ITV

Tag: CATV Act

  • No CAS Bill discussion due to RS uproar; debate anytime time available

    NEW DELHI: The fate of conditional access system is becoming increasingly uncertain – something that was looking highly unlikely about a fortnight back when information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj was pushing full steam for the passage to amendments in the CATV Act in the Upper House of Parliament.

    The cable TV network Regulation Amendment Bill 2002, slated to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) today, could not be done today as both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Monday without transacting any business. Reason: Opposition uproar over the Indian Express expose on the doling out of petrol pump dealerships to ruling party members as well as coalition partners of the government by the petroleum ministry under the alleged directives of the Union petroleum minister Ram Naik. A vociferous Opposition stalled question hour.

    As per the latest information available is that the issue will be taken up as soon as the Rajya Sabha is able to find the time to debate the issue. That means that it can even come up tomorrow if the current ruckus going on in Parliament cools down. Something that looks highly at the moment though.

    Today’s trouble arose as soon as the House met for the day with a determined Opposition raising anti-government slogans like istifado, istifado and loot liya, loot liya (resign and plundered).

    As the uproar continued for 10 minutes, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha Najma Heptulla adjourned the House for the day.

    The Lok Sabha was also adjourned for 15 minutes after it plunged into turmoil over the same issue with an unrelenting Opposition demanding Naik’s resignation.

    Government officials told indiantelevision.com this afternoon that it has to be seen when the Bill gets re-listed in the RS now. “If the Opposition continues to stall proceedings of the House over other issues, then the CAS issue may not get discussed at all,” an I&B ministry official indicated.

    However, there seems to be unanimity amongst Opposition members of the Rajya Sabha, especially the CPM and the Congress, that the CAS issue needs to be referred to a parliamentary committee to be discussed further as some issues in the Bill need thorough examination.

    Nilotpaul Basu of the CPM, a member of RS, in private is understood to have said that their meeting with Swaraj last week was “inconclusive” and that the minister was unable to satisfactorily explain Opposition queries on freedom of media, specially electronic media, and that the government was attempting to muzzle the media in the aftermath of the Gujarat communal violence by bringing in censorship in the form of CAS where the government will decide which free to air channels will be aired in which part of the country.

  • CATV Act amendment bill not listed on RS business for the week, likely to be referred to select committee

    CATV Act amendment bill not listed on RS business for the week, likely to be referred to select committee

    NEW DELHI: The case of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002, is getting curiouser. Yesterday, though it was listed as part of the day’s business it did not come up for discussion. It is not on today’s listed business and will not come up for the rest of the week either. 

    It now transpires that information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj decided to withdraw the bill for wider consultations after it became clear that Opposition leaders (with the tacit support of some influential ruling party members) would not allow the bill’s passage without wider discussions.

    The draft is now likely to be referred to a House Select Committee before it is brought up for passage. 

    Earlier indications were that the CAS bill would continue to be listed every day till it was passed. 

    The Hindu Business Line reported that parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan yesterday informed the Opposition members that the Bill – which was to be moved by Swaraj in the afternoon – had been taken off the list of business for the week.

    The amendments to the Act were passed in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) on 15 May through a voice vote. The I&B ministry will now have to try and evolve a consensus with the Opposition party members before it can get the bill cleared.

  • CATV Act amendment not discussed as RS adjourned, to be tabled again tomorrow

    CATV Act amendment not discussed as RS adjourned, to be tabled again tomorrow

    NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) adjourned today without the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002, failing to come up for discussion yet again. 

    As reported earlier, the CAS bill will continue to be listed every day till it is passed, government sources aver. “The okay may come through sometime this week,” a senior I&B ministry official told indiantelevision on Tuesday in the forenoon, adding, “Unless some members (of the Rajya Sabha) insist on a lengthy debate on the issue.”

    The amendments to the Act were passed in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) on 15 May through a voice vote.

  • Prasar Bharati sees monsoon session govt nod for CATV Act amendment on sports rights

    Prasar Bharati sees monsoon session govt nod for CATV Act amendment on sports rights

    The increasing frequency with which India’s pubcaster DD is being left out of business of sports telecasts has got the goat of Doordarshan director general SY Quraishi. Speaking to indiantelevision.com he said that the Prasar Bharati – overseeing the work of DD and All India Radio – was persevering with its proposal to the Indian government to bring in a law mandating that the telecast rights of any important event – and specially those where India has an interest – be awarded to DD.

    The Prasar Bharati had moved the government on this front last month. And its hopes are high that things will get kickstarted during the next Parliamentary session. “If all goes well, we may see something happening on this front during the monsoon session of Parliament,” Quraishi said.

    If the Indian government decides to bring in a law which makes it mandatory for the telecast rights of important global events to be necessarily given to DD also apart from any other broadcaster beaming into India, then certain amendments have to be made in the Cable TV (Networks) Regulation Act. And if it manages to push the amendment through, it will be a fait accompli for the pubcaster. 

    A private broadcaster quipped in lighter vein, “Only a DD can show DDgiri.” Touche!!!