ITV

Tag: Cable Television Networks

  • Open House on Interconnect agreements aims at expediting framework

    Open House on Interconnect agreements aims at expediting framework

    NEW DELHI: Picking up momentum even as the deadline for the final phase of digital addressable system is less than six month away, an Open House discussion is being held on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s consultation paper on Interconnection framework for Broadcasting TV Services distributed through DAS.

    This meeting, being held in Delhi on 13 July, comes just over a month after an earlier meeting on Register of Interconnection Agreements dated26May, which had thrown up diverse opinions and led to extension of the date for receiving comments of stakeholders to 10 June on its Consultation Paper.

    In the paper issued on 4 May on Interconnection framework for Broadcasting TV Services, TRAI noted that the exceptional growth of the number of TV channels combined with the inherent limitations of analogue cable TV systems had posed several challenges, mainly due to capacity constraints and non-addressable nature of the network. The evolution of technology paved way for bringing about digitization with addressability in the cable TV sector. For implementation of digital addressable systems in the cable TV sector, the Central Government notified the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules 2012 on 28 April 2012. Immediately after the notification of the Cable TV Rules 2012, the Authority notified the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012 on 30th April 2012.

    These regulations are specifically applicable for DAS whereas the Interconnection Regulations 2004 were applicable for non-addressable cable TV systems and also for other addressable systems such as DTH, HITS and IPTV. The basic features of the Interconnection Regulations 2012 are similar to the basic features of the Interconnection Regulations 2004.

    With implementations of DAS, there has been a marked increase in the number of subscribers receiving TV channels through addressable platforms. The number of subscribers being served by the DTH services has also gone up significantly. HITS platforms are also expected to make fast penetration in making available digital broadcasting TV services in the country. Now majority of the subscribers in India are receiving TV signals through digital addressable systems.

    TRAI said the interconnection regulations ought to evolve to keep pace with new developments in the sector, while sustaining the fundamental underlying principles of non-discrimination and level playing field. The commercial parameters for revenue share between service providers primarily depend upon the number of subscribers subscribing to channels/ bouquets. The numbers of subscribers in each type of addressable platform are verifiable. To ensure non-discrimination and level playing field amongst the distributors using different digital addressable systems such as DTH, IPTV, HITS, and DAS, it would be in the fitness of things that all these service providers are regulated using the common regulatory framework.

    Therefore, the consultation paper was aimed at providing a regulatory framework for interconnection that ensures a level playing field to all types of DAS systems. The consultation paper also discussed issues that the Authority noticed and plausible ways of dealing with those issues in respect of digital addressable systems. The review of the existing regulatory framework is being done with the objective of fostering competition, increase trust amongst service providers, ease of doing business, reduce disputes, improve transparency and efficiency, promote sustainable, orderly growth and effective choice to consumers.

  • Open House on Interconnect agreements aims at expediting framework

    Open House on Interconnect agreements aims at expediting framework

    NEW DELHI: Picking up momentum even as the deadline for the final phase of digital addressable system is less than six month away, an Open House discussion is being held on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s consultation paper on Interconnection framework for Broadcasting TV Services distributed through DAS.

    This meeting, being held in Delhi on 13 July, comes just over a month after an earlier meeting on Register of Interconnection Agreements dated26May, which had thrown up diverse opinions and led to extension of the date for receiving comments of stakeholders to 10 June on its Consultation Paper.

    In the paper issued on 4 May on Interconnection framework for Broadcasting TV Services, TRAI noted that the exceptional growth of the number of TV channels combined with the inherent limitations of analogue cable TV systems had posed several challenges, mainly due to capacity constraints and non-addressable nature of the network. The evolution of technology paved way for bringing about digitization with addressability in the cable TV sector. For implementation of digital addressable systems in the cable TV sector, the Central Government notified the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules 2012 on 28 April 2012. Immediately after the notification of the Cable TV Rules 2012, the Authority notified the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012 on 30th April 2012.

    These regulations are specifically applicable for DAS whereas the Interconnection Regulations 2004 were applicable for non-addressable cable TV systems and also for other addressable systems such as DTH, HITS and IPTV. The basic features of the Interconnection Regulations 2012 are similar to the basic features of the Interconnection Regulations 2004.

    With implementations of DAS, there has been a marked increase in the number of subscribers receiving TV channels through addressable platforms. The number of subscribers being served by the DTH services has also gone up significantly. HITS platforms are also expected to make fast penetration in making available digital broadcasting TV services in the country. Now majority of the subscribers in India are receiving TV signals through digital addressable systems.

