ITV

Category: Regulators

  • Government’s e-calendar 2016 gives link to AIR, DD News

    Government’s e-calendar 2016 gives link to AIR, DD News

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley said conventional technology did not lose its importance despite the latest trends in technology.

     

    He was speaking after releasing the Government Calendar 2016, which he said would take forward the developmental agenda of the government highlighting one developmental theme or focus area each month. Each calendar sheet emphasised a particular goal and priority area, which concerned the people at large.

     

    Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore said that the Calendar 2016 enabled people to give feedback to the government. It also gave them access to PIB press releases, tweets and news from All India Radio and Doordarshan news. 

     

    The calendar is on the theme of ‘Vikas ki Nayi Udaan’. I&B secretary Sunil Arora was also present on the occasion.

     

    Releasing the digital version of the calendar, Rathore said it had several features to reach the target audience especially the youth and citizens who sought information on programmes and policies. He further stated that success of the schemes of the Government depended largely on the awareness levels of citizens.

     

    The digital version of the calendar will facilitate the information flow to the youth who were quite aware of new techniques and methods. The Minister also highlighted the initiatives being taken by DAVP to facilitate online functioning including enhancing outreach and promoting transparency. There was also an idea within DAVP to come up with advertisements targeted at specific audiences.

     

    The calendar has been designed and printed by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). It is printed in 11 languages apart from Hindi. It is distributed to all Panchayat zilla parishads, centrally aided schools; all missions abroad apart from all elected representatives Central Government Gazetted officers. 

     

    With the theme ‘Vikas ki Nayi Udaan’ the calendar highlights various developmental schemes launched by Government of India. It centers on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mudra Yojna, smart cities, PMKYV, Jan Dhan Yojna, Digital India, Health, Power and Employment for all, farmers’ welfare and port-led development. The Calendar 2016 ends with Ashtalakshmi that lays stress on development in the North East. The Department of Posts is responsible for distribution of the Calendar across the country.

  • MIB warns broadcasters against giving FTA signals to unauthorised operators

    MIB warns broadcasters against giving FTA signals to unauthorised operators

    NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has warned broadcasters against giving signals of free to air (FTA) channels to unauthorised operators. 

     

    The government said that it should be ensured that satellite TV channels do not provide their signal reception decoders or access to their signals to any cable or multi system operators (MSO), DTH operators, IPTV service provider and headend in the sky (HITS) operator, which is not registered or permitted by the MIB.

     

    The Ministry said that non-adherence to the laid down stipulation is “liable for stern action from this Ministry in case corrective action by broadcasters is not taken immediately.”

     

    It was pointed out that there should be strict adherence to clause 5.6 of the Article 5 of Downlinking Guidelines in this regard.

     

    The clause stipulates that all the broadcasters “shall provide satellite TV channel signal reception decoders only to MSOs/Cable Operators registered under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 or to a DTH operator registered under the DTH guidelines issued by Government of Indian or to an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Service Provider duly permitted under their existing Telecom License or authorised by Department of Telecommunications or to a HITS operator duly permitted under the policy guidelines for HITS operators issued by the I&B Ministry to provide such service.”

     

    The MIB said that it had come to its notice that certain DTH operators were beaming into India FTA channels without obtaining due license or registration authorisation in any manner from the Ministry. “These FTA TV channels, it is learnt, are permitted TV channels. However, broadcasters appear to have allowed their signals to be used by such unauthorised operators,” the Ministry said.

  • Regulation & development of telecom sector must be blended, Prasad tells TRAI

    Regulation & development of telecom sector must be blended, Prasad tells TRAI

    NEW DELHI: Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) needs to understand that regulation and development of the telecom sector must be blended and the regulator should be made accountable to the Parliament.

     

    He said digital power, accelerated by smart phones in the hands of young people, has enormous potential to drive ‘Digital India’ and achieve the dreams of aspirational India.

     

    While the programme currently focuses on digital delivery of health, education, grocery and tourism services, “there is a need to promote e-health, e-education, e-internet, e-tourism and e-commerce,” he said while addressing the 88th Annual General Meeting of FICCI  over the weekend. 

