ITV

Category: Regulators

  • TDSAT asks Bangalore MSO not to cut signals of local association’s LCO members

    TDSAT asks Bangalore MSO not to cut signals of local association’s LCO members

    NEW DELHI: All Digital Network Ltd of Gandhi Nagar in Bangalore has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) to main status quo and not to disconnect the signals to any member of the All Digital Cable TV Operations Welfare Association of Bangalore.

     

    The Tribunal said that in case there is any disconnection of the supply of signals by the respondent to any of the cable operators in this petition, All Digital Network will restore the connection till any order is passed.

     

    TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava listed the matter for 22 September.

     

    All Digital Network counsel Sharath Sampath has been given time to get proper instructions in the matter.

  • FM Phase III: Govt gets Rs 263.97 crore as bid deposit post auction

    FM Phase III: Govt gets Rs 263.97 crore as bid deposit post auction

    NEW DELHI: A total amount of Rs 263.97 crore has been received by the Government as bid deposits from successful bidders of e-auction of the first batch of private FM radio Phase III channels.

     

    This is 25 per cent of the successful bid amount for a channel defined as bid deposit in the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) of 2 March. 

     

    Under the stipulated payment methodology by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, successful bidders had to pay the bid deposits for winning channels within five calendar days of notification of auction results. 

     

    The Ministry had notified 14 successful bidders for 91 channels in 54 cities of the first batch on 16 September.

     

    Successful bidders will now have to pay the balance amount within 15 calendar days of the notification by 1 October. 

     

    On receipt of full successful bid amount – Non-refundable One Time Entry Fee (NOTEF) – within the prescribed time, the Ministry will issue Letter of Intent to the bidders to enable them to complete further formalities.

     

    The e-auction of the first batch of FM phase III comprising 135 channels in 69 cities had commenced on 27 July and concluded after 33 days of bidding on 9 September.

     

    The Ministry had said while announcing the results of 91 channels in 54 cities that they do not include the results of the bids by Sun TV, South Asia FM and Kal Radio in  compliance with the orders of the Madras High Court.

     

    It also said the Centre had decided to file a special leave to appeal in the Supreme Court against the order of 26 July of the Delhi High Court of Delhi in the petitions by Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting Ltd. & Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd. respectively.

  • Red FM hikes ad rates by 35% buoyed by optimism post Phase III FM auctions

    Red FM hikes ad rates by 35% buoyed by optimism post Phase III FM auctions

    NEW DELHI: Even as the results of some of the Sun Group’s bids in the FM Phase III are being held back as the matter is pending in courts, 93.5 RED FM has implemented a 35 per cent hike in ad rates across all its stations. 

     

    The new rates became effective today (21 September).

    Red FM COO Nisha Narayanan said, “We have not had a rate hike for a while now. Today, radio as a medium is growing at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18 per cent and attracts a large number of advertisers as consumption of radio is on an overall high. The demand and supply scenario has a huge imbalance with demand way beyond the inventory that we can play on Red FM. Also the advertisers have shown faith in us to provide customised solutions for their brands and do not have an issue in paying premiums.” 

     

    “With Phase III and newer cities we plan to venture into, we have decided to go ahead with rates hike of 35 per cent across the network. With strong hold in metro cities as well as Tier II and III cities, we will continue to provide customised quality solutions for all our clients across the network and hope to receive their support for the desired increase.”

     

    Narayanan further said these were very interesting times for the FM radio space as the advertising community has been showing its faith in the medium continuously, which is evident fromthe overflowing radio inventories. 

     

    Demand across most of major metro’s and big cities has seen growth, which is equivalent to festive season rush and thus there is an eminent reason for the rate hike, which have been stagnant for almost two to three years now. 

     

    Narayanan added the Phase III auctions and an overall optimism within the industry isalso going to put pressure on the operational expenses. Thus the rate hike is one of the steps that have become a necessity to optimise the demand and supply and offer best of entertainment and mileage to advertisers and stakeholders. “More and more volume is also coming from lot of new categories and it’s good to see their trust in the medium by planning campaigns with FM stations,” she added. 

  • India wants greater democratisation & broad-basing of Internet governance

    India wants greater democratisation & broad-basing of Internet governance

    NEW DELHI: Stressing that it wanted democratisation and broad-basing of the global affairs of telecommunications and internet governance, the Government has begun a series of meetings with stakeholders in relation to the ongoing overall review by the General Assembly of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+10 Review). 

     

    In pursuance of its declaration towards multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance, the Information Technology Ministry recently organised discussions involving business, civil society, government, academia and technical community.

     

    The recent meeting on this issue was held in New Delhi on 18 September. There has also been remote participation from Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) and Learning Initiatives on Reforms for Network Economics Asia (LIRNEasia) in these meetings.

     

    The discussion by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology was in collaboration with National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) under Internet Governance to discuss the priorities and concerns of Indian stakeholder in relation to the ongoing UN review. 

