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Tag: ALTT

  • Govt cracks down on ‘obscene’ OTTs, blocks 25 sites under IT Act

    Govt cracks down on ‘obscene’ OTTs, blocks 25 sites under IT Act

    MUMBAI: The Indian government has turned up the heat on shady OTT platforms. In a sweeping regulatory crackdown, the ministry of information & broadcasting (MIB) has ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to 25 websites accused of hosting unlawful and “obscene” content, invoking multiple sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and allied rules.

    The directive, signed by the ministry’s joint secretary and authorised officer acting as nodal officer under digital media law, targets platforms such as Ullu, Altt, Big Shots, MoodX, Mojflix, Hulchul, and Desiflix — notorious for pushing the boundaries of online content. The move expands last year’s clampdown on what the government termed “indecent representation of women” and content harmful to public decency and morality.

    The notification reminds intermediaries that under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, they lose their safe harbour protections if they fail to act swiftly on government orders. Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, further bars platforms from hosting anything that undermines India’s sovereignty, public order, or morality. Non-compliance, as per Rule 7, invites prosecution under prevailing laws.

    The list of banned apps and sites reads like a roll-call of India’s risqué OTT underbelly: Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Kangan App, Bull App, Feneo, ShowX, HotX VIP, NeonX VIP, Triflicks and more.

    The government cited violations of Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act (which deal with electronic transmission of obscene material), Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (obscene acts and songs), and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

    The MIB has also asked the department of telecommunications (DoT) to ensure ISPs comply. The move is being positioned as part of India’s broader push to clean up its digital content ecosystem and hold digital intermediaries accountable.

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  • Balaji Telefilms merger proposal for ALT Digital and Marinating Films with itself gets NCLT sanction

    Balaji Telefilms merger proposal for ALT Digital and Marinating Films with itself gets NCLT sanction

    MUMBAI:  Balaji Telefilms has received the green light from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai, for its Composite Scheme of Arrangement that merges its wholly owned subsidiaries — Alt Digital Media Entertainment and Marinating Films — into the parent company. The appointed date for the merger has been set as 1 April 2024.

    The scheme, sanctioned under sections 230–232 of the Companies Act, aims to simplify the group structure, slash redundancies, and boost operating efficiency across its content empire — from streaming platform ALTT to reality show production and IP development.

    According to the tribunal’s order, the merged entity will benefit from economies of scale, unified cash flow management, and enhanced resource optimisation — all under the Balaji banner, which is already listed on NSE and BSE. No shares will be issued, given the transferor companies are fully owned by the transferee.
    The consolidation brings together:

    * Alt Digital, home to subscription-based OTT content under the ALTT brand;
    * Marinating Films, known for unscripted and event IP;
    * and Balaji Telefilms, India’s leading producer of Hindi and regional TV content.

    The merger was approved by shareholders at an April 2025 meeting and has cleared all statutory hurdles, including SEBI, BSE, NSE and tax authorities. The company has also settled creditor objections and responded to pending GST disputes, with all liabilities transferring to Balaji Telefilms post-merger.

    In short, Balaji is scripting a cleaner, leaner, and meaner future — bringing its IP under one tent to better play the platform and profit game. The final step? Filing the certified order with the Registrar of Companies, which will trigger the scheme’s effective date.

    More drama, less duplication — just the way Ekta Kapoor likes it.