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Tag: I&B ministry

  • Sun Direct to add remaining DD channels within 72 hours

    Sun Direct to add remaining DD channels within 72 hours

    MUMBAI: A week after notices were sent by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) to three DTH operators for not carrying the mandatory 24 Doordarshan channels, one of the three  has decided that it will be adding the remaining six channels to its packages within the next 72 hours.

     

    “Even before the notice was issued, we had initiated a technical upgrade that will facilitate to add more channels on the same transponder. We took steps nearly three months ago to import equipments and to upgrade our software,” says Sun Direct CEO Mahesh Kumar.

     

    As far as the reply to the MIB notice is concerned Kumar says that he will be writing to the ministry post the addition stating that it is complying with the rules. He also mentioned that currently Sun Direct is carrying 18 DD channels and within the next three days, all 24 will be carried by it.

     

    Last week Tata Sky had decided to respond to the MIB’s notice expressing his company’s inability to carry any more DD channels as it lacked the bandwidth on its existing transponders, and stating that new capacity it had signed up for on GSAT-10 has not been delivered to it despite several pleas to all the departments in  ISRO, the MIB, department of space, WPC, and what have you.  This leaves only Reliance Digital to decide a course of action regarding the notice given to it.

     

    According to the MIB directive all DTH operators have to provide 24 DD channels irrespective of whether they provide them a-la-carte or in packages to their subscribers.

    The channels which cable operators must show are DD National, DD News, DD Bharati, DD Urdu, DD Sports, DD India, DD Kashir, DD Punjabi, DD Girnar, DD Sahyadri, DD Saptagiri, DD Malayalam, DD Podhigai, DD Chandana, DD Bangla, DD North East, DD Bihar, DD Uttar Pradesh, DD Rajasthan, DD Madhya Pradesh, DD Oriya, Gyan Darshan, Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV. 

  • I&B ministry to take up cable TV monopoly recommendations

    I&B ministry to take up cable TV monopoly recommendations

    MUMBAI: The inter-ministerial committee in the information and broadcasting ministry (MIB) is likely to take up the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI’s) recommendations on controlling monopoly/market dominance in the cable TV sector this week. These were released by the TRAI on 26 November 2013. This was revealed by MIB minister Manish Tewari to the Times of India (TOI) yesterday.

     

    According to the TRAI recommendations, a barometer known as the Herfindahl Hirschman Index (HHI) is to be used to measure monopoly of MSOs or cable TV service providers in a market which as defined as a state (with certain exceptions).

     

    The recommendations state that “the threshold value for any individual/group/entity contribution to the market HHI should be no more than 2500.”  According to the TOI report, this constitutes 50 per cent market share, the market being defined as a state.

     

    The TRAI recommendations further state that “any M&A among MSO(s) or between an MSO and LCO in a relevant market shall require the prior approval of the regulator. The decision on any proposal, complete in all aspects, shall be conveyed within 90 working days.”

     

    They go on to further add that in “the cases where any group’s contribution to HHI in a market is more  than 2500 as on the date of issue of guidelines, such legal entity/ ‘group’ shall take necessary remedial measures, within 12 months from the date of issue of guidelines, so as to limit  its ‘control’ in various MSO(s)/ LCO(s) in such a way that the  contribution to market HHI of that ‘group’ reduces to less than or equal to 2500.”

     

    Tewari told the TOI that the ministry was “seriously looking at introducing a cap on the market share of MSOs to stop monopolistic practices, whether due to political pressure or political ownership, to protect plurality and diversity of content.” 

  • TV ratings: Ownership & FDI questions

    TV ratings: Ownership & FDI questions

    MUMBAI: To have foreign direct investment (FDI) in TV ratings or not, that is the question. And the recently-cleared TV ratings guidelines by the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) have brought this to the fore by their silence on this score. While announcing that the CCEA had given the go ahead to the ministry of  information and broadcasting (MIB) last week to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)-recommended  guidelines for a regulatory framework for TV ratings in India,  minister Manish Tewari had this to say.

     

    “In so far as FDI is concerned we would make a separate reference to TRAI with regard to the quantum and need of FDI that should be permitted in ratings agencies. After the TRAI recommendations, the question of allowing FDI would be looked at. So as we speak, no FDI will be permitted in TV ratings agencies till we don’t have a recommendation on it.”

