ITV

Category: Regulators

  • Only 180 community radio stations despite financial aid by govt

    Only 180 community radio stations despite financial aid by govt

    NEW DELHI: Despite the scheme being almost a decade old and the government extending financial assistance, the total number of operational community radio stations (CRS) in the country is just 180.

     

    This is despite the fact that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued around 410 permissions to set up community radio stations in the country. In addition to other assistance, the Government has even set up a fund for helping CRS.

     

    A Parliamentary Committee noted recently that 209 applications for setting up of community radio stations were pending with various Ministries. Even though the number of applications pending in the Ministries concerned has come down substantially, there are at least 50 applications that are pending, which have crossed the stipulated timeline beyond three months.

     

    Though the scheme was launched around a decade earlier, the outreach of the CRS was enhanced in 2006 to include non Governmental and Community based organisations with at least three years of legal existence.

     

    Earlier this year, Parliament was informed that only 76 letters of intent (LOI) had been issued out of the 689 applications from educational institutions, registered societies, trusts and NGOs etc received since 1 January, 2012 for setting up community radio stations.

     

    As many as 285 applications had been returned or rejected, while 263 had been referred back to the applicants.

     

    According to the list placed on the Ministry’s website as on 1 May, 2015, the largest number of community radio stations – around 90 – are being operated by private and governmental educational institutions, around 65 by non-governmental organisations, around 20 by universities including six by state agricultural universities, and six by Kendriya Vidyalya Kendras.

     

    Tamil Nadu has the largest number of CRS numbering around 27, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 21, Maharashtra with 17, Madhya Pradesh with 14, and Karnataka with 13. All other States and Union Territories have 10 or less CRs with Delhi having six.

  • Ad Cap: 140 channels fail to follow TRAI directive in Feb 2015

    Ad Cap: 140 channels fail to follow TRAI directive in Feb 2015

    NEW DELHI: Failing to follow the 12-minute ad cap directive laid down by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), as many as 101 general entertainment television channels and 39 news channels aired more than 12 minutes of advertisements per hour between 23 February and 1 March this year. Of these, six news channels aired more than 20 minutes of ads per hour. 

     

    Apart from these 140 channels, the other channels followed the directive of 12 minutes of ad cap per hour, according to TRAI.

     

    The directive restricting the ad cap to 12 minutes an hour by TRAI is already under challenge in the Delhi High Court, where TRAI has given a commitment that it will not take any coercive action against the channels till the outcome of the case.

     

    However, the channels had, after consultations with TRAI and government officials, agreed to the ad cap of 12 minutes from October 2013.

     

    According to a chart placed on its website by TRAI, the average duration per hour of Advertisements (Commercial & Self promotional) in Pay Non-news channels during peak hours (7 – 10 pm) for the period 23 February to 1 March went up to more than 20 minutes per hour in as many as six cases.

     

    TRAI had on 22 March, 2013 passed a regulation mandating broadcasters to restrict the duration of advertisements on their channels to a maximum of 12 minutes in any given clock-hour as prescribed in the existing rules, alleging that most TV channels are in ‘brazen breach’ of the existing rules on advertising time.

     

    In order to monitor and ensure compliance of these regulations, broadcasters were also mandated to report the duration of advertisements carried on their channels to the TRAI on a quarterly basis in a prescribed proforma.

     

    TRAI issued the Standards of Quality of Service (Duration of Advertisements in Television Channels) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, and said this was being done as the regulations set out in the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994 were being violated.

     

    TRAI said it had studied the issue of duration of advertisements being carried in TV channels and the data obtained from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and that collected from the broadcasters before coming to its decision.

     

    The duration of advertisements being carried in TV channels is closely related to the quality of viewing experience of the consumers, which is akin to the quality of service being offered by the service providers to the consumers, and the regulation has been issued to ensure the quality of service and protect the interests of the consumers.

     

    The amended regulation clearly defines TRAI’s power to intervene to protect the interests of the subscribers or for ensuring compliance of the provisions of these regulations. It says that through an order of 9 January, 2004, the Central Government under Section 11(1)(d) of TRAI Act entrusted some additional functions to TRAI including the function to recommend the parameters for regulating maximum time for advertisements in pay channels as well as other channels. TRAI says the advertisements carried on by the broadcaster in their programme are a quality of service issue as they interfere with the uninterrupted broadcast of a programme and intrusion of advertisements during the telecast of a programme adversely affects the viewing experience of the consumer.

