ITV

Tag: I&B

  • Government plans to increase funds for M&E industry: CII

    Government plans to increase funds for M&E industry: CII

    MUMBAI: Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore assured the media and entertainment (M&E) industry that the government policies would be supportive and calibrated to enhance the modernisation and monetisation of the sector.

     

    Addressing the fourth edition of the CII Big Picture Summit 2015 in New Delhi, Rathore said, “In phase II of the auction of the frequencies for the radio, there was no provision for broadcasting news. This was changed during the phase III auction, when private radio was allowed to broadcast the news of the All India Radio (AIR) for a specified time.”

     

    Rathore mentioned that a lot of initiatives were being taken by the government to support the M&E industry in the country, such as channelising more advertisements to the digital media like YouTube, outsourcing some of the creative works of Doordarshan and AIR to the industry. More such steps would be taken in due course.

     

    In this regard, plans are underway to revamp the terrestrial broadcast of DD to couple it with internet and DTH so that there would be opportunities for making local programs based on events happening in smaller towns and rural areas. This would also give a boost to creation of contents, which have local flavour and relevance. 

     

    Acknowledging the industry demand that the monetisation of the M&E segment had not kept pace with the requirements, Rathore disclosed that the government had proposed to set up a university to develop soft skills needed for the industry.

     

    This university would specialise in providing skills to students in areas like gaming, animation and other avenues of creative pursuits relevant to the industry. He wanted industry to take a lead in this endeavour and create centers of excellence, which would enable the M&E industry to reach $100 billion by 2025. He also said that industry support was imperative to improve the content and appeal of the programs and for training media professionals.

     

    Responding to a suggestion made by the industry to bring down high incidence of tax levied on the M&E industry, the Minister said that the Good and Services Tax (GST), which the Government wanted to enact would have subsumed various taxes incidental on the industry. He hoped that the bill would be passed soon in the interest of the nation.

     

    Rathore observed that the Government was keen to create a single window clearance for shooting films in India, which could enhance the monetisation and profitability of the industry. He wanted CII to come out with a plan for creating a dynamic eco system for the film industry to flourish. At the same time, he said that inadequate number of cinema halls in India as compared to countries like the US and China could be more to do with real estate prices.

     

    Ministry of I&B special secretary J S Mathur said, “The process of digitisation in the M&E sector was at a higher pace and would show results in the coming years. He was of the opinion that smart phones, which could carry large quantum of data including films, news bulletins etc. would redefine the digital space in India.”

     

    He also mentioned that the Government was in the process of finalising the draft of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), which would enable more and more people to invest in India in various segments like content creation, production, animation, and gaming. 

     

    Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar opined that a consortium approach should be followed by the industry and the Government to promote the convergence in the M&E industry to realise its potentials. He suggested that a shared approach should be there among the players to make use of the vast infrastructure of the government through innovative schemes that would put to use smart phones as carriers of innovative contents.

     

    CII National Committee on Media and Entertainment and Group CEO, Viacom 18 Group CEO and CII National Committee on Media and Entertainment chairman Sudhanshu Vats pitched for easing of doing business and greater application of convergence of technology to tap the potentials of the industry. Monetisation of the industry can be enhanced through proper government support to the industry.

     

    Narrating the problems being faced by the M&E sector, Star India COO Sanjay Gupta said that bandwidth problems, high cost, high taxes etc were adversely affecting the growth of M&E industry. He wanted a supportive policy regime to help the industry reach $100 billion mark by 2025.

  • FM migration fee submission date extended, Phase I kept out of migration

    FM migration fee submission date extended, Phase I kept out of migration

    NEW DELHI: Existing operators of Phase II FM Radio wanting to migrate to Phase III have been asked to deposit 25 per cent of the non-refundable one-time entry fee (NOTMF) by 5 October.

     

     

    Accepting a demand by Phase II FM operators for extension of time, the Government said that the balance will have to be paid by 15 October instead of the previous deadline of 1 October. 

     

    However, the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry made it clear that the option of migration only applied to Phase II operators and not Phase I operators.

     

    It also said that the migration fee had been fixed according to the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India of 20 February this year.

