ITV

Category: Terrestrial

  • Three television channels renew licences on Freedish in e-auction

    Three television channels renew licences on Freedish in e-auction

    NEW DELHI: Even as three television channels renewed their licences to remain on the country’s only free to air direct to home platform DD Freedish, the price went up to Rs 5.2 crore in the e-auction held yesterday.

    Interestingly, the 30th Auction was held on 15 September, which also coincides with the day when Doordarshan first started beaming in the year 1959.

    A DD source told indiantelevision.com that although the reserve price was Rs 4.3 crore, one of the three channels had bid Rs 5.2 crore.

    The three channels are IBN 7, WoW Cinema, and Bholjpuri Cinema.

    The slots were falling vacant as license period of three three TV channels on the platform was or had expired.

    Freedish has not raised its reserve price. The reserve price had been Rs 3.7 crore till last year but was raised to its present level for the 25th e-auction in January.

    The platform at present has space for eighty channels including its own channels and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV along with 24 All India Radio channels.

    These sources told indiantelevision.com that Freedish is being encrypted through Indian Conditional Addressable System (iCAS) to keep a tab on the number of subscribers, but it would remain free-to-air.

    The e-Auction will be conducted by M/s. C1 India Pvt. Ltd., Noida which also conducted the first stage of the FM Radio Phase III auctions on behalf of Prasar Bharati.

  • On DD’s b’day, Naidu lauds it for information empowerment

    On DD’s b’day, Naidu lauds it for information empowerment

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venakaiah Naidu said on Thursday that Doordarshan had truly lived up to its credo of being a public service broadcaster — not caring for competition and sticking to its mandate.

    He also said the DD News remains the most credible news TV channel in the country giving news that were in-depth and complete in every way and that the organisation had resulted in creating information empowerment by spreading information of government programmes.

    Speaking at a cultural programme held in the Doordarshan premises to mark the birthday or foundation day of DD, he said it had a national reach and also a reputation that was far above the private channels’.

    The Minister said the programmes telecast by Doordarshan had kept alive the arts and culture of the country through its vast archives and encouragement to classical artistes.

    In recorded messages, both Minister of State for I and B Rajyavardhan Rathore and Prasar Bharati board chairman Surya Prakash conveyed their gratitude to the millions of people who had always given encouragement to the presenters. Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar said DD ran 16 regional stations, had seven national level channels, and several other channels apart from beaming for overseas Indians.

    MIB Minister exhorts journalism students to stay true to profession

    Meanwhile, on a busy day at another event, Naidu said communicators should stay away from sensationalism and present facts as they existed without any biases.

    Addressing students of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) during the 49th convocation, he urged them to preserve age-old values and culture while reporting and use information to fight social evils such as corruption, poverty and illiteracy.

    While referring to the corrupt practice of paid news, the Minister urged them to not succumb to such unethical pressures and that they should maintain high standards of journalism as true soldiers of fourth estate.

    He said the process of converting IIMC into a university was under way and it would have a platform to start many innovative programmes that would aim at providing wider perspective and inter-disciplinary approach to media education. It would also provide the institute with requisite resources to meet the growing demand of manpower in the industry and academia.

    Emphasizing on the increasing role of social and digital media in communications domain, Naidu said social media had changed the way the communication flows. Millions of people across cultures and geographies are interacting in real time turning the world virtually into a ‘global village’.

    He further added that digital media had brought in immense opportunities and challenges because information was shared in real time which generated instant feedback and response.

     

  • On DD’s b’day, Naidu lauds it for information empowerment

    On DD’s b’day, Naidu lauds it for information empowerment

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venakaiah Naidu said on Thursday that Doordarshan had truly lived up to its credo of being a public service broadcaster — not caring for competition and sticking to its mandate.

    He also said the DD News remains the most credible news TV channel in the country giving news that were in-depth and complete in every way and that the organisation had resulted in creating information empowerment by spreading information of government programmes.

    Speaking at a cultural programme held in the Doordarshan premises to mark the birthday or foundation day of DD, he said it had a national reach and also a reputation that was far above the private channels’.

    The Minister said the programmes telecast by Doordarshan had kept alive the arts and culture of the country through its vast archives and encouragement to classical artistes.

    In recorded messages, both Minister of State for I and B Rajyavardhan Rathore and Prasar Bharati board chairman Surya Prakash conveyed their gratitude to the millions of people who had always given encouragement to the presenters. Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar said DD ran 16 regional stations, had seven national level channels, and several other channels apart from beaming for overseas Indians.

    MIB Minister exhorts journalism students to stay true to profession

    Meanwhile, on a busy day at another event, Naidu said communicators should stay away from sensationalism and present facts as they existed without any biases.