    TRAI said the interconnection regulations ought to evolve to keep pace with new developments in the sector, while sustaining the fundamental underlying principles of non-discrimination and level playing field. The commercial parameters for revenue share between service providers primarily depend upon the number of subscribers subscribing to channels/ bouquets. The numbers of subscribers in each type of addressable platform are verifiable. To ensure non-discrimination and level playing field amongst the distributors using different digital addressable systems such as DTH, IPTV, HITS, and DAS, it would be in the fitness of things that all these service providers are regulated using the common regulatory framework.

    Therefore, the consultation paper was aimed at providing a regulatory framework for interconnection that ensures a level playing field to all types of DAS systems. The consultation paper also discussed issues that the Authority noticed and plausible ways of dealing with those issues in respect of digital addressable systems. The review of the existing regulatory framework is being done with the objective of fostering competition, increase trust amongst service providers, ease of doing business, reduce disputes, improve transparency and efficiency, promote sustainable, orderly growth and effective choice to consumers.

  • 75 violation cases by TV channels in 3 years; Rs 90 crore to prop monitoring: Jaitley

    75 violation cases by TV channels in 3 years; Rs 90 crore to prop monitoring: Jaitley

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley has denied that there is any proposal is under consideration for setting up a separate mechanism for censorshjip of television programmes on the lines of the Central Board of Film Certification.

    While stressing that the present mechanisms within the ministry are adequate deal with television channels, he said that action had been taken against television channels in 75 cases of violation of programme or Advertisement Codes from 2013 to 2015. He said no action had been initiated against any channels during 2016.

    He said the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 under which the programmes telecast on private satellite TV channels are regulated does not provide for pre-censorship of content broadcast on TV channels. The Act and the rules of 1994 provide for a Programme Code.

    All programmes and advertisements telecast on TV channels are required to be in conformity with the prescribed Programme Code and Advertising Code available on ministry’s website www.mib.nic.in.

    These codes contain a whole range of principles to be followed by the TV channels for all kinds of programmes including reality shows. Action is taken whenever violation of these codes is brought to the notice of the ministry.

    The I and B ministry set up a state-of-art Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) in 2008 to look over the content telecast on 50 private satellite television channels on a 24×7 basis. This was gradually increased to 100 and then to 300.

    Under the 12th plan (2012-2017), a plan scheme “Strengthening of EMMC” has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 90 crores to increase the monitoring capacity to 1500 TV channels by the end of Plan period. Accordingly, EMMC is presently monitoring 600 TV channels while work is on to increase the capacity further to 900 TV channels shortly.

    The Iand B ministry had constituted an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) to regulate content on satellite TV channels on 25 April and amended it in 2011 to include a representative from the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry to accord focused attention to consumer related issues. It is headed by the Additional Secretary in the I and B with seven representatives of different ministries as well as a nominee of the Advertising Standards Council of India. The Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) is the Member Convener

  • 75 violation cases by TV channels in 3 years; Rs 90 crore to prop monitoring: Jaitley

    75 violation cases by TV channels in 3 years; Rs 90 crore to prop monitoring: Jaitley

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley has denied that there is any proposal is under consideration for setting up a separate mechanism for censorshjip of television programmes on the lines of the Central Board of Film Certification.

    While stressing that the present mechanisms within the ministry are adequate deal with television channels, he said that action had been taken against television channels in 75 cases of violation of programme or Advertisement Codes from 2013 to 2015. He said no action had been initiated against any channels during 2016.

    He said the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 under which the programmes telecast on private satellite TV channels are regulated does not provide for pre-censorship of content broadcast on TV channels. The Act and the rules of 1994 provide for a Programme Code.

    All programmes and advertisements telecast on TV channels are required to be in conformity with the prescribed Programme Code and Advertising Code available on ministry’s website www.mib.nic.in.

    These codes contain a whole range of principles to be followed by the TV channels for all kinds of programmes including reality shows. Action is taken whenever violation of these codes is brought to the notice of the ministry.

    The I and B ministry set up a state-of-art Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) in 2008 to look over the content telecast on 50 private satellite television channels on a 24×7 basis. This was gradually increased to 100 and then to 300.

    Under the 12th plan (2012-2017), a plan scheme “Strengthening of EMMC” has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 90 crores to increase the monitoring capacity to 1500 TV channels by the end of Plan period. Accordingly, EMMC is presently monitoring 600 TV channels while work is on to increase the capacity further to 900 TV channels shortly.

    The Iand B ministry had constituted an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) to regulate content on satellite TV channels on 25 April and amended it in 2011 to include a representative from the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry to accord focused attention to consumer related issues. It is headed by the Additional Secretary in the I and B with seven representatives of different ministries as well as a nominee of the Advertising Standards Council of India. The Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) is the Member Convener

  • As DAS deadline approaches, Additional District Magistrates empowered to act under Cable TV Act

    As DAS deadline approaches, Additional District Magistrates empowered to act under Cable TV Act

    New Delhi: Even as the country marches towards total cable television digitization, Additional District Magistrates have been designated as authorised officers to exercise the powers conferred upon them under the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.