     

    Although the 2013 recommendations do not have any mention of FDI, it is noteworthy to point out that TRAI’s 2008 consultation paper on TV ratings does. The paper says that stakeholders feel that FDI should be restricted to 20 per cent in a TV ratings agency.  It also goes on to suggest that since no security issues were involved and little or no competition was prevailing (only two agencies existed at that time – TAM and aMap  and no regulation existed), that it would be okay of no if no FDI limit was imposed.  “Generally FDI encourages world class technology and international best practices,” TRAI had stated in the paper.

     

    So even as the TRAI was of the opinion that FDI was all right in 2008, in 2013 it gave the issue an ignore. Currently FDI limits for broadcasters are 100 per cent  for non-news and current affairs channels, for news channels 26 per cent, for cable TV 74 per cent, for DTH 49 per cent, for print 26 per cent for general news etc.

     

    Tewari stated that the question of FDI would be looked at after the TV ratings guidelines are notified by the ministry. Could the earlier recommendation of 20 per cent work as a guideline today? Or is the government going to be averse to FDI totally?

     

    Let us take a look at the other major guideline of cross holding in the TV ratings provider. The guideline states very clearly:  ‘No single company/legal entity either directly or through its associates or interconnect undertakings shall have substantial equity holding that is, 10 per cent or more of paid up equity in both rating agencies and broadcasters/advertisers/advertising agencies.’

     

    If one looks at the holding pattern of Mediametrie – the French ratings agency – which is soon to be announced as the Broadcast Audience Research Council’s (BARC’s) ratings partner,  France Televisions holds 22.89 per cent equity in it, TF1  10.8 per cent, Radio France 13.5 per cent and Union des Annonceurs 11.77 per cent.

     

    France Televisions in turn owns 49 per cent of TV5 Monde while AEF (formerly called France Monde) that runs France 24 owns 12.6 per cent of France Televisions. Quite a convoluted holding structure, but clearly one where broadcasters could be owning more than 10 per cent equity in the TV ratings provider.

     

    However, BARC officials are quick to clarify that it is BARC which will be providing the ratings and not Mediametrie. The latter is only a technology supplier and ratings are being outsourced to it. It owns no equity in the ratings company which is BARC. Hence, the question of more than 10 per cent equity ownership by broadcasters in Mediametrie is irrelevant and there will be no violation of TRAI’s guidelines, they emphasise.

     

    BARC, on its part is a non-profit organisation under section 25 of the Companies Act, with nominated representatives from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, Indian Society of Advertisers, and Advertising Agencies Association of India. In a response to TRAI’s consultation paper, BARC had stated that even though the three may have conflicting interests in the ratings process, its articles of incorporation clearly state that “each has an equal voice in the design, and monitoring of the rating system, and in the administration of BARC, irrespective of the funding pattern.”

     

    TAM, on the other hand, has woes on both fronts as it not only does not comply with the FDI guidelines it also is has issues on the cross holding guideline as it is owned jointly by the WPP group and AC Nielsen. It is even listed on the WPP site as one of its companies.

     

    The key question that everyone is asking at the time of writing is whether TAM Media will move court against the guidelines, as they have come into force so many years after it has been operating in India with the equity and cross holding structures that it has. Or will it give up the fight and pack up just like Coca-Cola did in the seventies, when the government ordered it to reduce the FDI in it to 40 per cent.

  • TRAI releases its 2013 report card

    TRAI releases its 2013 report card

    MUMBAI: The year 2013 saw the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) cracking its whip on the broadcasters as well as every other party within the industry for its betterment. It released several papers and regulations in order to do so. The Regulator that released its activity report for the year gone by as the New Year kicked off, said that consumer interest has been one of its main mandates.

    To ensure good consumer experience, in 2013, TRAI amended ‘standards of quality of service (duration of ads in TVs)” of 2004. And what came into effect was the regulation that restricts advertising air time to 12 minutes for a clock hour. The regulator says that this practice is not uncommon in several countries and also goes along with the provisions of the Cable TV Network Rules (1994). “Excessive advertisement adversely affects the quality of viewing experience of the consumer. The objective behind the issue of these regulations was to ensure a better quality of experience for the consumer,” says the TRAI’s activity paper.