     

    As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, each channel in Mumbai, which falls under the ‘A’ plus category will have to pay Rs 36.69 crore to the Ministry, while each channel from category ‘D’ city – Aizawl will have to shell out Rs 0.12 crore.

     

    This means that from Mumbai, the Ministry will receive a total of approximately Rs 256.83 crore, considering there are seven stations- Radio City, Red FM, Fever FM, Big FM, Radio One, Radio Mirchi and Oye FM.

     

    The second highest pay-out will come from New Delhi, which will pay Rs 33.33 crore per channel, which means that all the stations together will contribute about Rs 266.64 crore.

  • Ad cap violation by 141 TV channels even as case to come up in September

    Ad cap violation by 141 TV channels even as case to come up in September

    NEW DELHI: Even as the advertising cap case is to come up for further hearing before the Delhi High Court on 8 September, a study shows that a total of 141 television channels comprising 36 news and current affairs channels and 105 non-news channels, continue to telecast more than 12 minutes of advertising and commercials per hour in violation of the set rules.

     

    The study shows that while the highest of these is 22.66 minutes by India TV and the lowest is 12.04 minutes, there are at least 17 news and 19 non-news channels clocking more than 15 minutes per hour. 

     

    While asking the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) not to take any coercive action against any channel pending hearing of the case, the Court had asked all channels and TRAI to keep a record of the advertising time consumed including commercials. 

     

    The petition had been filed by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and some channels challenging the TRAI decision to implement the directive of 12 minutes contained in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry and TRAI are the respondents in the petition.

     

    Interestingly, I&B Minister Arun Jaitley had in January this year said that he was not in favour of any ad cap in the print or electronic media.

     

    In the petition, the news channels have taken the plea that they are free to air and therefore do not get any subscription fee from the viewers as the GEC channels do.

     

    TRAI says that the information is based on the data submitted by the broadcasters and TRAI bears no responsibility for the figures given. 

     

    According to information available to TRAI, the rest of the news channels are carrying less than 12 minutes of average duration per hour of advertisements (Commercial & Self promotional) during peak hours (7 – 10 PM) from 30 March to 29 June.

     

    Among the news channels, the lowest is Mathrubhumi News with 12.42 minutes and among the GEC channels, the highest is 18.69 by B4U Movies and the lowest is 12.04 by Jaya Max.

  • DAS Phase III: 372 MSOs granted registration of which 146 are provisional

    DAS Phase III: 372 MSOs granted registration of which 146 are provisional

    NEW DELHI: Clearly, the pressure of the approaching deadline for the third phase of Digital Addressable System (DAS) is beginning to show its signs in the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, with a second list of registered multi system operators (MSOs) being issued within one month.

     

    A total of 372 MSOs were issued registration today, which included 226 who have ten-year registration and 146 who have provisional licences.

     

    With indications coming from the Home Ministry that MSOs may no longer insist on security clearance, the hope of the 146 becoming permanent have brightened.

     

    According to the list issued on 14 August, the Ministry had registered a total of 349 MSOs of which 126 were provisional.

     

    The total figure is impressive considering that 74 new MSOs have been permitted to operate since 12 July, though a majority of them have provisional licences.

     

    While a majority of MSOs including Kal Cables have had their licences cancelled following the Home Ministry denying security clearance, some have been cancelled for non-operation. These include four cancelled in 2015.

     

    Eleven MSOs who had earlier been granted permanent licences were permitted to change their areas of operation.

     

    Provisional licences given after 12 July total 66 including one for Assam and another for Mizoram. Provisional licence had been issued prior to 12 July to one MSO in Kashmir. 

  • Broadcasters urged to publicize International Yoga Day on 21 June

    Broadcasters urged to publicize International Yoga Day on 21 June

    NEW DELHI: With the United Nations’ endorsement of observing 21 June as International Yoga Day for the first time, representatives of the Information and Broadcasting and AYUSH Ministries today met broadcasters to seek their proactive participation.

     

    I&B secretary Bimal Julka and AYUSH secretary Nilanjan Sanyal interacted with the representatives of News Broadcasters Association, Indian Broadcasting Foundation, CRFI, FCSR and representatives from Digital Cinema to ensure enhanced coverage, content and reach across news, GECs, digital, CRS and radio platforms.