     

    Prasad said, “‘Digital India’ should be empowered by private sector participation as it will provide a roadmap where good service and good productivity will also give good returns.”

     

    He also stressed on the importance of quick and fair decision making. Initiatives undertaken include strengthening the e-highway, expanding the optical fibre network and opening of BPOs centres in smaller cities and towns. 

     

    The Minister mentioned about measures being taken to improve the Indian postal service. He said that the massive postal network in the rural areas should be converted into community service centres and the postal department should be scaled up to provide e-commerce services and should be aggressively persuaded to enter into baking segment.

  • TDSAT directs Canara Star to settle disputes with Star India

    TDSAT directs Canara Star to settle disputes with Star India

    NEW DELHI: Bangalore’s Canara Star has been asked by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to intimate Star India whether it admits the SMS reports submitted by the broadcaster for the period 2014 to January 2015.

     

    The common order by the Tribunal on three petitions including one by Star India against Canara Star claiming recovery dues of about Rs 3 crore pertaining to the MSO’s operations in Digital Addressable System (DAS) area of Bangalore said this was subject to the two parties failing to arrive at a final settlement.

     

    Listing the matter for 14 January, 2016 the Tribunal also asked Canara to produce its bank statements and materials to show payments made by it towards invoices raised by Star India based on Canara’s SMS reports.

     

    Canara, which has allegedly sold off its business to another MSO called All Digital, will produce its deed of transfer of establishment to All Digital, which was made a party in the petition filed by Star India.

     

    The other two petitions are by Canara Star challenging disconnection notices issues by Star India for analogue areas of Kumta and Bhatkal.

     

    Star India counsels Kunal Tandon and Arjun Natarajan produced the SMS reports on the basis of which it had billed Canara Star.

     

    Star India argued that Canara cannot withhold payments to it for invoices, which were raised by the broadcaster on the basis of Canara Star’s SMS reports.

     

    Canara Star’s counsel Jayant Mehta asked for one final opportunity to settle the disputes.

     

    All the three matters had been before the mediator from early August till mid November but no settlement could be arrived at.

  • MIB to set up Film Facilitation Offices to aid foreign filmmakers in India

    MIB to set up Film Facilitation Offices to aid foreign filmmakers in India

    NEW DELHI: The Government has cleared proposals for setting up Film Facilitation Office (FFO) in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata for foreign film producers in assisting them to procure requisite permissions to shoot in India.

     

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told Parliament today that the FFO would be set up with the help of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

     

    It would also disseminate information on shooting locations and the facilities available with the Indian film industry for production and post production. 

     

    A total number of 33 requests from foreign filmmakers for shooting in India have been received till date during the current year, Rathore said. The requests include shooting of feature films and television shows.

     

    The Government has already taken several steps to promote India as a filming destination and to promote Indian film industry.

     

    The Ministry has also taken up with Home and External Affairs Ministries, the issues relating to easing of visa norms as well as simplification of procedures for according permission, duly taking into consideration the security concerns and other related issues.

  • Animation & Gaming Centre will be close to industry venue: Rathore

    Animation & Gaming Centre will be close to industry venue: Rathore

    NEW DELHI: While declining to give the exact venue for the proposed National Centre for Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects (NCOE), the Parliament was told today that it would be located in a place closer to the animation and gaming industry.

     

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said in reply to a question that the Centre would be set up with participation from the industry and with the help of Media & Entertainment Skill Council (MESC).

     

    The objective of NCOE is to build a national centre of excellence to impart world class education at affordable fee structure in animation, gaming and visual effects.

     

    This would help create a world class talent pool in India to cater to the Indian and global players, the Minister said.

  • WRC meet turns down 470-698 MHz spectrum band to India for mobile communication

    WRC meet turns down 470-698 MHz spectrum band to India for mobile communication

    NEW DELHI: Following the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) last month in Geneva, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been informed that the frequency band 470-698 MHz has not been identified for International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) for India.

     

    Conveying this information received from the Communications and Information Technnology Ministry, Minister of State for I&B told Parliament today that his Ministry and Prasar Bharati had earlier given their concurrence to the proposal in this regard from the Telecom Department.