    But even after this amendment, not all the broadcasters have been following it and the current fate of the ad cap is in a limbo. Several broadcasters have even challenged it in the Delhi High Court including the News Broadcasters Association (NBA). When channels openly did not follow the rule, TRAI started prosecuting them for it. Complaints were filed against 14 broadcasters for non compliance with the regulation. With this, TRAI disappointed many channels as the regulation came at a time when advertising rates were dipping and digitisation had not even entered phase II.

    TRAI also came up with The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Tariff Orders for cable TV and DTH services that provides standard tariff packs for supply and installation of STBs to consumers in DAS areas and Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) to DTH consumers.

    When India’s oldest DTH operator, Dish TV went to the regulator for extension of its 10 year licence that was to expire on 30 September, it woke up to the fact there were no guidelines/rules on  extension. The new consultation paper is reportedly coming out this month and meanwhile Dish TV has been allowed to continue on its existing terms and conditions.

    The issue of media ownership was also addressed with the Regulator coming out with a consultation paper that discussed points related to ownership of a media outlet, disqualification from the media sector and rules for mergers and acquisitions in the sector. Media monopoly issues were also taken up when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) asked TRAI to examine whether there was a requirement of restrictions on MSOs and LCOs to prevent them from monopolising cable TV markets.

    The TAM brouhaha that saw adamant broadcasters unsubscribe to its ratings system led to the TRAI coming up with its guidelines defining parameters for ratings agencies and ratings systems.

    Major steps were taken to strengthen the process of digitsation. Multi-system Operators (MSOs) and Local Cable Operators (LCOs) were ordered to bring a proper subscriber management system (SMS) in place and disconnect signals for those whose details were not entered.

    Pay TV channels were asked to have written interconnect agreements with MSOs. One of the provisions that protected broadcasters was that an MSO could not demand signals for a particular channel under the ‘must provide’ clause and ask for carriage fee.

    As India is progressing towards digitisation, a la carte channels should also be available along with packages, so that subscribers can opt for either a la carte or bouquets or a combination of both. 14 LCOs and a MSO were also taken to court for not following DAS regulations.

  • Reproduce newspapers in electronic form: I&B Ministry

    Reproduce newspapers in electronic form: I&B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: The government intends to bring ‘reproduction of any newspaper in electronic form’ within the ambit of the Press and Registration of Books Act.

    In the amendments proposed to the PRB Act, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) has also proposed inclusion of a section which says ‘paid news’ means publishing any news or analysis in the publication for a price in cash or kind as consideration.

    The amendments, which have been placed on the website of the ministry, also says that ‘facsimile edition’ of a publication means an exact replica in full or in part of the original edition of a foreign publication ‘in so far as the contents concerned and may not include title’, subject to the condition that any page is not published in part.

    The government also proposes to establish a Press and Registration Appellate Board to be constituted by the central government, by notification in the official gazette, consisting of a chairperson and another member, to be nominated by the Press Council of India, established under section 4 of the Press Council Act 1978 from among its members.

    It says any dispute relating to registration of newspapers or publications would be referred to a ‘specified appellate authority’ that may be prescribed by the central government.

    Under the amendments, publication means newspapers, magazines, journals or newsletters printed periodically and published in India ‘including its reproduction in electronic form or any syndication, facsimile edition, and Indian editions of periodicals published outside India.’

    While noting that the Press Registrar General will consider all applications of new titles ‘as soon as practicable’, the amendment says an application for a title may be rejected if it is ‘same or similar to that of a known foreign publication’, subject to the proviso that ‘the same or similar title shall not be rejected if the Indian entity seeking the title has a tie-up with the owners of the title of such a foreign publication’.

    The amendment further says that no publication shall be printed and published in India except with the prior approval of the central government granted if such publication is owned by or has investment from any individual who is not an Indian citizen or foreign unincorporated body of individuals or body corporate incorporated under the law of any country other than India.