    Addressing students of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) during the 49th convocation, he urged them to preserve age-old values and culture while reporting and use information to fight social evils such as corruption, poverty and illiteracy.

    While referring to the corrupt practice of paid news, the Minister urged them to not succumb to such unethical pressures and that they should maintain high standards of journalism as true soldiers of fourth estate.

    He said the process of converting IIMC into a university was under way and it would have a platform to start many innovative programmes that would aim at providing wider perspective and inter-disciplinary approach to media education. It would also provide the institute with requisite resources to meet the growing demand of manpower in the industry and academia.

    Emphasizing on the increasing role of social and digital media in communications domain, Naidu said social media had changed the way the communication flows. Millions of people across cultures and geographies are interacting in real time turning the world virtually into a ‘global village’.

    He further added that digital media had brought in immense opportunities and challenges because information was shared in real time which generated instant feedback and response.

     

  • DD allocates sum of Rs 11.22 crore for north east states during 2016-17

    DD allocates sum of Rs 11.22 crore for north east states during 2016-17

    NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressing greater concentration on helping the northeastern states, Doordarshan has sanctioned a sum of Rs 11.22 crore this month for the year 2016-17 for twelve kendras in north east India.

    The amount has been given from the reserve fund of DD’s IEBR (internal extra-budgetary resources), according to a directive issued by the DD Directorate on 1 September 2016.

    All the kendras have been instructed by the Directorate to keep the expenditure within the limits set for the year and send a Monthly Expenditure Statement by the fifth of the next month.

    The Kendras are Aizwal, Agartala, Dibrugarh, Gangtok, Guwahati, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohim, Shillong, Silchar,.Tura and the Programme Production Centre in Guwahati.

    Despite announcements to the contrary, there was only a marginal increase in the budget ananoucement for Information and Broadcasting Ministry in February this year in the lump sum provision for projects/schemes for development of North-eastern areas including Sikkim to Rs 80 crore against Rs 75 crore last year

  • DD allocates sum of Rs 11.22 crore for north east states during 2016-17

    DD allocates sum of Rs 11.22 crore for north east states during 2016-17

    NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressing greater concentration on helping the northeastern states, Doordarshan has sanctioned a sum of Rs 11.22 crore this month for the year 2016-17 for twelve kendras in north east India.

    The amount has been given from the reserve fund of DD’s IEBR (internal extra-budgetary resources), according to a directive issued by the DD Directorate on 1 September 2016.

    All the kendras have been instructed by the Directorate to keep the expenditure within the limits set for the year and send a Monthly Expenditure Statement by the fifth of the next month.

    The Kendras are Aizwal, Agartala, Dibrugarh, Gangtok, Guwahati, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohim, Shillong, Silchar,.Tura and the Programme Production Centre in Guwahati.

    Despite announcements to the contrary, there was only a marginal increase in the budget ananoucement for Information and Broadcasting Ministry in February this year in the lump sum provision for projects/schemes for development of North-eastern areas including Sikkim to Rs 80 crore against Rs 75 crore last year

  • DD sets up ‘War Room’ to revitalise programming & revenues

    DD sets up ‘War Room’ to revitalise programming & revenues

    NEW DELHI: Fazed by stagnant viewership and battling a “negative perception”, Doordarshan has set up a strategy ‘War Room’ to look into re-vitalising the pubcaster’s marketing and content acquisition processes with an overall aim to enhance revenues.

    The crisis management group, set up under the overall stewardship of DD Director-General Supriya Sahu, is mandated to suggest ways to attract and invite fresh talent for various DD channels in view of depleting manpower, new marketing and programming strategies and shore up the bottomlines via innovative marketing.

    Elaborating on the need for a crisis management group, the DG said in an office order: “Dive deep into the issues that are adversely impacting our performance and devise a strategy to re-position ourselves… (hence) it is proposed to set up a strategy ‘War Room’ in the office of Director-General.”

    According to Sahu, who has taken over the new role at DD few months back after having done a fruitful stint at Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), the `War Room’ will study rules and regulations for in-house production and suggest measures to modify them to  improve programming for DD National and regional channels.

    The office order doesn’t mince words when it goes on to add that new programming strategy should look at revamping how programmes and films are acquired for DD channels— especially for the auction slots — and suggest credible methods to improve viewership (audience measurement) and enhance revenues. 

    In addition, this group is to deliberate on present marketing initiatives of DD, which experts feel are out-dated, and devise new strategies to revitalise it, apart from suggesting innovative ways to pool resources and synergise efforts for maximising DD’s impact. 

    Sahu has made it clear that since there cannot be a one-shoe-fits-all approach, the `War Room’ has to come up with programming and marketing strategies that is specific to each channel like DD National, DD  Kisan, DD  Bharati, DD  India (the international channel), DD Urdu, DD Kashir and DD Sports.