     

    India wants that the International Telegraphic Union should take leadership and partner with UN and other International/Regional organisations in executing the Information and Communication Technology projects and programs in developing countries. India also wants the ITU to be the supervisory authority of Space Assets. India expressed its desire that ITU should play a more active role in the global Internet governance as envisaged during the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS). 

     

    The entire Review process will be concluded by a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on 15-16 December, 2015 in New York. Currently, the United Nations is facilitating a preparatory process for the WSIS+10 Review in consultation with Member States and relevant stakeholders.

  • TDSAT asks Star India to not disconnect signals to Digi Guntur Network

    TDSAT asks Star India to not disconnect signals to Digi Guntur Network

    NEW DELHI: Star India has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) to not disconection the signals to Digi Guntur Network India Ltd provided the petitoner pays Rs 24.10 lakh by 30 September. 
     
     
    Admitting the petition by the MSO challenging the disconnection notice, the Tribunal listed the matter for 28 October.
     
     
    TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava said the payment will be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties and the parties will abide by the final decision in this petition.
     
     
    Star India counsel Rajshekhar Rao accepted notice and was directed to file the reply within three weeks. Rejoinder, if any, may be filed within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the reply.
  • LCOs can jointly file petitions to air grievances: TDSAT

    LCOs can jointly file petitions to air grievances: TDSAT

    NEW DELHI: In a preliminary observation that may have far-reaching consequences, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) has found no legal impediment in local cable operators (LCOs) coming together in an association to raise their grievances.
     
     
    TDSAT rejected the preliminary objection by Siti Cable Networks counsel Tejveer Bhatia that under Section 14 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, the Tribunal has the jurisdiction to adjudicate any dispute between (i) a licensor and licensee; (ii) two or more service providers; and (iii) a service provider and a group of consumers. 
     
     
    According to Bhatia, the Jabalpur Cable Operators Welfare Association does not come under any of these three categories. 
     
     
    TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam, member Kuldip Singh, and B B Srivastava said, “We are unable to accept the objection. The petitioner is a registered association of cable operators. It is representing 90 cable
    operators, who are in dispute with the respondent, a multi system operator.”
     
     
    The Tribunal said, “The nature of the dispute between the cable operators and the MSO is the same. Each of the cable operator is a service provider and each of them can approach this Tribunal in respect of its disputes with the respondent. But being small operators they may not have the necessary wherewithall and the resources to agitate its grievances before the Tribunal sited in Delhi. If, therefore, for financial and logistical reasons, the cable operators pool their resources and authorise the association to represent them before the Tribunal, we see no legal impediment in their maintaining this petition. More so, as each of the cable operator by virtue of the
    authorisation given to the association, will be bound by the orders passed in this petition.”
     
     
    Noting that the issues raised in the petition are substantial and need consideration by the Tribunal, it directed the parties to maintain status quo until further orders. In case any payment falls due before the next date in this case, the cable operators (90 in number) will make payment to Siticable at the rate at which each of them made the last payment. Subject to this direction, Siticable will not discontinue supply of its signals to the cable operators.
     
     
    The Tribunal directed Bhatia to file the reply within a week. But it said Bhatia will be free to reagitate the issue of maintainability of the petition, and the point, if so required may be considered in greater detail. 
     
     
    Listing the matter for 6 October, the Tribunal said rejoinder, if any, may be filed within a week from the date of receipt of copy of the reply.
  • Election Commission issues detailed media guidelines for Bihar assembly polls

    Election Commission issues detailed media guidelines for Bihar assembly polls

    NEW DELHI: Even as the Model Code has come into effect for the elections to the Bihar assembly, the Election Commission today prohibited conduct of Exit poll and dissemination of their results during the period mentioned therein, that is, from the hour fixed for commencement of polls in the first phase and half hour after the time fixed for close of poll for the last phase in all the States.

     

    The directive was issued under Section 126A of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951. The polls commence from 12 October and will continue till 8 November, in five phases.

     

    The Commission reiterated that the TV, radio channels and cable networks should ensure that the contents of the programme telecast by them during the period of 48 hours referred to in Section 126 of the Act do not contain any material, including views/appeals by panelists/participants that may be construed as promoting/prejudicing the prospect of any particular party or candidate(s) or influencing/affecting the result of the election. This among other things includes display of results of any opinion poll and of standard debates, analysis, visuals and sound-bytes.

     

    At the outset, the Commission said there are sometimes allegations of violation of the provisions of Section 126 by TV channels in the telecast of their panel discussions/debates and other news and current affairs programmes. The Commission said it has clarified in the past that Section 126 prohibits displaying any election matter by means of television or similar apparatus during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in a constituency.

     

    “Election matter” has been defined in that Section as any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election. Violation of the aforesaid provisions of Section 126 is punishable with imprisonment up to a period of two years, or with fine or both.