    The powers are to be exercised ‘within the local limits of their jurisdiction’.The Information and Broadcasting Ministry issued a gazette notification on 7 March to this effect.

    The notification says that the Central Government has issued the orders “in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of section 2 of the Act”. However, the powers given to the ADMs will not apply to Section Five relating to the Programme Code and Section Six relating to the Advertising Code.

    Complaints relating to the Programme and Advertising Code are generally handled by the inter-ministerial committee or the self-regulatory bodies of the News Broadcasting Association, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, and the Advertising Standards Council of India.

     

  • As DAS deadline approaches, Additional District Magistrates empowered to act under Cable TV Act

    As DAS deadline approaches, Additional District Magistrates empowered to act under Cable TV Act

    New Delhi: Even as the country marches towards total cable television digitization, Additional District Magistrates have been designated as authorised officers to exercise the powers conferred upon them under the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.

    The powers are to be exercised ‘within the local limits of their jurisdiction’.The Information and Broadcasting Ministry issued a gazette notification on 7 March to this effect.

    The notification says that the Central Government has issued the orders “in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of section 2 of the Act”. However, the powers given to the ADMs will not apply to Section Five relating to the Programme Code and Section Six relating to the Advertising Code.

    Complaints relating to the Programme and Advertising Code are generally handled by the inter-ministerial committee or the self-regulatory bodies of the News Broadcasting Association, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, and the Advertising Standards Council of India.

     

  • MIB asks stakeholders for details of DAS public awareness campaigns

    MIB asks stakeholders for details of DAS public awareness campaigns

    NEW DELHI: All broadcasters, multi system operators (MSOs) and cable operators have been asked by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to send details of the public awareness campaign being carried out by them about the third phase of digital addressable system (DAS) and the need for having a set top box (STB) in every television home.

     

    The stakeholders have been asked by MIB Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) R Jaya to send this information within 15 days along with documentary proof.

     

    Stressing that every TV home has to have an STB, she said it was essential that MSOs and cable operators carry only digital encrypted signals after 31 December this year.

     

    At the outset, she said that since the cut-off date was very near, it was presumed that broadcasters, MSOs and LCOs had already done their bit.

     

    Under Section 44 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and the Rules framed there-under, the centre had notified phased implementation of DAS in the country by the cable operators.

     

    Phases I and ll of cable digitisation had been completed and Phase lll of digitisation, which will cover all the remaining urban areas in the country was scheduled for completion by 31 December this year, while rural areas would be covered in phase lV to be completed by 31 December, 2016.

     

    Jaya said that the public must be aware that they require a STB before the cutoff date and drew attention to the provision under Rule 12 of the Rules, which states, “Every Broadcaster, MSO and LCO shall create public awareness among, and provide information to, the subscribers in the notified areas from a period at least thirty days prior to the date such areas are notified either through advertisements in the print and electronic media or through such other means including leaflets, printing on the reverse of website, the receipts, personal visits, group meetings with subscribers or consumer groups. This should contain the salient features of DAS.”

  • Govt. warns news channels against live coverage even as Gurdaspur anti-terrorist operations on

    Govt. warns news channels against live coverage even as Gurdaspur anti-terrorist operations on

    NEW DELHI: The Government today barred the media from covering the ongoing anti-terrorist operations in Gurdaspur in Punjab and said coverage will be restricted to periodic briefing by an officer designated by the appropriate government till such operation concludes.

     

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry made it clear that ‘no programme shall be carried in the cable service, which contains live coverage of any anti-terrorist operation by security forces.’

     

    Coming shortly on the heels of the Home Ministry directive about media covering only official briefings, the I&B Ministry said it had notified the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules 2015 in this regard.

     

    The Ministry asked news and current affairs TV channels to stop carrying telecast of these operations without restricting themselves to periodic briefing by an officer designated by the appropriate Government, though the operations had not been concluded.

     

    Such telecast is in clear violation of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules 201 5, and is therefore liable for action thereunder and so these channels have been advised to desist from further violation of the rules with immediate effect.

  • Govt does not have details of revenue generated by sale of CAS, DAS: Rathore

    Govt does not have details of revenue generated by sale of CAS, DAS: Rathore

    NEW DELHI: The Government has said that there was no provision under the present digital addressable system regulations or the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 for any assistance or relief to cable TV subscribers to buy set top boxes (STBs).

     
    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has told the Parliament that the Ministry had assessed the requirement of STBs to be installed at the customer premises, based on Population Census 2011.

