ITV

Category: Regulators

  • DAVP selects Prime Focus, Usoft & others for govt ad spots

    DAVP selects Prime Focus, Usoft & others for govt ad spots

    NEW DELHI: Prime Focus Techologies and Usoft Technologies are among the four audio visual agencies contracted by the Government for creating commercials to publicise its policies through digital spots to private television cable and satellite television channels and digital cinema agencies.

     

    The other two agencies are eBUS (Aidem Ventures), and Adstream Advertising Services Pvt Ltd. The agencies were given the contract for one year from September, after completion of a tender process.

     

    The agencies will be paid by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry at rates specified by it. These are per spot basis per delivery (exclusive of taxes): Rs 760 for spots up to thirty seconds; Rs 846 for spots between 31 seconds and 60 seconds; and Rs 940 for spots between 61 and 90 seconds.

     

    The spots above 80 seconds will be paid at the pro-rata of the approved rates from 61 to 90 seconds.  

     

    These rates are inclusive of 15 per cent agency commission, which will be deducted from approved rates at the time of payment.

  • TDSAT directs Siti Cable & subsidiaries to unblock signals to 141 Kolkata LCOs

    TDSAT directs Siti Cable & subsidiaries to unblock signals to 141 Kolkata LCOs

    NEW DELHI: Siti Cable and four multi system operators (MSOs) associated with it have been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) to unblock the IDs and remove on-screen displays (OSDs), if any are running on the network of any of Kolkata’S 141 cable operators.

     

    The Tribunal also asked the Cable Operators Sangram Association of Kolkata representing the LCOs, Siti Cable, and the four MSOs namely Indian Cable Net Company, Calcutta Communication, Purvi Communication and Purbalaya Communication to maintain status quo both in regard to payment of monthly subscription fees as also supply of signals to the individual LCOs until further orders. 

     

    TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava also accepted the plea of the Association to implead the four MSOs in the petition as some LCOs received their Siti Cable signals through these.

     

    Listing the matter for 15 October, the Tribunal noted that the companies “are evidently subsidiaries of the sole respondent, namely Siti Cable Network, but in view of the objection raised on its behalf, it is necessary to bring them on record by having them formally impleaded as party respondents.” 

  • MIB issues 27 new provisional and 3 permanent MSO licenses post August

    MIB issues 27 new provisional and 3 permanent MSO licenses post August

    NEW DELHI: With the deadline of the third phase of digital addressable system (DAS) less than three months away, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued 27 new provisional licenses and three permanent licenses for multi system operators (MSOs) across India to operate in the DAS areas.

     

    The new entrants are: (1) Manthan Broadband Services Pvt Ltd, which got the permanent licence for Kolkata Metropolitan under Phase I, for Howrah under Phase II and for Ranchi and all cities/towns in India under Phase III, (2) Saptak Digital, which received permanent licence for the entire West Bengal region, and (3) Shirdi Sai Digital Network for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana under Phase III & IV.

     

    With this, the total number of MSOs that have obtained licences for DAS as on 30 September has gone up to 399.

     

    According to the last list issued on 14 August, the Ministry had registered a total of 349 MSOs, of which 126 were provisional.

     

    Of these 399 MSOs that have received licences for DAS, 226 have 10-year licences, while 173 are provisional since the MIB has still not received any formal communication of the Home Ministry’s decision to do away with security clearances for MSOs.

     

    As of now, four MSOs – Kal Cables of Chennai, Digi Cable Network Pvt Ltd, Scod 18 Networking Pvt Ltd and SR Cable TV Pvt. Ltd. remain on the cancellation list.

     

    Additionally, 11 MSOs, which had earlier been granted permanent licences were permitted to change their areas of operation

  • MIB cancels tripartite agreements in DTH sector for loan assistance

    MIB cancels tripartite agreements in DTH sector for loan assistance

    NEW DELHI: The Government today cancelled the provision for tripartite agreements to provide loans to Indian direct-to-home (DTH) operators.

     

    According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), the provision had been made for financial loan and assistance in the DTH sector by assigning licence agreement as security to banks as well as financial institutions.

     

    This was to be done in the form of a tripartite agreement with the bank or financial institution, the operator and the government.

     

    An order to this effect had been issued by the Ministry on 3 December, 2009.

     

    The order has now come into immediate effect. 

  • AIR to broadcast special to mark one year of ‘Mann Ki Baat’

    AIR to broadcast special to mark one year of ‘Mann Ki Baat’

    NEW DELHI: All India Radio (AIR) will broadcast Mann Ki Baat: Ek Saal Jan Judao Ka to mark the completion of one year of the monthly radio broadcasts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

     

    The hour-long programme will be aired at 9.30 pm on 5 October by all capital AIR stations, all multi-channel stations, all FM Gold & FM Rainbow channels and Local Stations.