     

    The principal regulations were issued on 14 May, 2012 but had met with severe criticism from the television channels and their representative bodies. The regulations were challenged by some of the broadcasters in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and thereafter TRAI issued an amended Regulation on 27 August on which responses were called for and open house consultations also held.

     

    TRAI has also said that ‘it is important to note that the provisions in these regulations do not attempt to disturb the time limit fixed by the government regarding duration of advertisement i.e. 12 minutes per hour. As discussed earlier, TRAI is responsible to ensure that quality of service to consumer is not compromised and hence these regulations.’

     

    Click here for the full list of channels, which telecast over 12 minutes per hour of self-promotional or other advertisements during prime time

  • TV Today, ENIL to challenge MIB’s decision on Oye FM sale

    TV Today, ENIL to challenge MIB’s decision on Oye FM sale

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network (TVTN) and Entertainment Network (India) Limited (ENIL) have decided to appeal against the recent decision of the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry barring TVTN to sell its radio FM business to ENIL.  

     

    On 8 May, 2015, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry refused to green light TVTN’s proposal of selling its radio FM business – Oye FM – to ENIL on the grounds that the proposal sale did not conform with the FM Radio Guidelines.

     

    In its notice to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), ENIL said, “With reference to the earlier announcement dated 13 February, 2015 regarding the non-binding memorandum of understanding with TV Today Network Limited (TVTN) for the proposed purchase of seven radio stations from TVTN. The proposed purchase was subject to relevant regulatory approval(s), Entertainment Network (India) Ltd has now informed BSE that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India, vide their letter dated 1 May, 2015, which was received by the Company on 8 May, 2015, has declined its approval on the grounds that the proposed sale by TVTN and proposed purchase by the Company is not in conformity with the FM Radio Guidelines. However, both the Company and TVTN have decided to appeal against the MIB decision.”

     

    It now remains to be seen whether Oye FM, which operates in seven cities across India, continues to stay under TVTN’s umbrella or moves to ENIL.

  • MIB denies sale of TV Today’s radio biz to ENIL

    MIB denies sale of TV Today’s radio biz to ENIL

    MUMBAI: The wait for TV Today Network, which has been looking at selling its radio FM business to Entertainment Network (India) Limited (ENIL) is finally over, but not with the result that the network was expecting.

     

    In a recent development, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has declined its approval to TV Today Network to sell its radio FM business – Oye FM – to ENIL. The approval has been denied on the grounds that the proposed sale did not conform with the FM Radio Guidelines.

     

    TV Today today said that the “application made to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India seeking its approval regarding the sale of Radio FM Business [Seven Radio Stations] to Entertainment Network (India) Limited, MIB by their order dated 1 May, 2015, received on 8 May, 2015, has declined its approval on the grounds that the proposal sale is not in conformity with the FM Radio Guidelines.”

     

    However, the company has reserved its right to seek appropriate legal remedy, as and when required.

     

    Further, a committee meeting of senior officials was held on 8 May to take note of the said order. “Keeping in view the said order, the committee has considered and approved the amendment letter to the Non binding Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the Company and Entertainment Network (India) Limited,” a statement from the company read.

     

    It can be recalled that earlier in April, TV Today had approached the High Court with regards to the delay in MIB’s approval to sell the company’s FM radio business to ENIL.

     

    The network had then said, “In relation to the proposed sale of seven radio stations to Entertainment Network (India) Limited, since time is of essence and with approval of the MIB getting delayed, hence in order to expedite the matter, an urgent writ petition in the High Court is listed for hearing, to seek necessary relief.”

  • Bombay High Court suspends Salman Khan’s five-year sentence

    Bombay High Court suspends Salman Khan’s five-year sentence

    NEW DELHI: A large number of filmmakers in Mumbai heaved a sigh of relief when the Bombay High Court stayed the five-year sentence imposed on actor Salman Khan by a Sessions court two days earlier for killing a homeless man in a 2002 hit-and-run case.

     

    The 49-year old actor was however asked by the High Court to re-apply for fresh bail before the Sessions Court.

     

    Khan had managed to get a two-day reprieve on 6 May itself on the ground that the judgment had not been made available to him.   

     

    High Court judge A M Thipsay suspended Khan’s sentence after an initial hearing on his appeal at which the superstar’s lawyers argued that the trial court had not considered all the evidence on hand during the trial.

     

    Had he gone to jail, Bollywood sources said around six films would have been affected as they are already in the pipeline and have an investment of more than Rs 200 crore. 

