ITV

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  • TRAI suggests simplifying processes for broadcast, cable-related businesses

    TRAI suggests simplifying processes for broadcast, cable-related businesses

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in its bid to ease business norms relating to the broadcast and cable sector, has urged the government to simplify various licensing and clearance processes, putting time limits in some cases.

    The TRAI has also said that the satellite spectrum allocation process undertaken by various government agencies, such as the WPC in the telecom ministry and the ISRO/Department of Space, should be carried out throughout the year instead of “intermittent” opening of such processes.

    Some of the recommendations that have been suggested in its latest ‘Ease of doing Business in Broadcasting Sector’ paper are:

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/trai-extends-dates-for-comments-on-uplinking/downlinking-consultation-paper-180116
    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/trai-paper-seeks-to-streamline-uplinking-downlinking-norms-171219 
    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/trai-releases-paper-on-national-telecom-policy-2018-180103

    – The process of granting permission/licence/registration for broadcasting services should be streamlined by removing redundant processes, re-engineering necessary processes and making them efficient using ICT.

    – An integrated portal to be set up by the government for broadcasters, teleport operators and TV channel distributors for filing, processing, tracking applications, payments, frequency assignments, endorsements, renewals etc.

    – Security clearances to be done within 60 days.

    – Setting up a system of self declaration.

    – Total time (including all kinds of ministerial clearances) to not exceed six months for granting licences or permissions.

    – Simpler process for logo, name, format and language change.

    – Create a centre for excellence for broadcasters.

    The TRAI says that the Indian broadcasting sector presents a vibrant picture but it has ‘immense potential to move on to a higher trajectory of growth by removing procedural bottlenecks and making business propositions more attractive.’ It states that checks must be done from time to time to ensure procedures are up to date or removed if no longer needed.

    A consultation paper was issued last year after which an open house was conducted with stakeholders on the topic of ease of doing business.

    Also Read:

    TRAI extends dates for comments on uplinking/downlinking consultation paper

    Trai paper seeks to streamline uplinking, downlinking norms

    TRAI releases paper on National Telecom Policy 2018

  • Politics interferes with entertainment, channel coerced into pulling out particular content

    MUMBAI: The film wing of a regional political party claimed that it has ‘forced’ a TV channel not to telecast content which it felt was insulting Shivaji Maharaj.

    MNS film wing’s Amey Khopkar told PTI that he wrote to the channel, warning them against telecasting the programme which showed Shivaji Maharaj dancing with Afzal Khan.

    He said that the channel had informed them that they had decided not to telecast the portion which was scheduled to be aired on 27 February and 28.

    This is not the first time that the outfit used coercion to get its demands met. In September, Khopkar had given a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani artistes to leave India. The diktat had come at a time when relations between India and Pakistan were tense, after an attack by terrorists in Uri (Kashmir).

    The political organisation, in January last year, had threatened to disrupt a proposed concert by ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali if it were to be held in Mumbai.

    In October 2015, the MNS had ‘disallowed’ the screening of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan’s film “Bin Roye” in Maharashtra while, in 2012, the party’s leader slammed singer Asha Bhosle for working with Pakistani singers on a TV show aired on a channel.

    MNS Chitrapat Sena in 2016 protested against the Marathi dubbed version of “MS Dhoni: The Untold Story”, saying dubbed movies would eat into the business of Marathi films.

    Also Read :

    Uri reaction: Zee considers dropping Pak shows from Zindagi

    India against obstructing Fawad film; Maharashtra assures ‘protection’

    Salman Khan backs Indian Army strike & Pak artistes

  • Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand speaks out on l’affaire Arnab

    Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand speaks out on l’affaire Arnab

    MUMBAI: Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand is known to be a rather reticent kind of executive. He would rather keep a low profile and speak only when he is approached. So, when he decides to open up to the media, there’s obviously something he wants to set right.

    Says he: “Ever since Arnab’s departure, the rumour mills have been running amok and a lot of canards have been let loose. I would like to set them right.”

    According to Anand, first is the buzz that Arnab left because he was being sidelined, and that he did not have much editorial independence. “The fact is that there was zero pressure on him,” he says. “We don’t meddle with the editorial policy. I have spoken to him on content matters only twice since I have been here. And, the shareholders do not really get in to day-to-day operations at all.”

    Anand shares that it was Arnab who announced his departure to his team before putting out his resignation to him, and let it to go viral on social media.