    Furthermore, the Press Registrar General may reject, after giving the person concerned an opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken, and holding an inquiry into the matter, if he is satisfied that the publication mentioned in the declaration is found indulging or having indulged in the practice of ‘paid news’, on the basis of adjudication by the Press Council of India or any other quasi-judicial/judicial authority. Till a decision is taken, the Press Registrar General may suspend the publication of such publication.

    Furthermore, any person aggrieved by an order of a specified authority refusing to authenticate a declaration under section 10 or cancelling a declaration under section 19 (l) (a) to (d) may appeal within 60 days from the date on which such order is communicated to him to the Press and Registration Appellate Board and may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from appealing on time.

     

    The Appellate Board may, after calling for the records from the specified authority and after making such further inquiries as it thinks fit, confirm, modify or set aside the order appealed against. The decision of the Appellate Board shall be final in respect of provisions given in sub section 19(1) (a) to (d).

    Any person aggrieved by an order of the specified authority for suspension of publication under the provision of section 19(1)(e) will still be free to approach a court of law.

    In case of change of name or place of press, a fresh declaration will not be necessary if this information is given to the specified authority within five days.

    It shall be the duty of the publisher, and owner in the absence of the publisher, of every publication ‘to furnish details of the advertisement revenue of the publication as and when asked for.

    Whoever prints or publishes any book or publication otherwise than in conformity with the provision of section 3 will have to explain the reasons for this and to complete the formalities as specified in this section.

    In its penal provision, the government has said that any contravention of sub-section (1) will invite a fine not exceeding Rs 5,000 in addition to suspension of the publication for a period of 30 days.

    Furthermore, whoever owns any press, other than in conformity with the provision of section 4 will have to explain for such activity and to complete the formalities as specified in that section. For contravention of sub section (1), the person shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Rs 5,000 in addition to sealing of the printing press for a period of 30 days.

    The amendment says that ‘In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power’ such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: the period of suspension of the declaration under sub-section (i) of section 19 , and the manner of filing appeals to the specified appellate authority under sub-section (1) of section 20.

  • I&B Ministry dictates channels to follow the programme code

    I&B Ministry dictates channels to follow the programme code

    NEW DELHI: Taking umbrage at constant comparisons of the speech of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Independence Day to that of other political leaders, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry today advised all News and Current Affairs TV Channels to follow the provisions of the Programme and Advertising Codes ‘scrupulously’.

    An advisory issued by the Ministry also said it was necessary to keep ‘the significance of the solemn days like Independence Day, etc. in view while carrying the speech of the Prime Minister and the President of India’.

    The Ministry said any further violation of the provisions of the Programme/Advertising Code would attract penal provisions stipulated in Section 20 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and the terms and conditions of uplinking and downlinking guidelines.

    The advisory was issued in exercise of powers under Uplinking/Downlinking Guidelines issued by it, the terms of permission granted to the Channel to uplink or downlink TV Channels and under Section 20 of the Act.

     

    The Ministry said that the ‘telecast of this kind of programme on a day when the entire nation was celebrating its 67th Independence Day is highly objectionable. The Prime Minister spoke from the Ramparts of the Red Fort as the Prime Minister of the country and not as a leader of a political party.’

    ‘Therefore, on such a solemn day to put him in an artificial competition with anyone is not appropriate. On Independence Day when the Prime Minister addresses the nation and the country is united in the emotions of national integrity, patriotism and national fervor, the attempt by certain TV channels to denigrate the status of the Prime Minister can best be described as sensational against all norms of ethical journalism.’

    The Ministry pointed out that under Section 5 of the Act read with Rule 6 (1Xa) & (i) of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994 as amended from time to time, ‘no programme can be transmitted/retransmitted on any Cable Service which contains anything offending against good taste or decency; and criticises, maligns or slanders any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country.’

    It added that according to the basic conditions/obligations of permission/approval for
    Uplinking/Downlinking of TV Channels in India, the channels are bound to follow the Programme Code and Advertising Code as prescribed under the Act and rules framed there under. 

  • I&B sets up Internal Complaints Committee for female staff

    I&B sets up Internal Complaints Committee for female staff

    NEW DELHI: In its attempt to strengthen the mechanism for redressal of grievances of the female employees working with it, the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has renamed the Women’s Cell in the Ministry which will now be known as ‘Internal Complaints Committee’.