    Dwelling on the negative perception relating to the overall functioning of DD, especially content acquisition policies and marketing processes, Sahu said in the office order, “We need to change this perception. This would happen through a very strategic thinking, planning, implementation & initiation.”

    The `War Room’ would end its work later this month when it is expected to submit a report on ways to reboot DD, which, hopefully, would also resonate with parent Prasar Bharati’s bosses.
    Headed by Deputy Director of Programmes G Sajan, the other members of this group include P.K. Srivastava, PEX, DDK-Raipur; Sandeep Sood, ADP, DDK-Pune; Anurag Darshan, Programme Executive (PEX) DD National; Abhishek Dubey, Advisor DD Sports; Ms. Soma Bose, Consultant, Films Division; Sanjeev Rai, Production Assistant, DD Urdu; Tathagat, Creative Editor, DD Bharati; Karmdeep, Senior Content Manager, DD Sports; Birupakhya Goutom Phukan, Senior Programmer and Arjun  Mehto, Senior Content Manager.

    ALSO READ:

    Prasar Bharati’s monopolistic-era mind-set has to change: CEO Jawhar Sircar

  • DD sets up ‘War Room’ to revitalise programming & revenues

    DD sets up ‘War Room’ to revitalise programming & revenues

    NEW DELHI: Fazed by stagnant viewership and battling a “negative perception”, Doordarshan has set up a strategy ‘War Room’ to look into re-vitalising the pubcaster’s marketing and content acquisition processes with an overall aim to enhance revenues.

    The crisis management group, set up under the overall stewardship of DD Director-General Supriya Sahu, is mandated to suggest ways to attract and invite fresh talent for various DD channels in view of depleting manpower, new marketing and programming strategies and shore up the bottomlines via innovative marketing.

    Elaborating on the need for a crisis management group, the DG said in an office order: “Dive deep into the issues that are adversely impacting our performance and devise a strategy to re-position ourselves… (hence) it is proposed to set up a strategy ‘War Room’ in the office of Director-General.”

    According to Sahu, who has taken over the new role at DD few months back after having done a fruitful stint at Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), the `War Room’ will study rules and regulations for in-house production and suggest measures to modify them to  improve programming for DD National and regional channels.

    The office order doesn’t mince words when it goes on to add that new programming strategy should look at revamping how programmes and films are acquired for DD channels— especially for the auction slots — and suggest credible methods to improve viewership (audience measurement) and enhance revenues. 

    In addition, this group is to deliberate on present marketing initiatives of DD, which experts feel are out-dated, and devise new strategies to revitalise it, apart from suggesting innovative ways to pool resources and synergise efforts for maximising DD’s impact. 

    Sahu has made it clear that since there cannot be a one-shoe-fits-all approach, the `War Room’ has to come up with programming and marketing strategies that is specific to each channel like DD National, DD  Kisan, DD  Bharati, DD  India (the international channel), DD Urdu, DD Kashir and DD Sports.

    Dwelling on the negative perception relating to the overall functioning of DD, especially content acquisition policies and marketing processes, Sahu said in the office order, “We need to change this perception. This would happen through a very strategic thinking, planning, implementation & initiation.”

    The `War Room’ would end its work later this month when it is expected to submit a report on ways to reboot DD, which, hopefully, would also resonate with parent Prasar Bharati’s bosses.
    Headed by Deputy Director of Programmes G Sajan, the other members of this group include P.K. Srivastava, PEX, DDK-Raipur; Sandeep Sood, ADP, DDK-Pune; Anurag Darshan, Programme Executive (PEX) DD National; Abhishek Dubey, Advisor DD Sports; Ms. Soma Bose, Consultant, Films Division; Sanjeev Rai, Production Assistant, DD Urdu; Tathagat, Creative Editor, DD Bharati; Karmdeep, Senior Content Manager, DD Sports; Birupakhya Goutom Phukan, Senior Programmer and Arjun  Mehto, Senior Content Manager.

    ALSO READ:

    Prasar Bharati’s monopolistic-era mind-set has to change: CEO Jawhar Sircar

  • PM urges TV Channels to aid Swachh Bharat programme, Big B in new promo

    PM urges TV Channels to aid Swachh Bharat programme, Big B in new promo

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister today urged television channels to participate pro-actively in the Swachh Bharat programme as creativity may lead to new ideas and new slogans which can inspire people.

    Referring to the Short Films Competition on the theme “Swachh Bharat” announced recently by the Government, he said during his monthly ‘Monthly ki Baat’ on All India Radio that filmmakers no longer needed large studios or sets to shoot a film, and this could be done even on a mobile phone.

    He said the winning entries will be announced in a special felicitation programme to be held in New Delhi on 2 October 2016 which also marks Gandhi Jayanti.