     

    The dead man, 38-year-old Noor Ullah Khan, was among five people who were run over in the incident. Late on the night of 28 September, 2002, Khan’s Toyota Land Cruiser hit the American Express bakery in the Bandra area of Mumbai.

     

    Khan was arrested on 28 September, 2002, and released the same day. He was charged under Section 304 (2) with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, a charge that was struck down by the Bombay High Court in 2003. This Bombay High Court order was set aside by the Supreme Court in 2003, paving the way for the case to being re-examined.

     

    Khan had sought to say his driver was behind the wheel, but Sessions Judge DW Deshpande said the actor was driving the car and was under the influence of alcohol at the time. 

     

    One of Bollywood’s busiest stars having appeared in more than 80 Hindi-language films, Khan’s jail sentence is bound to affect the film projects he was working in.

     

    Known for turning out at least one hit every year, Khan’s films like Dabangg, Ready, Bodyguard, Ek Tha Tiger, Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aap Ke Hain Kaun have been huge commercial hits.

     

    The prosecution alleged that Khan had been driving the car while drunk, both of which charges the actor denied in court in March. But many witnesses disagreed.

     

    A constable attached to Khan’s security detail had said in a statement to the police that the “drunk” actor had lost control of the car. The policeman died in 2007 of tuberculosis.

  • Jaitley stresses need to integrate communication across social media platforms

    Jaitley stresses need to integrate communication across social media platforms

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley today said the “Talkathon” serves as independent interview, which runs live on social media and taken up by all private channels as well.

     
    He added that it offered an opportunity to integrate communication across platforms as well as a direct interface with the audiences.

     
    Addressing a meeting of Consultative Committee of MPs attached to his Ministry to discuss the issue of “Harnessing role of Social Media,” he said the digital mode had become an effective medium to communicate to the wide audience while at the same time it offered opportunities to innovate.

     
    Referring to the Doordarshan (DD) app launched on 7 May, 2015, the Minister mentioned that this initiative provided an opportunity to address the needs of the audience, which followed the dissemination of information on the digital mode.

     
    Jaitley also said efforts would be made to popularize the digital mode of the 100 volumes of Mahatma Gandhi compiled by the Publications Division on the social media platforms of the Ministry. 

    At the meeting, which was also attended by Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore, a presentation was made by Secretary (I&B) Bimal Julka giving an overview of the steps and initiatives undertaken so far by the Ministry in harnessing the potential of the social media for disseminating the information relating to the important initiatives of the Government. 

    Members gave suggestions to enhance the reach of the Government coverage through All India Radio (AIR) and DD, especially in areas that required dissemination. It was emphasized that efforts needed to be taken to promote the reach of social media to those segments, which at times suffered due to lack of technological access. It was also suggested that measures need to be taken to facilitate information flow to the young target audience and institutions in rural areas. Members also suggested that content needed to be tailored consistently to address the information needs of the people. 

    Members who attended the meeting Dr. Jayakumar Jayavardhan, Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, Tapas Paul, V. Sathyabama, Anil Madhav Dave, Jaya Bachchan, Dr. K. Keshava Rao, Madhusudan Mistry, Neeraj Shekhar and Vivek Gupta.

  • Inter-Ministerial Task Force studying education in media related courses

    Inter-Ministerial Task Force studying education in media related courses

    NEW DELHI: An Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Education in Media related courses has been constituted by the Human Resource Development Ministry for the studying the feasibility of a communication university.

     

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore informed the Parliament that this force has representatives from the concerned Ministries and regulators as also persons of repute and eminence from the fields of cinema, TV, print media, theatre and performing arts.

     

    While there is no proposal at present to set up a communication university, he said that there has been a demand from certain sections of media that a communication university be set up to meet the growing demands of all types of communication systems. 

     

    In order to discuss the feasibility of setting up such type of institution along with its proposed structure and mechanism, the I&B Ministry has initiated the process to hold the consultations with various stakeholders.

  • MIB needs better planning to improve expenditure benchmark: Parliamentary Committee

    MIB needs better planning to improve expenditure benchmark: Parliamentary Committee

    NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) needs to have better planning for improving the benchmark of expenditure, a Parliamentary Committee has said.

     

    The comments of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, which also examines MIB, are based on the fact that the expenditure registered a little above 50 per cent at the Budgetary Estimates stage, that is, during the first two quarters of 2014-15.

     

    MIB’s budgetary allocation for 2015-16 is for a total amount of Rs 3711.11 crore, which includes Rs 914.53 crore for Plan and Rs 2796.58 crore for Non-Plan.

