ITV

Tag: I&B minister

  • Govt. reconstitutes task force for DAS phases III and IV

    Govt. reconstitutes task force for DAS phases III and IV

    MUMBAI: Days after Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that digitisation in the country will progress as per the new deadlines; the government has come up with a reconstituted task force for implementation of digital addressable system (DAS) in phases III and IV.

     

    The new task force will constitute I&B additional secretary chairperson, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) principal advisor for broadcast and cable satellite, I&B Ministry joint secretary broadcasting, representative from the MSO Alliance, five independent MSOs one each from north, south, east, west and north east regions, five registered LCO associations one each from north, south, east, west and north east regions, representatives from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, News Broadcasters Association, Association of Regional Television Broadcasters of India, DTH Association, FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, CEAMA, Department of Telecommunications, Department of Electronics and Information Technology, DG: Doordarshan, DG: All India Radio, BECIL, BIS, five prominent consumer organisations one each from north, south, east, west and north east regions and 33 state level nodal officers one each from the states/union territories governments.

     

    The task force would act as an interface between the government and the industry in matters related to implementation of DAS in the cable TV sector and monitor the implementation of DAS. It also will have to analyse the roadblocks that may come in the way of digitisation and suggest measures.

  • Javadekar’s personal website launched by Jaitley

    Javadekar’s personal website launched by Jaitley

    NEW DELHI: In keeping with the new initiatives on social media, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has launched a personal website whereby he can interact with the youth in the country.

     

    The website, launched by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has among its features a News Update button which gives event wise information.

     

    The website prakashjavadekar.com also contains the Minister’s tweets, press releases, photographs, speech and audio-visual package about an event.           

     

    The youth can interact with the Minister through the ‘Connect with Me’ section.

     

    The Minister’s corner, Minister’s contact details and social media profiles are other areas which help easy interaction with the Minister.

     

    Google news, Youtube Crawler have also been linked with the website to reflect real-time updates, as are all major Social Media platforms of the Minister.

  • Rare peep into the fragrant culture and traditions of the north east

    Rare peep into the fragrant culture and traditions of the north east

    NEW DELHI: Inaugurating the three day North East Film Festival, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the Government is fully committed to mainstream new initiatives in the North Eastern region in all sectors including the film industry.

     

    He also added that there was need to harness the rich potential of the region with regards to its geographical and cultural diversity. The initiatives outlined in the budget reiterated the commitment of the Government in mainstreaming the North East region.

     

    The theme of the three day North East Film Festival was ‘Fragrances from the north east.’

     

    Speaking at the event, the I&B Minister said, “The film festival would be a memorable cultural experience in showcasing the potential of the region in the Media and Entertainment sector of the region. A testimony to this fact was the increasing number of awards won by the films from the north east at the National Film Awards every year. The Ministry would always be supportive in providing all possible support for promoting films in the region. The Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute at Kolkata provided a platform to the students of the north eastern region to harness their talent in the domain of film making.”

    On the occasion, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma also highlighted the different initiatives undertaken by the State Government to build a strong base for film making in the region. He specifically referred to the policies being developed to provide infrastructure to host any international film festival, and also to help filmmakers who wanted to come to the region to shoot their films. 
     

    The inaugural function was attended by actors and directors from the region, including Manju Borah, Geetanjali Thapa, Oinam Gautam Singh, Mapuia Chawngthu, Alex Lalchhuankima, Abdul Muzid, Tashi Lhamu, Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi and Meena Debbarma.

     

    The function was followed by a cultural evening by Papon, singer and composer along with his band ‘The East India Company’.

     

    While Khawnglung Run (Mizoram), directed by Mapuia Chawngthu was the opening film of the festival, the closing film of the three-day Festival concluding on 24 August will be RI: Homeland of Uncertainty, directed by Pradip Kurbah.

     

    Directorate of Film Festival director Shankar Mohan stated, “This festival was in continuation of a focus on films from the north east during the last International Film Festival of India in November last year, and the Festival of Indian Panorama films held in Shillong in March this year.”
     

    The festival will also include an exhibition of paintings, exhibition-cum-sale of handicrafts and artifacts from the north east organised by the Culture Ministry and special north east food stalls representing cuisines from all eight states of north-east. It will be curated by veteran journalist and filmmaker Utpal Borpujari. 

     

    Other films being screened at the event includes Yarwng in Kokborok by Joseph Pulinthanath; Phijigee Mani in Manipuri by O Gautam Singh; Sonam in Monpa by Ahsan Muzid, Ajeyo in Assamese by the renowned Jahnu Barua etc.