     

    Both emphasized that the collaborative effort would also reinforce the vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this would also enable the event having an international impact with the focus on Yoga being a people’s movement.

     

    Representatives from the industry bodies promised to proactively participate in promoting the event while at the same time providing and broadcasting content free of cost.

     

    They mentioned that content would be sourced in the form of spots featuring popular TV artists on GEC platforms, and messages endorsing the relevance of Yoga. These spots would run across the broadcaster’s network on both news and GEC segments.

     

    Industry representatives also agreed to take forward content created by the AYUSH Ministry on their platforms pro bono.

     

    They agreed to popularize the Yoga initiative on news platform on the news segment through Special programmes, discussions and studio-based events. It was also agreed that the events associated with International Yoga day would be covered appropriately.

     

    Representatives of the industry from radio, digital cinema and community radio stream also offered to take the advocacy efforts forward through their network and distribution platforms.

  • Zee will continue to follow 12 mins ad cap: Punit Goenka

    Zee will continue to follow 12 mins ad cap: Punit Goenka

    MUMBAI: Reacting to the statement that the Information and Broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley was not in favour of the 12 minute ad cap for television channels, Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka has said that though he was happy with the views of the minister, his company Zee will continue to follow the ad cap.
     
     
    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Goenka said, “It is a good move for news and music channels but Zee will continue to follow the ad cap.”
     
     
    “The ministry comes up with such statements and many fall for the trap,” he added.
     
     
    On the current inventory system for news and niche channels, Goenka believes that if ad cap is not followed, the channels will continue to work on minimalistic rates.
     
     
    It may be recalled that Jaitley had said that while the government was not inclined to interfere in the content or the business of media entities, he was not in favour of a cap on advertising for TV or print media. He said that essentially, ad cap conflicts with fundamental rights.
     
     
    The ad cap law brought in by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been legally challenged and the matter is pending in court. As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the Delhi High Court today adjourned the petition by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and others challenging the advertising cap of 12 minutes per hour sought to be imposed by the government to 24 March.
  • Channel for farmers to be launched early next year

    Channel for farmers to be launched early next year

    NEW DELHI: The Kisan channel is expected to be launched early next year, as soon as the procedures under the existing rules and norms are completed.

     
    Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources said the channel would be in Hindi to begin with and will have inputs from regional Kendras. These programmes will be shared with the Kendras.

     
    The channel would be an education-cum-entertainment one, encompassing all facets of life of a farmer. Besides the core agricultural issues, the content of the channel will deal with various social and economic issues concerning rural India.

     
    Ministry sources said Prasar Bharati inputs would be taken from different agricultural universities and institutes to develop rich content for the channel and the same would be disseminated among the farmers.

     

    In keeping with the budget announcement about setting up a Kisan channel, by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Prasar Bharati has already invited applications for recruitments in the channel which will be round-the-clock.

     
    DD is hoping to engage people in the field of production as well as marketing in positions ranging from senior to mid to junior level.

     
    There are a total of 67 vacant posts of post production professionals, visual graphics designers, record keepers, senior videographers, junior videographers, senior production executives, production executives, senior creative editors, creative editors, senior presenters, presenters, copy editor–cum-writers, programme trainees, head- sales and marketing, and senior sales and marketing executives.

     
    Other steps being taken by Prasar Bharati for this channel include: production of in-house and outsourced content; liaison with relevant ministries to get inputs for channel content and for which advertisements will be issued; calculation of budget and expenditure for the channel; crowd sourcing for channel name, logo, jingles etc and issue of advertisement for channel packaging and branding along with look and feel and montage.

     
    Jaitley had announced in his budget speech on 10 July that a sum of Rs 100 crore would be allocated for this channel. However, the budget for I&B Ministry shows an allocation of Rs 90 crore for this in the year 2014-15.

     

    Meanwhile, the Krishi Darshan programmes of Doordarshan are being telecast under the ‘Mass Media Support to Agriculture Extension’ funded by the Agriculture Ministry focusing on dissemination of modern agricultural techniques by involving experts from various fields like insurance, banking, credit for farmers, State Government schemes on agriculture/ fisheries/veterinary science/water and soil conservation/social forestry etc.