     

    The Committee will review the programmes and monitor implementation of development schemes for women in accordance with the guidelines suggested by the National Commission for Women. It will also function as the Complaint Committee in terms of the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in a matter relating to sexual harassment in the work place, which has since been included in the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 as Rule 3 C.

     

    Accordingly, this Committee will also look into all complaints of sexual harassment including such complaints filed against the heads of the media units under the administrative control of this Ministry in lines with Duty of Employer at workplace or other institution to prevent or deter the commission of acts of sexual harassment in terms of guidelines and norms laid by Supreme Court in Vishakha & Others versus the State of Rajasthan and others (JT1997(7)SC 3847).

    Headed by Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) Supriya Sahu, directors Priyamvada and G. Jayanthy and S O Kamlesh Makker. While Centre for Media Studies director P Vasanti is a non-official representative of YWCA, Under Secretary (Films) S.B. Pandey is the lone male member.

  • Resuscitating Prasar Bharati

    Resuscitating Prasar Bharati

    The non-coverage of the last historic test match of Sachin Tendulkar by Doordarshan entailed numerous explanations by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Prasar Bharati – on its part – painfully chose not to telecast the mega event because of an unsupportive legal provision that financially favours the content right holders telecasting such sports events.

    Every household watched the match of  Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar with nostalgia and gratitude since the most respected cricketer decided to draw the curtains on his cricketing career representing the nation and relished the visual treat  gratefully acknowledging  “Sachin the Legend” in great measure.

    The Sports Broadcasting (mandatory sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007 mandates all right holders telecasting or broadcasting through radio to share the signals without any advertisements to enable Prasar Bharati to re-transmit on its terrestrial and direct to home network. 

    During the ICC Championship Trophy, ESPN (Now Star Sports 4) as content right holder had offered to share the live signals along with commercials embedded by ICC already.  Prasar Bharati insisted on a clean feed and chose to telecast the event without any commercials that resulted in average of DD National TVTs  soaring to an all time high – higher than other telecasting channels – for all the five matches proving that people in India preferred matches without intervening commercials.

    The Honourable High Court of Delhi decided the issue in favour of the Public Broadcaster. After a series of discussions, marketing inputs and considering the dynamic changes in technology, Prasar Bharati decided to alter the proposed amendment by withdrawing the issue of revenue sharing substituted by a very minor alteration in the Act for the mode of transmission and platform which would enable Prasar Bharati to telecast the sporting events of national importance on the dedicated free-to-air channel of Doordarshan, DD Sports, where the opportunity costs were minimal. Amendments proposed to the Sports Broadcasting Act, 2007 basically focused on the revenue sharing with the rights holders from existing ratio of 75-25 to 40-60 in favour of Prasar Bharati. 

    A recent experiment showed how independence in Prasar Bharati can make an impact. A truly independent team with young professionals in DD News prime time has rattled the industry with ratings showing an upswing.

    Ever since the Sports Act, 2007 was notified, Doordarshan has been telecasting sports events of national importance on its DD National terrestrial channel and free-to-air DTH network in compliance of the Act.  In all, 43 events have been telecast under the Act till November, 2013.

    In 18 events, Doordarshan suffered a total loss where even the amount quoted by the revenue management company, that is, the highest bidder out of Prasar Bharati and the content right holder was not enough to meet the opportunity cost (monetary value of advertisement revenue on normal programme) and in 25 events Doordarshan suffered a loss where even the opportunity cost was not realised.

    Doordarshan had no choice but to undertake these telecasts as it is mandated to comply with the Act.  The 25 per cent revenue share to which Prasar Bharati is entitled has been way below its financial obligations resulting in outright losses. It is time to stop lacerating incursions by commercial interests and to amend the mandatory sharing of Sports Broadcasting Signals with Prasar Bharati Act to avoid any further financial bleeding by the pubcaster. 