     

  • Government departments owe around Rs 80 crore to Doordarshan for advertisements

    Government departments owe around Rs 80 crore to Doordarshan for advertisements

    NEW DELHI: Public broadcaster Doordarshan has reported a revenue of Rs 1295.86 crore in 2013-14 from advertisements. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the revenue in the current year till 31 May was Rs 87.76 crore.

     

    He told Parliament today that the advertisement revenue in 2012-13 was Rs 1298.16 crore, as against Rs 1100.27 crore in 2011-12.

     

    The Minister also clarified that there was no proposal to put any restriction on carrying government ads on the public broadcaster, even as he said various central and state government departments and public sector undertakings owe huge sums to Doordarshan.

     

    Javadekar said that various central and state government departments and PSUs owed Rs 79,66,30,752 as on 31 May this year to the pubcaster.

     

    The Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity, a media unit of the Ministry, owes an amount of Rs 6,94,91,429 to Doordarshan.

     

    He said this pertains to the advertisements released in the last quarter of 2013-14. However, Javadekar also said, “It is a normal process of bill settlement.”

  • Three complaints of TV shows promoting superstition & blind belief registered in 2013-2014

    Three complaints of TV shows promoting superstition & blind belief registered in 2013-2014

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said there were only three complaints of television channels promoting superstition and blind belief in 2013 and 2014.

     

    He told Parliament that the existing provisions contained in the Programme and Advertisement Codes and existing mechanism are considered adequate to regulate content.  

     

    However, advisories were issued in November 2011 and June last year to all channels not to promote such programmes.

     

    The complaints on which warnings were issued include: ‘Ladkiyon Ka Gumnaam Bodyguard’ which promoted superstition and blind belief on Bansal News last year and ‘Rahasya’ for promoting superstition and blind belief on India News earlier this year.

     

    An advisory was issued following telecast of ‘Aaj No Mahima, Desh Ni Gruh Dasha’ showing superstition and blind belief on Sandesh News (Transmedia News) in June last year.

     

    Javadekar said the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and the Rules framed thereunder do not provide for any pre-censorship of such programmes.

     

    However, programmes telecast on such TV channels are required to conform to the Programme Code prescribed under Rules 6 of Cable Television Network Rules 1994. Specifically, Rule 6 (1) (j) of the Programme Code provides that no programme should be carried in the Cable Service which encourages superstition and blind-belief.

     

    Appropriate action is taken against the channel, if violation of the Programme Code is established. 

  • Over 1400 designs received from general public for DAVP ads: Javadekar

    Over 1400 designs received from general public for DAVP ads: Javadekar

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the government has received 1470 designs from the general public for advertisements to be issued by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP).

     

    The Minister said in an informal chat that the response of the public came after the Ministry sought public participation on 15 July. Earlier, all the advertisements were designed by the DAVP.

     

    He said the top advertisements will be awarded by the Ministry with cash awards, but did not disclose the amount.

     

    He also said that this will be an ongoing process but the theme will be given by the DAVP or the Ministry. 

  • TRAI to study how interoperability in DTH can be made effective

    TRAI to study how interoperability in DTH can be made effective

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) that released a recommendation paper on the new DTH licensing regime amongst other things also covered the issue of set top box (STB) interoperability. In the paper, the Authority has said that STB interoperability is not possible because of the different technologies adopted by the operators due to them entering the market at different times.

     

    TRAI thus, has asked the bureau of Indian standards (BIS) to regularly keep updating the standard of STB technology.

     

    Just one day after the recommendation paper, the Authority has now been asked by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) to give its recommendations on how the portability of direct-to-home (DTH) set top boxes can be done easily.

     

    Stating this, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar today told Parliament that the interoperability of DTH customer premises equipment has not so far proved to be effective due to various techno-economic reasons.

     

    The interoperability had been envisaged in the DTH licence conditions, he said.

     

    The portability in DTH service can be achieved through technical interoperability or through commercial interoperability.

  • Terrestrial TV to be opened for private participation: Javadekar

    Terrestrial TV to be opened for private participation: Javadekar

    MUMBAI: Is the Modi government likely to pry open terrestrial television to private broadcasters?  Terrestrial TV has been the exclusive turf of public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, apart from a short stint where it leased out a programming block to Ozzie broadcaster Kerry Packer around 12-13 years ago.

    It is quite likely to, if one goes by the response of Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to a question in the Parliament on 9 July. PTI quotes him as saying that Doordarshan is digitising its analogue terrestrial network.

    “Consequently the number of digitised channels would go up. DD would thereafter be in a position to invite private free-to-air TV channels for meaningful business plan in this regard,” he added.