     

    He said the I&B Ministry had laid down the condition that this was acceptable provided the present and future requirements of Doordarshan and terrestrial broadcasting will be given due priority.

     

    The Communications & IT Ministry after due approval and a decision by Committee of Secretaries sent a proposal for identification of the frequency band 470-698 MHz for IMT services for India under Agenda item 1.1 of WRC of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

  • MIB awards 14 new provisional MSO licences; no new permanent license

    MIB awards 14 new provisional MSO licences; no new permanent license

    NEW DELHI: Despite the Phase III deadline for Digital Addressable System (DAS) barely two weeks away and the Government’s assertions over this past weekend, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) has granted provisional licences to 14 multi-system operator (MSOs).

     

    However, as per the updated list, the MIB has not granted any new permanent MSO license.

     

    With this, the number of 10-year (permanent) registrations for MSOs remains 230 and the total has only risen by 14 to 567 by including the 337 which got provisional clearance (till 15 December, 2015).

     

    According to the list put on the MIB’s website, Kal Cables of Chennai and Digi Cable Network of Mumbai remain on the cancellation list. Scod 18 Networking Pvt Ltd of Mumbai has also been refused security clearance while SR Cable TV of Bangalore has shut down its business.

     

    The MIB has granted provisional registration to DEN Networks’ Nashik subsidiary DEN Discovery Digital Network for Maharashtra.

     

    On the other hand, Extreme Teleconnect has received pan-India licence. Other MSOs that were granted provisional licences for various districts are: Hindupur Cable TV Operators Welfare Association, RK Digital Cable Service, Srisivakami Amman Cable TV System, Shri Shyam Baba Cable Network, Raj Cable Network, Lonar Cable Network, Srivi Communication, Matarani Cable TV Network, Kulasekharam Television Network, Victoy Digital Network, Jajpur Digital Network Services and Treeshakti Cable Network.

     

    The pace appears particularly sluggish considering that the Home Ministry had announced over five months ago that it was aiming to do away with security clearances for MSOs.

     

    MIB sources told Indiantelevision.com that nothing had been received in writing in this regard from the Home Ministry.  

     

    The number of MSOs was 553 by 24 November, having risen from 470 earlier in November, but this increase was merely in those who had provisional licences.

     

    Considering the warning to broadcasters not to give digital signals to unregistered MSOs, the completion of DAS in urban areas by the end of this month appears to be a mammoth task.

     

    The number of provisional licences has also slowed down, considering it had risen from 246 on 10 November to 323 by 24 November (an increase of 77) and has now risen by eleven to 337.

     

    Only three MSOs who had provisional licences have got permanent licence since September this year. Three provisional licensees have been permitted to change their area of operation. Thirteen permanent licensees have been allowed over the past few months to change their areas, of which one has been allowed to add more areas.

     

    The source said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

  • MIB to hold open house with broadcasters on 21 December for DAS

    MIB to hold open house with broadcasters on 21 December for DAS

    NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has slotted an Open House meeting with all broadcasters on 21 December in connection with the implementation of Digital Addressable System (DAS).

     

    The meeting will be held at 11 am in the office of MIB director (broadcasting) Neeti Sarkar.

     

    Any broadcaster wanting to attend has been asked to confirm their presence and query by the evening of 18 December.

     

    It is learnt that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is separately meeting the multi system operators (MSOs) earlier in the same connection.

     

    The action is heating up on all fronts as the 31 December, 2015 deadline for implementation of DAS Phase III draws closer.

  • TDSAT asks Star India to restore signals to Karnataka LCO subject to part payment

    TDSAT asks Star India to restore signals to Karnataka LCO subject to part payment

    NEW DELHI: Star India has been asked by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to restore signals to Karnataka based local cable operator (LCO) V4 Media, provided it pays Rs 12.91 lakh through RTGS as committed by it.

     

    Listing the matter for 21 December, the Tribunal said V4 Media will further make payment of Rs 19.88 lakh by 26 December.

     

    TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member B B Srivastava made it clear that “these payments are on account payment and shall be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties.”

     

    Apart from the aforesaid payments, V4 Media will also pay the monthly subscription fee as per the invoice dated 5 November.