     
    Thus, a total of 140 million STBs were required to implement cable TV digitisation in the country. Out of this, 30 million STBs had already been installed under phase I and phase II and the balance 110 million are required to be installed in the remaining two phases which are under implementation.

     
    He said the Ministry does not make any assessment with regard to quantum of revenue generation arising out of sale of CAS and DAS.

     
    He said according to a notification issued on 11 November 2011 issued by the Ministry, digitisation of cable TV in India is to be completed in four phases. Phase I and phase-II of digitisation have already been completed.

     
    Phase III is to be completed by 31 December 2015 whereas phase IV is to be completed by 31 December 2016.

     

  • MIB issues advisory to Colors for ‘Bigg Boss 7’

    MIB issues advisory to Colors for ‘Bigg Boss 7’

    NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (MIB) has issued an advisory to the general entertainment channel (GEC) Colors in connection with ‘Bigg Boss Season 7’ and a warning to Amrita TV for telecasting ‘Adults only’ certified film ‘The Don’.

     

    In the case of Colors, the Ministry has said that certain scenes of the series which commenced on 15 September last year ‘offended good taste and decency. The participants in the show used abusive and vulgar words with sexual overtones. The content also denigrated women. The programme even contained some potentially horrific and hazardous visuals which could be imitated by impressionable minds of children and it was not suitable for children and for unrestricted public exhibition.’

     

     It took note of an order that the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had on 24 September passed, in which it had asked the Ministry to examine the content of the series to ascertain if it was fit for telecast at 9.00 pm or after 11.00 pm.

     

     The Ministry had issued a show cause notice on 8 October to Colors in which it was brought out that prima facie Rule 6 (1) (a), (d), (k), (o) & Rule 6(5) of Programme Code contained in the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 appeared to have been violated by the channel.

     

     Colors had later in a letter dated 23 October told the I&B that it had not violated any provision of the Cable Television Network Rules 1994 and that ‘Bigg Boss’ was a reality show containing unscripted situations and actual occurrences between a group of people who live in a closed environment away from all external influences; this format was widely appreciated; and the show had been running successfully on Colors from the year 2008.

     

     The Inter-Ministerial Committee on 5 December also gave personal hearing that was accorded to the channel.

     

    Referring to an electric shock episode on 2 October, it was stated that this was part of various tasks that were intended to test the physical and mental strength of the participants.

     

     One particular housemate was assigned a task wherein she was to sit on a specific chair and bear a mild electric shock ‘to which she had voluntarily agreed’, and all the tasks assigned to the inmates of the house are pre-tested by the production team under strict supervision and controlled condition. The intensity of electric shock was very minimal since it was only of 15 volts.

     

    The Committee concluded that there was a need to depict some scenes carefully as the same could be risky and could be imitated by children. Thus, the channel should be careful with regard to content to be telecast on the channel keeping in view the fact that TV has a very wide reach and can create long lasting impression on the minds of viewers, particularly the children.

     

    The Ministry said the competent authority had come to the conclusion that though there was no grave violation of any provision of the Programme Code, care and caution was needed to be exercised by the channel while telecasting such nature of content within the framework laid down by the Cable Act and Rules. The channel should also ensure that the programme is suitable for unrestricted public exhibition and bear in mind the impression it could leave on the minds of children.

     

     Colors was therefore advised to adhere to the Programme and Advertising Codes and to be careful with regard to content to be telecast on the channel. “Strict compliance with the above direction should be ensured by the channel. Any violation shall entail such action against the channel as deemed fit in accordance with the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995 and the Rules framed there under as also the terms and conditions of the permission or approval granted under uplinking/downlinking guidelines,” the MIB said.

     

     Meanwhile, the Ministry has also warned Amrita TV to strictly adhere to the programme code prescribed under the 1995 Act and said any further violation may entail such action against the channel as deemed fit in accordance with the Act.

     

     The channel had telecast the film on 3 June 2012. A show cause notice had been issued to the channel on 28 May last year to the effect that ‘Rule 6(1)(o) of the programme code provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service, which is not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition. The Rule 6(1)(n) provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service, which contravenes the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952. Further, it stated that programmes unsuitable for children must not be carried at times when the largest number of children are watching.

     

    The channel had in its reply in June last year apologised and undertook that such incidents shall not be repeated in future. It said the film was shown erroneously and regretted the oversight. The channel claimed that when the agreement for this feature film was signed in 2006, it was not very conversant with the complexity of film protocols. The channel also claimed that it had edited out all the adult content in the film.

     

    The Inter-Ministerial Committee has therefore decided to let off the channel with a warning and expressed the hope that there will be no further violation of the Programme or Advertising Codes.