    This was one of the options provided by the Sam Pitroda committee earlier this year.  The committee had recommended two options: one to totally move the pubcaster to satellite transmission via DD Direct. And, two, to upgrade its analogue terrestrial network to DVBT2 to meet its need to deliver content meeting both national and regional coverage needs.

    The report had recommended that DD could opt for selected use of DVB-T2/DVB-NGH terrestrial  technology in partnership with private players if commercially feasible in order to enhance the capacity of each transmitter to eight to 10 channels.

    The committee, however, had cautioned that DD would have to transform itself into two separate companies handling content creation and managing infrastructure to allow private participation. Additionally, it had added that DD would have to provide a subsidy to increase the affordability of DVBT2/DVB-NGH receivers as they are not readily available at affordable prices in India.

    Even the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had in 2005 recommended that terrestrial television should be thrown open to private sector participation as is the case in most countries.

  • Government to invest Rs 100 crore in Kisan Television

    Government to invest Rs 100 crore in Kisan Television

    MUMBAI:  The much awaited budget from the new Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has begun and the first announcement for the media industry is in the form of the proposed new TV channel for farmers- Kisan Television dedicated to the interests of the agriculture and allied sector.

     

    While presenting the Budget 2014 in the Parliament, Jaitley stated that the government will be investing Rs 100 crore for the channel that will give real time information on new farming techniques, water conservation, organic and farming etc.

     

    A few weeks ago, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar had stated that Kisan Television will be launched soon and Jaitley’s announcement reaffirms the government’s commitment to it.

     

    The 24 hour channel, to be called DD Kisan, is being worked upon with the help of Prasar Bharati. Prior to winning the election, BJP had stated that if it came to power, it would explore setting up of regional Kisan TV channels.

     

    Soon after the announcement, Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka tweeted “Kisan TV for farmer education was a good one!!”

     

    Added PricewaterhouseCoopers leader- entertainment & media practice India Smita Jha, “Announcement of launch of Kisan TV and Aruna Prabha TV are also welcome in the context of their respective situations but hope these channels are commercially viable and do not add further burden to Public Service Broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, which is already under severe financial pressure.”

  • CASBAA asks FM, I&B to roll back increased royalty on foreign satellite operators

    CASBAA asks FM, I&B to roll back increased royalty on foreign satellite operators

    NEW DELHI: The Cable and Satellite Broadcasters Association of Asia (CASBAA) has urged Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to withdraw the royalties imposed on foreign satellite operators (FSO) by the Finance Act 2012 and 2013 and let the matter be settled by the Supreme Court which is presently hearing a matter in this regard.

     

    The Delhi High Court had in January 2011 held in the case of Asia Satellite Telecommunications company Limited (AsiaSat) that the charges received by the Hong Kong based FSO from its customers for provision of transponder capacity cannot be characterised as ‘royalties’ under the Income Tax Act as it stood prior to the amendment in 20l2. It was held by the court that the equipment was used by the FSOs to provide a service to their customers and so the question of royalty taxation did not arise.

     

    The memorandum by CASBAA CEO Christopher Slaughter says that this view of the High Court was in conformity with the international jurisprudence and model commentaries issued by international tax bodies and renowned jurists / authors and was also followed in case of other FSOs by the High Court and Income Tax Appellate Tribunals.

     

    However, the memorandum sent to Jaitley with a copy to Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar points out that the matter has become sub judice as Income Tax authorities have filed an appeal against this judgment in the Supreme Court.

     

    I&B Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that CASBAA has also protested the rise in royalty under the Finance Act 2013 from 10 per cent to 25 per cent as it is not reasonable in view of the competitive margins earned by the industry players. The Association wants the Minister to roll back this increase so that the tax rates are made ‘friendlier’ and both the operators and consumers can benefit from a rational tax regime.

     

    It is stated that a majority of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) that India has entered into provide for a tax rate (on gross basis) on royalties and fees or technical services of 10 per cent.

     

    Thus, taking a holistic view from the point of alignment with the DTAAs and internationally accepted tax rates, the rate of 25 per cent is highly unjust and implies that FSOs are earning high revenues from India which is not the case.

     

    Furthermore, any such step to increase tax rates is not right as the matter is sub judice in the Supreme Court. It not only makes the services ‘cost ineffective’ but hits the ultimate Indian end consumers.

     

    Slaughter points out that India’s participation in the global network of satellite communication is growing and any such move by the Indian Government to tax FSOs may also drive policy-makers of other nations to adopt similar measures for taxing payments flowing into India from foreign jurisdictions.