    Entries have been invited by the National Film Development Corporation on behalf of Information & Broadcasting Ministry by 10 September 2016.

    The film can be made in Hindi, English or any of the listed official languages of India.
    The Best Film will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a certificate. Three Second Best Films will be awarded Rs 5 lakh each and six Third Best Films will be awarded Rs 2 lakh each.

    Meanwhile, the NFDC today aired a commercial on Doordarshan where megastar Amitabh Bachchan urged young filmmakers to participate enthusiastically in the Festival. In his characteristic touch of humour, he said he hoped he would be able to go to one of the filmmakers one day to seek a role for himself.

    To participate in the competition, interested applicants can log onto www.nfdcindia.com or write to sbsff@nfdcindia.com

  • PM urges TV Channels to aid Swachh Bharat programme, Big B in new promo

    PM urges TV Channels to aid Swachh Bharat programme, Big B in new promo

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister today urged television channels to participate pro-actively in the Swachh Bharat programme as creativity may lead to new ideas and new slogans which can inspire people.

    Referring to the Short Films Competition on the theme “Swachh Bharat” announced recently by the Government, he said during his monthly ‘Monthly ki Baat’ on All India Radio that filmmakers no longer needed large studios or sets to shoot a film, and this could be done even on a mobile phone.

    He said the winning entries will be announced in a special felicitation programme to be held in New Delhi on 2 October 2016 which also marks Gandhi Jayanti.

    Entries have been invited by the National Film Development Corporation on behalf of Information & Broadcasting Ministry by 10 September 2016.

    The film can be made in Hindi, English or any of the listed official languages of India.
    The Best Film will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a certificate. Three Second Best Films will be awarded Rs 5 lakh each and six Third Best Films will be awarded Rs 2 lakh each.

    Meanwhile, the NFDC today aired a commercial on Doordarshan where megastar Amitabh Bachchan urged young filmmakers to participate enthusiastically in the Festival. In his characteristic touch of humour, he said he hoped he would be able to go to one of the filmmakers one day to seek a role for himself.

    To participate in the competition, interested applicants can log onto www.nfdcindia.com or write to sbsff@nfdcindia.com

  • Freedish slot e-auction on 15 Sept, reserve price Rs 4.3 cr

    Freedish slot e-auction on 15 Sept, reserve price Rs 4.3 cr

    NEW DELHI: The country’s only free-to-air direct-to-home platform Freedish has slated its 30th auction for 15 September, which also coincides with the day Doordarshan first started beaming in 1959.

    A DD announcement stated the auction is for ‘vacant DTH slot’ indicating only one slot, but went on to say that the reserve price per slot is Rs 4.3 crore, thus indicating there may be more. The slots have fallen vacant as the license period of one or more of the 80 TV channels on the platform have expired.

    Freedish had plans to add 24 new channels, increasing the number from 80 to 104 by September 2016.

    Freedish has not raised its reserve price, although the price for one channel went up to Rs 5.3 crore in the last auction when eight channels bid successfully. The reserve price had been Rs 3.7 crore till last year but was raised to its present level for the 25th e-auction in January.

    9X Jalwa Hindi music channel, Premiere Cinema and Sony Wah movie channels and Vision Shiksha educational channel was made available on Freedish after 30 May auction. The platform has space for 80 channels altogether including its own channels and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV along with 24 All India Radio channels.

    Sources told indiantelevision.com that Freedish is being encrypted through Indian Conditional Addressable System (iCAS) to keep a tab on the number of subscribers, but it would remain free-to-air. The e-auction will be conducted by M/s.C1 India Pvt. Ltd., Noida, which also conducted the first stage of the FM Radio Phase III auctions on behalf of Prasar Bharati. The eligibility terms and conditions and other relevant details for this e-auction have been displayed on the DD website: www.ddindia.gov.in.

    The participation amount (EMD) in the e-auction is Rs.1.5 crore which needs be deposited in advance before or by 12 noon on 15 September along with the processing fee of Rs.10,000 (non-refundable) in favour of PB (BCI) Doordarshan Commercial Service, New Delhi.

    Incremental amount for the auction will be Rs 10 lakh and the time for every e-auction slot will be of 15 minutes. This may be extended by five minutes if a bid is received just before the closing time. Of the reserve price, Rs 1.1 crore will be deposited within a month of placement and another Rs 1.1 crore within two months along with service tax of 14.5 per cent on the bid amount.

    The balance bid amount needs to be deposited within six months, failing which the deposited amount would be forfeited and the channel discontinued after a 21-day discontinuation notice.

    Channels already on Freedish are news channels such as Aaj Tak, News 24 and ABP News, and entertainment channels such as Star Utsav, Viacom18’s Rishtey and Rishtey Cineplex, and Sony Pal.