    “We share a good relationship. We continued carrying his picture and name on the shows he used to host for a long time even after he announced his departure. Even on the last day, I had lunch with him and there was no negativity. I would have loved to retain him. I was saddened to see him go and, of course, I miss him,” he acknowledges.

    Anand berates the fact that there seems to be a campaign to malign Times Now. “People were saying that Times Now and Arnab are synonymous. That Times Now has sunk after Arnab. BARC data shows otherwise. Week 1-45 of this year, Times Now had an audience share of 41 per cent; week 46-50 it has the same 41 per cent,” he says.

    Then, there is the rumour that the news channel lost Rs 100 crore in revenue post-Arnab. “Untrue again. While I believe it’s worth that much, I wish we made so much money on NewsHour that he used to anchor,” he expresses.

    Market estimates are that Arnab’s prime time shows contributed around Rs 50-60 crore to the channel’s top line, figures which Anand is unwilling to confirm.

    “The advertisers who were there when Arnab was anchoring are there even when he is not,” says he. “Just take a look at the Adex data for October and November.”

    What Anand wants to finally rectify is the perception that hordes of journalists have followed in the wake of Arnab. “Times Now has 320 employees,” he says. “Nine have left. We have a normal attrition rate of 25 per cent which is about 80 people leaving each year or around six to seven staffers each month. If we lose nine people, it does not mean there has been an exodus. 311 staffers have chosen to stay on.”

  • Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand speaks out on l’affaire Arnab

    Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand speaks out on l’affaire Arnab

    MUMBAI: Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand is known to be a rather reticent kind of executive. He would rather keep a low profile and speak only when he is approached. So, when he decides to open up to the media, there’s obviously something he wants to set right.

    Says he: “Ever since Arnab’s departure, the rumour mills have been running amok and a lot of canards have been let loose. I would like to set them right.”

    According to Anand, first is the buzz that Arnab left because he was being sidelined, and that he did not have much editorial independence. “The fact is that there was zero pressure on him,” he says. “We don’t meddle with the editorial policy. I have spoken to him on content matters only twice since I have been here. And, the shareholders do not really get in to day-to-day operations at all.”

    Anand shares that it was Arnab who announced his departure to his team before putting out his resignation to him, and let it to go viral on social media.

    “We share a good relationship. We continued carrying his picture and name on the shows he used to host for a long time even after he announced his departure. Even on the last day, I had lunch with him and there was no negativity. I would have loved to retain him. I was saddened to see him go and, of course, I miss him,” he acknowledges.

    Anand berates the fact that there seems to be a campaign to malign Times Now. “People were saying that Times Now and Arnab are synonymous. That Times Now has sunk after Arnab. BARC data shows otherwise. Week 1-45 of this year, Times Now had an audience share of 41 per cent; week 46-50 it has the same 41 per cent,” he says.

    Then, there is the rumour that the news channel lost Rs 100 crore in revenue post-Arnab. “Untrue again. While I believe it’s worth that much, I wish we made so much money on NewsHour that he used to anchor,” he expresses.

    Market estimates are that Arnab’s prime time shows contributed around Rs 50-60 crore to the channel’s top line, figures which Anand is unwilling to confirm.

    “The advertisers who were there when Arnab was anchoring are there even when he is not,” says he. “Just take a look at the Adex data for October and November.”

    What Anand wants to finally rectify is the perception that hordes of journalists have followed in the wake of Arnab. “Times Now has 320 employees,” he says. “Nine have left. We have a normal attrition rate of 25 per cent which is about 80 people leaving each year or around six to seven staffers each month. If we lose nine people, it does not mean there has been an exodus. 311 staffers have chosen to stay on.”

  • DIPP wants to launch startup TVshow & channel

    DIPP wants to launch startup TVshow & channel

    MUMBAI: Well, well, what will happen next under Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. The Indian leader has been at the forefront of declaring that innovation and business enterprise from young Indians is what India needs to drive it to the super power status that it deserves. Hence, the initiative Start UP India, Stand UP.

    Now the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) is gearing to give this entrepreneurship drive a further impetus.

    The government body which comes under the ministry of commerce & industry has written to the information & broadcasting ministry (MIB) that it would like to launch a channel meant for entrepreneurs and start ups, along the lines of the Kisan channel which the government introduced for farmers and villagers.

