consolidated Fund of India.

    Jaitley also launched the service of sale of printed version of the prominent books of the division through e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart. The Reference Book India 2016 along with 49 other important titles would now be available on Flipkart.

    I&B Secretary Sunil Arora said that India Reference Book was a signature book brought out by Publications Division. It was a ready reference for academicians and students preparing for various competitive examinations and should be a must read for anyone who wanted authentic and credible information about India.

    The digital versions of the Publications Division books would be available on Kobo for online readers.

  • Hathway leads in digital pay & local channels; Ortel leads in analogue: TRAI

    Hathway leads in digital pay & local channels; Ortel leads in analogue: TRAI

    NEW DELHI: The number of private satellite television channels in the country registered with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry fell by seven in the quarter ending September 2015 from 826 in quarter ending June to 819.

    However, the maximum number of pay channels carried by certain cable operators in non-conditional addressable system (CAS) rose from 214 to 233 in the same period. The maximum number of Free-to-Air (FTA) TV channels carried by certain cable operators in non-CAS areas in the period rose from 179 to 197. 

    The data is based on reports received by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) from broadcasters and multi system operators (MSOs).

    In areas served by non-addressable systems, the maximum number of TV channels carried in digital form as reported by cable operator – Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited – amongst those who have reported is 458. 

    The maximum number of TV channels carried in analogue form as reported by – Ortel Communications Limited – amongst those who have reported is 100. 

    In these areas, the maximum number of FTA channels carried, as reported by Hathway Cable & Datacom amongst those who have reported is 197. 

    The maximum number of pay channels carried as reported by a cable operator (Hathway Cable & Datacom) amongst those who have reported is 233. The maximum number of local channels carried as reported by a cable operator (Hathway Cable & Datacom) amongst those who have reported is 28.

    As on 30 September, 2015, there were a total of 226 MSOs who had been granted Permanent Registration (for 10 years) by the Ministry apart from 173 MSOs who had been granted Provisional Registration (for 10 years) by the Ministry of I&B for providing Cable TV services through Digital Addressable Systems (DAS).

    There had been a total of 252 pay channels as reported by broadcasters as on 30 June. During the quarter ending September 2015, three new pay channels – Colors Infinity HD, Colors Infinity, and Zee Café HD – were launched. During the quarter, one channel – The MGM was temporarily suspended. 

    During the quarter, the transmission mode of two channels – VH1 and Comedy Central – was changed from SD to HD. The total had risen to 254 pay TV channels by September end. 

    TRAI in its quarterly report said that apart from the free DTH service of Doordarshan Freedish, there are six private DTH operators. The total number of registered subscribers and active subscribers being served by these six private DTH operators were 81.47 million and 41.05 million respectively as on 30 September, 2015. 

    The Ministry had permitted a total of 90 Teleports by September end.