     

    The show will be also available via live streaming on allindiaradio.gov.in and it can be also heard by downloading AIR’s mobile app available for Windows, Android or iOS platform.

     

    The first broadcast of Mann Ki Baat was on 3 October last year.

     

    The programme has been conceptualised by AIR Delhi as a platform for myriad voices, ranging from the remotest outpost of the country to the heart of its capital to a diaspora viewpoint.

     

    It is scheduled under the National Programme of Talks (Hindi), a weekly programme of talks and discussions on the National Channel.

     

    An AIR spokesman told Indiantelevision.com, “We are hopeful of presenting a bouquet of authentic voices from the rustic farmer in this attempt to reflect with authenticity what the public really expects from its Prime Minister. The aim is to cull out the areas that people want the Prime Minister to focus on. This programme will have elements of various radio formats such as Phone-in, Radio-Bridge, Vox populi etc. to showcase a participatory audio asset.”

     

    The broadcast of the programme will be followed by a survey to be carried out by 46 units of Audience Research Units of AIR located at different places to cover varied linguistic and geographical zones of India. This, AIR hopes, will accurately gauge the impact of one year of continuous personal contact of the Prime Minister with his people through various modes of dissemination.

     

    Mann Ki Baat has once again connected people with the radio and made them realise its importance for such a vast country that resides not only in metros and cities but in remote corners of the villages and tribal areas, where satellite television channels are yet to reach. 

     

    In its endeavour to maximise the reach of the programme, AIR relays it in all regional languages apart from Hindi, Urdu and also in large number of dialects spoken in remote parts of India.

     

    Mann Ki Baat thus has the vastest disseminated broadcast and reaches over 99 per cent of India’s population through multifarious avenues as DTH, live streaming, mobile applications, terrestrial as well as satellite channels.

     

    In addition to the programme slated for tonight, AIR broadcast Mann Ki Baat: Aatmiya Samvaad Ka Ek Varsh, which was a special edition of its much acclaimed programme Post Box 111, which is based on the unprecedented inflow of letters/mails from listeners to AIR as part of the first anniversary. The special programme was a recap of all episodes of both Mann Ki Baat and Post Box 111.

     

    Post Box 111 is broadcast every Sunday at 11 am on FM Rainbow Network and the medium wave national hook-up.

  • TRAI asks MSOs to not disconnect signals without 3 weeks notice

    TRAI asks MSOs to not disconnect signals without 3 weeks notice

    NEW DELHI: With the deadline for completion of Phase III of Digital Addressable System (DAS) approaching fast, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today said that no multi system operators (MSO) will disconnect the signals of TV channels of a linked local cable operator (LCO) without giving three weeks’ notice to such LCO, clearly specifying the reasons for the proposed disconnection. 

     

    The Regulatory framework provides that the channels subscribed by a subscriber should not be switched off or discontinued without following the proper procedure provided in the Quality of Service Regulations for DAS, TRAI said. 

     

    The MSOs providing cable TV services through DAS were advised not to degrade or stop or switch off any channel without following the proper procedure laid in the regulations. 

     

    TRAI also reminded MSOs and linked LCOs that set top boxes (STBs) have to be repaired or replaced without any extra charge with new STBs within 24 hours of the receipt of the complaint. 

     

    The complaint can be pertaining to malfunctoning from a subscriber, if the STB is covered within the warranty or it has been acquired by the subscriber on hire purchase scheme or on rental basis.

     

    The MSOs providing cable TV services were advised to ensure rectification of consumer complaints within 24 hour under the “Standards of Quality of Service (Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems) Regulations 2012. For adhering to the timelines provided in the regulation, spare STBs may be given to the linked LCOs to ensure speedy restoration of services.

     

    TRAI said in cable TV sector it is generally observed that the consumers approach linked LCOs for immediate redressal of their complaints. For redressal of such complaints of consumers received by the LCOs, MSOs are required to lay down proper communication procedures to register complaints through LCOs and get then addressed on priority.

     

    The directive regarding disconnections is under the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012.

  • Election Commission bans exit polls by print & TV media for Bihar elections

    Election Commission bans exit polls by print & TV media for Bihar elections

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India has banned all electronic and print media including television channels from carrying out any exit polls between 7 am on 12 October and 5.30 pm on 7 November in view of the Assembly elections inBihar.

     

    The directive was issued by the Election Commission through a notification issued under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act 1951.

     

    This includes a ban on publicising or publishing through any media the results of any exit poll in connection with the Assembly Elections.

     

    The notification further prohibited under Section 126(1)(b) any opinion poll in any electronic media during the period of 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of the polls.