    It is working on creating a TV programme along the lines of Shark Tank, the American on-television start-up funding television format. The show will be aired on national broadcaster DD and an outside agency is to be given the task of selecting the entrepreneurial ideas from daring entrepreneurs. It will also be assigned the task to assemble a panel of venture capitalists to grill the wannabe entrepreneurs and provide them with funding on live TV.

    The finalists of the show will be showcased at the StatUp Fest next month in Hyderabad.

  • DIPP wants to launch startup TVshow & channel

    DIPP wants to launch startup TVshow & channel

    MUMBAI: Well, well, what will happen next under Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. The Indian leader has been at the forefront of declaring that innovation and business enterprise from young Indians is what India needs to drive it to the super power status that it deserves. Hence, the initiative Start UP India, Stand UP.

    Now the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) is gearing to give this entrepreneurship drive a further impetus.

    The government body which comes under the ministry of commerce & industry has written to the information & broadcasting ministry (MIB) that it would like to launch a channel meant for entrepreneurs and start ups, along the lines of the Kisan channel which the government introduced for farmers and villagers.

    It is working on creating a TV programme along the lines of Shark Tank, the American on-television start-up funding television format. The show will be aired on national broadcaster DD and an outside agency is to be given the task of selecting the entrepreneurial ideas from daring entrepreneurs. It will also be assigned the task to assemble a panel of venture capitalists to grill the wannabe entrepreneurs and provide them with funding on live TV.

    The finalists of the show will be showcased at the StatUp Fest next month in Hyderabad.

  • Digicable plea for placement fee from News Express allowed for analogue areas only: TDSAT

    Digicable plea for placement fee from News Express allowed for analogue areas only: TDSAT

    New Delhi: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has partially allowed a petition by MSO Digicable Network (India) Pvt. Ltd claiming analogue placement charges from Sai Prasad Media Pvt. Ltd which own the News Express Channel for a sum of Rs 63,03,058.

    Chairman Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava said the amount will carry interest at 18 per cent from the date of filing of the petition till the date of realization. The office was directed to make a decree accordingly. The Tribunal turned down the petition in so far as it related to the areas that came under digital addressable system   

    However, the Tribunal said, “We find it difficult to hold that the petitioner was able to fully discharge its obligations under the digital placement agreement dated 16 July 2012 for the areas of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The Tribunal said that it is not possible to divide the amount of the placement charges from the invoices and the statement of account under the digital placement agreement and to allow the petitioner’s claim for the rest of the areas. It is, therefore, not possible to allow the petitioner’s claim under the digital placement agreement and the claim in so far it relates to the agreement dated 16 July 2012 must fail.

    On the petitioner’s claim that the towns of UP were still to come under the digital addressable system regime and there could be no agreement for transmission of channel in those towns in digital mode, the Tribunal said” “There is no law that prevents digital transmission in areas where the digital regime is yet to be implemented in terms of the notification issued by the Central Government.”

    Digicable had filed the petition for recovery of Rs 2,73,39,000 as dues of channel placement charges from Sai Prasad Media Pvt. Ltd for carrying its channel News Express on its digital as well as analogue cable TV networks. The amount was claimed along with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from the date the payment was due up to the date of payment.

    The claim of the petitioner was based on two channel placement agreements. The first one was in respect of areas where Digicable had a digital cable network. This agreement was executed on 16 July 2012 for the period 16 July 2012 to 15 July 2013. The second agreement was for certain areas where Digicable was doing transmission in analogue mode and was executed on 09 August 2012 for the period 9 August 2012 to 8 August 2013.

  • Digicable plea for placement fee from News Express allowed for analogue areas only: TDSAT

    Digicable plea for placement fee from News Express allowed for analogue areas only: TDSAT

    New Delhi: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has partially allowed a petition by MSO Digicable Network (India) Pvt. Ltd claiming analogue placement charges from Sai Prasad Media Pvt. Ltd which own the News Express Channel for a sum of Rs 63,03,058.

    Chairman Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava said the amount will carry interest at 18 per cent from the date of filing of the petition till the date of realization. The office was directed to make a decree accordingly. The Tribunal turned down the petition in so far as it related to the areas that came under digital addressable system   

    However, the Tribunal said, “We find it difficult to hold that the petitioner was able to fully discharge its obligations under the digital placement agreement dated 16 July 2012 for the areas of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The Tribunal said that it is not possible to divide the amount of the placement charges from the invoices and the statement of account under the digital placement agreement and to allow the petitioner’s claim for the rest of the areas. It is, therefore, not possible to allow the petitioner’s claim under the digital placement agreement and the claim in so far it relates to the agreement dated 16 July 2012 must fail.