    Since 1997, DD  has been demanding literal autonomy enshrined in the Act of Parliament and has been juggling its financial management with a depleting workforce superannuating in thousands every year without a Recruitment Board in place for inexplicable reasons. It is programmed inaction that cost Prasar Bharati heavily with the  Member (Finance) with only one officer sanctioned to assist him in his Secretariat, managing the annual business of Rs 5,000 crore. The Personnel wing too has a crippled structure to handle the workforce of 48,000 sanctioned employees and continues struggling with inherited legacies along with land, buildings, technical infrastructure, ponderous liabilities and unsolved complex HR issues to manage.

    Self sustainability and financial freedom are issues that warrant immediate solution. Vast tracts of land held but not optimally utilised due to technological advancements in broadcasting  resulting in obsolescence of Relay Centres is an immediate viable option for unlocking of land for value otherwise they may end up being exposed to encroachments by land sharks. 

    The large number of government servants on deemed deputation to Prasar Bharati is a legacy that warrants serious restructuring to match modern day broadcast needs. While it has surplus of trained engineering manpower in its terrestrial infrastructure, and skilled manpower to manage content  its news related function is grossly inadequate. The much awaited Sam Pitroda Committee report is expected to offer ample opportunity for government solutions. 

    There is a bright light in the horizon with a positive I&B Ministry leading from the front, correcting inherited infirmities and guiding legal and personnel issues to operationalise practical proposals and resuscitate Prasar Bharati to a genuine and vibrant public broadcaster.

     

    As far as autonomy goes, all major successful public broadcasters in the world have functional and operational autonomy. The BBC model continues to be the best. The  Supreme Court of India while delivering judgement in the case of Cricket Association of Bengal in 1995 brought out the need for total autonomy for ensuring plurality of use, opinion and also to ensure a fair and balanced presentation of news and public issues, the broadcast media should be placed under the control of the public, i.e. in the hands of a Statutory Corporation or Corporations, as the case may be. 

    While dealing with the issues of airwaves, the apex court noted: “Government control, which in effect means the control of the political party or parties in power for the time being.  Such control is bound to colour and in some cases, may even distort the news, views and opinions expressed through the media.  It is not conducive to free expression of the contending viewpoint and opinion which is essential for the growth of a healthy democracy.”

     

    It further added: “The right to use the airwaves and the content of the programme, therefore, needs regulation for balancing it as well as to present monopoly of information and news relayed, which is a potential danger flowing from the concentration of the right to broadcast/telecast in the hands either of a central agency or of few private affluent broadcasters. That is why the need to have a central agency representative of all sections of the society free from control of the government is essential.”

    On the other hand, broadcasting system control managed by states is found to be inconsistent with the basics of full democracy all over the world.  S. Jaipal Reddy during the XIII Lok Sabha debate Session II Winter Session stated: “I do not think that our democracy is so backward to need the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.  In fact, in no advanced country in the world do we have a Ministry for Information and Broadcasting.” 

    For a vibrant Prasar Bharati nevertheless, there is a need for the government to provide financial and personnel stability and ensure that attained ad hocism will be replaced. There is a bright light in the horizon with a positive I&B Ministry leading from the front, correcting inherited infirmities and guiding legal and personnel issues to operationalise practical proposals and resuscitate Prasar Bharati to a genuine and vibrant public broadcaster.

  • I&B, Tourism Ministry work jointly to promote film tourism

    I&B, Tourism Ministry work jointly to promote film tourism

    NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has promoted Incredible India and Cinemas of India as a sub-brand of Incredible India at four international festivals since it entered into an agreement with the Tourism Ministry in February 2012.

     

    These are the Cannes Film Festivals in 2012 and 2013, the European Film Market in Berlin, and the International Film Festival of India in Goa in 2012.

     

    Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi told Parliament that I&B Ministry had constituted on 15 April 2013 an Inter-Ministerial Committee for promotion and facilitation of film production with the objective to facilitate shooting permission in India.

     

    The MoU on 16 February 2012 was to create and build upon a film tourism vertical of ‘Incredible India Campaign’ by promoting Cinemas of India as a sub-brand of Incredible India, with emphasis on its linguistic/cultural/regional diversity.

     

    The aim was also to promote India as a film destination, both for international and domestic film producers; participate in various international and domestic film festivals, markets and events; frame policies and guidelines for facilitating shooting of international films in India;  maintain dialogue with the state governments and union territory administrations for development of locations for film shooting and promotion of tourism; and constitute a national level committee for coordination with various stakeholders for promotion of India as film and tourism destination and for facilitating visas for film units from overseas.