  • e-CAF not on TRAI’s agenda; willing to assist cable ops to expedite work

    e-CAF not on TRAI’s agenda; willing to assist cable ops to expedite work

    NEW DELHI: While the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) itself has no plans to mandate a system of e-CAF (Customer Acquisition Form), it has no objection if a multi-system operator (MSO) or a local cable operator (LCO) introduced the system.

     

    Through the e-CAF system, consumers can fill out details of channels wanted by them and provide this information to the service provider.

     

    A senior TRAI official told Indiantelevision.com that the Regulator had always encouraged progressive steps and would help any MSO or LCO that wanted assistance in this regard.

     

    The official, who did not wish to be named, said that if banks can take sensitive KYC information on mobiles or through the internet, there was no reason why MSOs or LCOs could not use e-CAF to help expedite their work.

     

    In fact, the official went on to say that this would aid the process of achieving the target of the last two phases of digital addressable system (DAS).

     

    However, the official maintained that TRAI had no plans at present to mandate e-CAF forms and felt that this should be voluntary. 

  • Hitz FM, India FM can migrate to Phase III if govt appeal fails

    Hitz FM, India FM can migrate to Phase III if govt appeal fails

    NEW DELHI: Hitz FM Radio India Pvt. Ltd and India FM Radio India Pvt Ltd were assured today that their applications for migration to Phase III would be considered despite lapse of last date if the appeal filed by the Government in the High Court fails.

     

    The assurance was given before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) by Information and Broadcasting Ministry counsel Rajeev Sharma.

     

    Sharma said the appeal was yet to be given a number and yet to be listed before the Court. 

     

    In their miscellaneous applications, the two radio channels had said that they had so far not been allowed to migrate from Phase I to Phase II, notwithstanding the Tribunal’s judgment  

     

    It is stated that the channels could migrate to Phase III only if they first migrated to Phase II.

     

    However, they said that as the deadline for operators in Phase II for migration to Phase III was ending, they apprehended that they may not be allowed to migrate and as a result, the Tribunal’s judgment may end in frustration.

     

    TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava said, “This fully satisfies the apprehension of the channels.”

  • TDSAT directs Den to clear Star India’s dues by 3 October

    TDSAT directs Den to clear Star India’s dues by 3 October

    NEW DELHI: Den Networks Ltd has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) to make full payments to Star India as directed by its order of 14 September.
     

    After hearing counsel for the parties, TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava said, “We are once again of the view that in compliance with the previous order, Den is bound to make payment of the invoiced amounts for the months of June and July 2015. In terms of the DAS agreement, which allows the petitioner to make payment within 15 days of the receipt of the invoice, Den must make payment of the invoiced amounts for  the DAS areas by 3 October.”
     

    The Tribunal also directed Den to give SMS reports to Star India for each month as stipulated in the DAS agreement. Den counsel Meet Malhotra assured the Tribunal that this would be done.
              

    Malhotra stated that apart from Rs 15 crore directed by the previous order, Den had made some more payments to Star India.
     

    “Needless to say Star India will verify the payments as claimed to have been made by Den and those payments will naturally be adjusted against the payment for the invoices in question,” TDSAT said.

     
    On 14 September, Den had been directed to make on-account payment of Rs 15 crore by 18 September towards its dues to Star India. Regarding current monthly fees, Den was directed as follows: “Apart from the payment of the back dues, Den will indeed be obliged to make payment of the current dues of license fee on the basis of the invoices raised by Star India.”

    Den made payment of Rs 11.91 crore on 18 September and another payment of Rs 3.09 crore on 21 September and though the payments were not fully in compliance with its order, the Tribunal said, “We consider it a lapse and leave the matter at that.”
     

    As regards payment of the current monthly license fees, on 11 September, Star India issued two invoices; one for the non-DAS areas for the month of September for Rs 4.26 crore and the other for DAS areas (excluding Navi Mumbai) for the months of June and July for the sum of Rs 20.21 crore. According to Den, the two invoices were sent to it through email on 18 September.
     

    The Tribunal rejected Malhotra’s arguments that the invoiced amounts included the increase of 27.5 per cent provided under the TRAI Tariff Order, which was quashed by the Tribunal by Judgment and Order of 28 April. The contention was mainly that since a part of the invoiced amounts is based on increases not sanctioned by law, Den was not liable to make payment of the invoices until reconciliation of accounts underway between the two sides as directed by the Tribunal’s order is completed.
     

    However, the Tribunal made it clear that its rejection of Malhotra’s contention was not final and was subject to the finding arrived at the end of the trial of the matter. 
     

    Meanwhile in another case filed by Mahabhairab Cable Network and other LCOs against Tejpur Cable Networks, the Tribunal said Tejpur will not disconnect the supply of signals to the LCOs. 

    Listing the matter for 5 October, it restrained the LCOs being represented in the petition from taking signals from any MSO other than the respondents.