     

    The Committee noted that there was an overall increase in the size of the Budget by Rs 395.11 crore for the year 2015-16 crore compared to the budgetary support for the year 2014-15 at Budgetary Estimates stage.

     

    A look at the financial performance of the Ministry indicates that they have been able to achieve cent per cent utilization with respect to revised estimates allocations in the year 2014-15, which the Committee described as “a healthy trend.”

  • President urges film industry to look beyond markets & nurture human values

    President urges film industry to look beyond markets & nurture human values

    NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee has urged the film industry to look beyond markets and work together to help “nurture universal human values, which draw on our rich civilizational heritage that celebrates diversity and nurtures inclusiveness.”

     

    In this context, he quoted the late filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak and said ‘Cinema is no art for me. It is only a means to the end of serving my people.’

     

    The President was giving away the 62nd National Film Awards for 2014 at a function at Vigyan Bhavan yesterday.

     

    Mukherjee said the advent of digitisation and modern technologies “do not mean that we lose touch with the grass roots. Our content has to be our strength as it is entrenched sharply in our vibrant cultural milieu. Cinema in India crosses all boundaries of region, caste, creed and religion. It reflects the immense diversity of our nation, which is home to different cultures, religions and languages. It shows the confluence of modernity as well as tradition as well as our ancient past and billion aspirations for the future.”

     

    Mukherjee said cinema has been an integral part of Indian culture and entertainment from the days of Dadasaheb Phalke’s Raja Harish Chandra of 1913, the first film made in India. Indian cinema transcends national boundaries and is a powerful purveyor of ideas and values that impact the consciousness of millions of people. Indian movies not only showcase the multicultural diversity of the country but are also a tribute to its linguistic richness. They are a national treasure and our country’s “soft power” in the true sense of the term, forging international ties and navigating global horizons with ease.

     

    The Dadasaheb Phalke award to veteran Shashi Kapoor will be presented to him in a special function in Mumbai in view of his ill-health.

     

    Mukherji said, “We live in a rapidly changing world to which the film industry will have to adjust and adapt. Technology has brought down the costs of production and expanded the mechanisms of dissemination. Still cameras and cell phones that record video can be now edited on a home computer and uploaded on the net. Promotion and marketing of films have now taken on a new avatar with substantial marketing happening on social media – news of a good film now spreads quicker on twitter than by word of mouth. I also understand 2014 saw the launch of four film and entertainment focused investment funds.”

     

    He added that India is likely to soon embrace a completely digital ecosystem, which would help us connect with even larger numbers transcending geographical and cultural barriers. The President also urged the film industry to look beyond markets and work together to help nurture universal human values that draw on India’s rich civilizational heritage that celebrates diversity and nurtures inclusiveness. He congratulated all the Awardees for their contributions in various fields of cinema.

     

    The President said that the Government was taking a number of steps for strengthening and promoting Indian cinema and the film industry. The Government is planning to set up a National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Gaming, and Visual Effects. A National Film Heritage Mission is to be undertaken by the National Film Archives of India for conservation/preservation, restoration and digitization of films made in the country. The Government also proposes to set up a Film Facilitation Unit, which will act as a facilitation point for filmmakers and production houses from foreign countries to enable them come to India and shoot their films in India.”

     

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley said Indian cinema had come a long way since its birth over a century ago. It has forayed into new avenues and innovated both in form as well as content. The production of cinema in various languages and dialects has taken this art form into new areas-geographically as well as socially.

     

    He added that the changing social mores and aspirations also found its voice in this medium. The medium witnessed the triumph of the spirit of liberation and empowerment of women-centric themes on the Silver Screen. Social values have influenced our cinema and similarly our cinemas have had a great impact on our social values.

     

    The Minister said, “Cinema is also a component of India’s soft power abroad. We lead the world average in terms of number of movies produced each year. Indian movies have found increasing acceptance in the international fora. Government is committed to take all possible measures towards the overall growth of the film industry – towards its even spread across the country and not restricted to certain pockets. Keeping this approach in mind, Government is keen to set up a Film & Television Institute in the North Eastern Region for the benefit of the young creative minds from that region.”

     

    Jaitley said the saga of Indian cinema has been that of a spirit of entrepreneurship. Experimentation and innovation with new themes in form, content and technology have always been employed by creative movie makers of India. The times to come would witness disruption of familiar paradigm due to rapid strides in technology and its increasing presence in the space of our daily lives.