    On the petitioner’s claim that the towns of UP were still to come under the digital addressable system regime and there could be no agreement for transmission of channel in those towns in digital mode, the Tribunal said” “There is no law that prevents digital transmission in areas where the digital regime is yet to be implemented in terms of the notification issued by the Central Government.”

    Digicable had filed the petition for recovery of Rs 2,73,39,000 as dues of channel placement charges from Sai Prasad Media Pvt. Ltd for carrying its channel News Express on its digital as well as analogue cable TV networks. The amount was claimed along with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from the date the payment was due up to the date of payment.

    The claim of the petitioner was based on two channel placement agreements. The first one was in respect of areas where Digicable had a digital cable network. This agreement was executed on 16 July 2012 for the period 16 July 2012 to 15 July 2013. The second agreement was for certain areas where Digicable was doing transmission in analogue mode and was executed on 09 August 2012 for the period 9 August 2012 to 8 August 2013.

  • Zee Hiburan completes one year in Indonesia

    Zee Hiburan completes one year in Indonesia

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel)  announced that its 24×7 general entertainment channel in Indonesia Zee Hiburan  has successfully completed a year. The channel caters to the mainstream Indonesian audiences with a mix of popular Indian serials, Bollywood movies, shows, cookery programmes, etc., dubbed in Bahasa Indonesia.

    Speaking on the channel’s first anniversary, Zeel Asia Pacific business head Sushruta Samanta said, “The success of Zee Hiburan has been simply stupendous. The whole-hearted acceptance of Indian content in Indonesia has helped the channel reach over 1.4 million (14 lakh) pay TV viewers within a year of its launch. We look forward to build on this success and achieve greater heights in the future. As a part of its one-year celebrations, Zee Hiburan will add the popular drama series, Punar Vivah as well as kids’ content to its existing offerings.”

    Zee Hiburan was launched on 21 March 2015 in Indonesia as a GEC with popular Indian series such as Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, Kumkum Bhagya, Qubool Hai, Jab Love Hua, Rab Se Sona Ishq, Alladin,Ramayan, Khana Khazana and Fear Files. The channel was positioned as ‘Colour Your Life’, showcasing every emotion in the most colourful fashion. Inspired from paper puppets and paper quilling art forms, the channel packaging was artistically designed to merge the Indonesian and Indian cultures.

    In September 2015, Zee Hiburan channel added the popular comedy show Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, and period dramas, Jodha Akbar and Razia Sultan in its programme lineup The channel is currently available on 5 platforms in Indonesia viz. ICTA, K Vision, Orange TV, First Media and Dili Timor Leste ETO Telko.

  • Zee Hiburan completes one year in Indonesia

    Zee Hiburan completes one year in Indonesia

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel)  announced that its 24×7 general entertainment channel in Indonesia Zee Hiburan  has successfully completed a year. The channel caters to the mainstream Indonesian audiences with a mix of popular Indian serials, Bollywood movies, shows, cookery programmes, etc., dubbed in Bahasa Indonesia.

    Speaking on the channel’s first anniversary, Zeel Asia Pacific business head Sushruta Samanta said, “The success of Zee Hiburan has been simply stupendous. The whole-hearted acceptance of Indian content in Indonesia has helped the channel reach over 1.4 million (14 lakh) pay TV viewers within a year of its launch. We look forward to build on this success and achieve greater heights in the future. As a part of its one-year celebrations, Zee Hiburan will add the popular drama series, Punar Vivah as well as kids’ content to its existing offerings.”

    Zee Hiburan was launched on 21 March 2015 in Indonesia as a GEC with popular Indian series such as Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, Kumkum Bhagya, Qubool Hai, Jab Love Hua, Rab Se Sona Ishq, Alladin,Ramayan, Khana Khazana and Fear Files. The channel was positioned as ‘Colour Your Life’, showcasing every emotion in the most colourful fashion. Inspired from paper puppets and paper quilling art forms, the channel packaging was artistically designed to merge the Indonesian and Indian cultures.

    In September 2015, Zee Hiburan channel added the popular comedy show Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, and period dramas, Jodha Akbar and Razia Sultan in its programme lineup The channel is currently available on 5 platforms in Indonesia viz. ICTA, K Vision, Orange TV, First Media and Dili Timor Leste ETO Telko.