  • Around Rs 12.5 cr spent on flagship promotional programmes till now for 2013-14

    Around Rs 12.5 cr spent on flagship promotional programmes till now for 2013-14

    NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has spent a sum of Rs 12.48 crore during 2013-14 so far on promotional shorts publicising the flagship programmes of the government.

     

    I&B Minister Manish Tewari said that a sum of Rs 103.203 crore had been spent on similar promotional shorts during 2012-13.

     

    The Minister was answering questions after unveiling a comprehensive multi-media initiative “Glimpses of the India Story” – Phase II intended to capture the journey of India’s development through various programmes and policies launched by the government during the last ten years. The first phase was unveiled in May and was actively run from 14 May to 4 June.

     

    The first phase of the ‘India Story’ informed the people about the initiatives taken by the government during the recent years and the tangible benefits that had accrued in sectors such as education, health, telecom, rural and urban infrastructure. In the second phase, a 360 degree communication model has been adopted across media platforms focusing on the new initiatives of the government and the upcoming reforms aimed at improving the lives of the common people.

     

    Giving figures, the Minister said the figure in 2007-08 was Rs 17.87 crore, Rs 46.92 crore in 2008-09, Rs 35.08 crore in 2009-10, Rs 48.48 crore in 2010-11, and Rs 87.78 crore in 2011-12.

     

    He said that the social media was also being used in a major way and ‘content agnostic platforms would be created’.

     

    He claimed that the second phase comprising around ten shorts was rights-based, and had also referred to certain rights that the government had planned for and which were pending in Parliament. The objective of the current phase of the India story is not only to communicate the benefits of the reforms, but to develop a sense of ownership for these initiatives among the people.

     

    The multimedia initiative would be put across on traditional, print, outdoor publicity, special outreach programmes focusing on new media platforms with the objective of informing and apprising the public of the new policy initiatives undertaken by the government recently. For the print and visual media, the content is being developed in 11 languages.

     

    The Ministry has adopted a 360 degree multi-media approach concentrating on six broad themes. Creatives have been developed highlighting the broad features of each of these initiatives. The print media initiative would be covering 539 newspapers across the country which would include regional papers, small and medium papers as well as the dominant groups at the national level.

     

    The outdoor publicity has been planned in 195 cities/towns with 750 sites. Besides this, 216 private FM Stations and prominent TV channels in the news and general entertainment segment would also be covering the Glimpses of India Story.

     

    In the second phase, the various shorts have used Priya as a key figure communicating the intent of the government, while some creatives on the Right to Information had used a look-alike of cartoonist R K Laxman’s ‘Commonn Man’.

     

    For the first time, a special video for the theme song “Meelon Hum Aa Gaye, Meelon Humien Jana Hai” has been developed. The video highlights the need to continue on the path ahead to ensure that the country has able to achieve high economic growth as well as social equity. A key highlight of the audio visual content will also be the special song on “National Integration” of two minute duration focusing on India’s innate strength in “Unity in Diversity”.

     

    The India Story during the second phase will also be positioned on the New media platforms. The focus of attention would be to reach out the younger audience who use this medium on a 24×7 basis. Within the ambit of social media, content would be loaded on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Blog. A dedicated portal highlighting the India story is being developed to provide content/updates on all relevant issues related to the dissemination and outreach programme.

     

    Rural communication would also be one of the corner stones of the current phase of the India Story. Press Information Bureau, through its Public Information Campaigns (PICs) would be taking the message of the new initiatives to the grass roots. PIB is planning 106 Public Information Campaigns (PICs) during the financial year 2013-14. For this initiative, PIB has designed specific content in the form of booklets covering the new initiatives of the government.

     

    The Song and Drama Division and Directorate of Field Publicity would be integrating their efforts for enhancing the outreach to the rural areas through PICs and vertical programmes across the country. The Song and Drama Division would be organizing five Jamunia Programmes concurrently with PICs and 144 other shows based on rural folk culture and theatrical formats within the next two months. Directorate of Field Publicity will be organizing programmes in 195 towns/cities within the next two months.