     

    In his welcome address, secretary Bimal Julka said the Ministry had taken several initiatives in the film sector aimed at protecting, restoring and preserving our invaluable film heritage using the best available technology. Julka also said that in addition to the innate creativity of the film professionals, the continued growth is being experienced in large measure due to increasing systematisation of production processes, wider releases across an increasing number of screens, particularly multiplexes, aggressive promotion, as well as speedy adoption of emerging digital technologies, he added.

     

    The highlight of the function was the live musical performance of Sukhwinder Singh and Uttara Unnikrishnan.

     

    A total of 45 Awards were given in the Feature film category and 21 in the non-Feature Film category. Three awards were given to Best Writing on Cinema.

     

    The Award for the Best Feature Film was given to Court (Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati & English) produced by Zoo Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and directed by Chaitanya Tamhane. Asha Jaoar Majhe (Bengali) directed by Aditya Vikram Sengupta and producer: F.O.R Films Pvt. Ltd. received the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director. The Award for the Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment was given to Mary Kom (Hindi) produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and directed by Omung Kumar.

     

    The Award for the Best Director has been conferred on Srijit Mukherji for the Film Chotushkone (Bengali). The Award for the Best Actor was conferred on Vijay for the film Nanu Avanalla Avalu (Kannada) and the Award for the Best Actress was conferred on Kangana Ranaut for the film, Queen (Hindi). The award for the Best Children’s Film was shared by Kaakkaa Muttai (Tamil) and Elizabeth Ekadashi (Marathi). Master J. Vignesh & master Ramesh shared the Award for Best Child Artist for Kaakkaa Muttai (Tamil).

     

    The Award for the Best Music direction (songs) was conferred on Vishal Bhardwaj for Haider (Hindi) and the award for the best music direction (Background Score) was given to Gopi Sunder for Nineteen Eighty Three (Malayalam). The award for the best lyrics was conferred on NA. Muthukumar for the song Azhagu from the film Saivam (Tamil). A special jury award has been conferred on Bhaurao Karhade for the film Khwada (Marathi). The award for the best choreography has been conferred on Sudesh Adhana for the film Haider (Hindi).

  • Home Cable penalized for showing Media Pro continent in non-DAS areas of NCR

    Home Cable penalized for showing Media Pro continent in non-DAS areas of NCR

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) has imposed a penalty of Rs 25 lakh on Home Cable for violating its order of not to transmit signals Media Pro Enterprises, especially those relating to Star Sports, outside the National Capital Region (NCR) territory of Delhi.

     

    After examining certain CDs and report submitted by the Broadcasting Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd, TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh also said it was recalling its earlier order of 20 December, 2013 and Media Pro would be free to disconnect its signals to Home Cable in accordance with law. 

     

    The Tribunal said it was a fit case to proceed against Home Cable for violation of the undertaking given by it before the tribunal and willful failure to comply with the order, this being a case of continuing contravention of the Tribunal order. 

     

    Home Cable had initially approached TDSAT aggrieved by the disconnection order by Media Pro of 9 December, 2013 issued under clause 6.1 of the DAS Regulations alleging Home Cable was illegally and unauthorisedly carrying the channels of the respondent in an unencrypted mode in the DAS notified areas of National Capital Territory of Delhi and in areas outside the NCT of Delhi by taking the feed from the DAS notified areas, which was in violation/ non-compliance of the terms of  the MoU dated 23 October, 2012 entered between the parties.
     

     

    The Tribunal had on 20 December, 2013 directed that in case Home Cable files an undertaking before the Tribunal that it will confine its operation strictly within the DAS notified areas of NCT of Delhi and shall do the transmission/ re-transmission in digital encrypted mode, Media Pro will not discontinue the supply of its channels to Home Cable network in pursuance of the impugned Notice. It was made clear in the order that any violation of the undertaking shall make the petition liable to dismissal.

     

    It was alleged in the application by Media Pro that for the past one year or so, Home Cable had illegally been providing Media Pro’s content in brazen breach of the aforesaid undertaking. In this regard, Media Pro addressed letters in February this year to the District Collector, Gurgaon, and SSP, Gurgaon for the purpose of registration of FIRs. It was submitted on behalf of Media Pro that Home Cable was providing the content – Star Plus, Star Gold, Star Sports 4 and Star Sports 3 in Gurgaon through Sun Direct DTH boxes. The water marks clearly and conspicuously show Media Pro’s logo as well as that of Sun Direct on the screen.

     

    The BECIL report conclusively established that the system does not comply with the security provisions mandated  by the Regulations, the Tribunal said.