     

    During the period not covered by Section 126 or Section 126A, concerned TV, radio, cable and FM channels are free to approach the state, district or local authorities for necessary permission for conducting any broadcast related events, which must also conform to the provisions of the model code of conduct and the programme code laid down by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 with regard to decency, maintenance of communal harmony, etc.

     

    They are also required to stay within the provisions of Commission’s guidelines dated 27 August 2012 regarding paid news and related matters. Concerned chief electoral officer or district election officer will take into account all relevant aspects including the law and order situation while extending such permission.

     

    Apart from issuing separate guidelines for the print media, the Commission also drew attention of the media to the guidelines issued by the Press Council of India and the News Broadcasting Standards Authority with regard to elections.

  • Siti Cable to not disconnect signals to 5 Faridabad LCOs

    Siti Cable to not disconnect signals to 5 Faridabad LCOs

    NEW DELHI: Siti Cable Networks has committed before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) that it will not disconnect the signals of the five local cable operators (LCOs) of Faridabad.

     

    These cable operators are members of the Excellent Cable Operators Association.

     

    TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava directed that these cases be also listed on 8 October.

     

    This case will now be heard along with the batch of cases from Progressive Cable Network Association, Faridabad.

     

    The Tribunal noted that it had received Rohit Vasvani’s report in the case.

  • MIB asks FM Phase III bidders to pay full amount by 1 October

    MIB asks FM Phase III bidders to pay full amount by 1 October

    NEW DELHI: All successful bidders for the 91 FM Radio channels in 54 cities that were announced yesterday in the first stage have been asked to pay the bid deposit – 25 per cent of the bid amount – by 21 September. The balance will have to be paid by 1 October. 

    Both amounts have to be paid by demand draft in the name of the Pay and Accounts Officer, Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

     

    At the same time, the Ministry warned that if the bid deposit is not received by the due date, the earnest money deposit (EMD) will be forfeited, and if the balance is not received by 1 October, the bid deposit and EMD will be forfeited.

     

    The Ministry also made it clear that this was without prejudice to any other action that it may take against defaulters.  

     

    While placing the results of 91 channels in fifty-four cities on the website of the Ministry, the frequency allocated and the successful bid amount was also stated.

     

    The Ministry said the results do not include the results of the bids by Sun TV, South Asia FM and Kal Radio in compliance with the orders of the Madras High Court.

     

    It also said the Centre had decided to file a special leave to appeal in the Supreme Court against the order of 26 July of the Delhi High Court of Delhi in the petitions by Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting Ltd. & Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd. respectively.

     

    Even as the government withheld six results because of legal cases, Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL) emerged the largest gainer with 17 channels in its kitty. 

     

    Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd, Reliance Broadcast Network and DB Corp Ltd got 14 channels each. Meanwhile, Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd has got 11 channels and HT Media has 10 channels. Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd and Abhijeet Realtors and Infraventures Pvt Ltd got two channels each.

     

    Others who have successful bid and got one channel each are Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting Pvt Ltd, Renderlive Films and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Sarthak Films Pvt Ltd, Abir Buildcon Pvt Ltd, Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co Pvt Ltd and Odisha Television Ltd.

     

    The auction was stopped on the 33rd day after just one round, with 97 channels in 56 cities became provisional winning channels with cumulative provisional winning price of about Rs 1156.9 crore against their aggregate reserve price of about Rs 459.8 crore.

  • Election Commission rejects demand to cancel Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ before Bihar polls

    Election Commission rejects demand to cancel Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ before Bihar polls

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has rejected a demand by the Congress and its alliance partners seeking a ban on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast on All India Radio slated for 20 September.

    The Congress said it could be used to directly influence the outcome of the Bihar Assembly elections. The Commission said it would take action if parts of the programme were found to be in violation of the model code of conduct now in place in Bihar.

    A senior official of the Commission said, “No blanket ban can be enforced on the broadcast or Cabinet meetings. But the EC can take cognisance if the Cabinet decision or the content of programme is in violation of the model code of conduct.”

    A delegation comprising leaders from the Congress, the Janata Dal (U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal had met the chief Election Commissioner on the issue.

    An earlier complaint against the monthly broadcast during the Harayana assembly polls had been rejected after the Commission went through the recording and transcript of the episode.

    Meanwhile, Modi has urged people to record voice messages for Mann Ki Baat. 

    Earlier, people had been encouraged to send in their messages on the mygov platform. People can record their messages in either Hindi or English for Mann Ki Baat on the toll-free number 1800 3000 7800.

    “Interesting effort by @mygovindia, which enables you to join Mann Ki Baat programme. I heard some of the voice messages and they were unique. Keep the messages coming. Some will be a part of the programme this Sunday,” Modi tweeted. 

    While the broadcast is generally on the last Sunday of the month at 11 am, Modi is doing it earlier this month as he has to leave for the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.