     
    In addition, a programme ‘Mera Gaon Connection telecast at prime time on DD National also introduces modern agricultural techniques to the viewers.  

     

  • MSOs not ordering STBs, say manufacturers

    MSOs not ordering STBs, say manufacturers

    MUMBAI: The former Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar had emphasised the need for bringing in indigenous Set Top Boxes (STBs) and the new administration is also keen to do the same. It was with this in mind that I&B secretary Bimal Julka held a meeting with indigenous STB manufacturers recently.

    Julka said that the issue of C-Form had already been addressed by the government to ensure level playing field for the domestic manufacturers as compared to imported STBs. The meeting was to assess the readiness of the manufacturers to meet the 11 million STB requirements since they had stated that sufficient capacity had been installed.

    A meeting had also been held with the Prime Minister regarding availability of conditional access system (CAS). The issue of interoperability of STBs was also being scrutinised and a task force meeting on the same had also been held.

    The STB manufacturers informed that they have been in touch with operators for their requirements but their response has not been encouraging. According to them the operators are anticipating change in timeline of digitisation and a change in policy, leading to their slow uptake.

    The manufacturers stated that they are prepared to go head on with the imported boxes as well as have a penal clause on penalty. Since no order was coming from operators, it was a difficult task to prepare production since time was needed to receive the components from suppliers.

    Therefore, they manufacturers have requested the Ministry to facilitate a process so that MSOs look at indigenous STBs for phases III and IV of digitisation. A joint meeting between the three could be held to resolve concerns.

    Julka clarified that 2015 and 2016 are the final dates for digitisation, so there needs to be no apprehension on that front. Monitoring of the digitisation programme would be scaled up in accordance with the implementation strategy being set in the Ministry.

     

  • R Jaya takes over as JS (Broadcasting) in I&B as Supriya Sahu’s term ends

    R Jaya takes over as JS (Broadcasting) in I&B as Supriya Sahu’s term ends

    NEW DELHI: Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer R Jaya has taken over as joint secretary (Broadcasting) in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry following the end of the extended term of Supriya Sahu.

     Sahu, whose term ended in June but was given a three-month extension, has sought leave for two months and will be posted elsewhere, later.

     Tamil Nadu-cadre officer Jaya was member secretary in National Council for Teacher Education under the Department of School Education and Literacy.

     Jaya is from the 1995 batch of the Tamil Nadu cadre and also worked in the Rural Development, Home and Personnel ministries before her last assignment in the Human Resource Development Ministry.
    Sahu is also from the Tamil Nadu cadre of IAS 1991 batch. She was handling the transition to digital addressable systems for cable television at present, apart from conducting the weekly open house meetings with multi-system operators and cable operators with regard to licensing and other issues.

     She had joined the I&B Ministry as director in July 2009 and was promoted to joint secretary in October 2011.

    Meanwhile, Puneet Kansal, an IAS officer from the 1996 batch from Sikkim, has been elevated and transferred as JS to the I&B Ministry against a vacant post. He is expected to look after FM and community radio.

     On deputation to the Centre since February 2009, he was until recently, director in the Power Ministry.

     

  • Information and Broadcasting goes to Arun Jaitley

    Information and Broadcasting goes to Arun Jaitley

    NEW DELHI: Arun Jaitley, who has been divested of the Defence portfolio, has once again taken up the mantle of Information and Broadcasting Minister – a post he had held when A B Vajpayee was the Prime Minister – in addition to Finance and Corporate Affairs.

     

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, thus, upgraded the post of I&B Minister which has been held by Ministers of State with Independent Charge under Vajpayee, Dr Manmohan Singh and Modi.

     

    Jaitley will also have a Minister of State to assist him in Information and Broadcasting – Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

     

     While Defence has gone to former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, former I& B Minister will continue to retain the Environment and Forests portfolio. Ravi Shankar Prasad also continues to retain the Communications portfolio and former actress Smriti Irani continues to hold the Human Resource Development portfolio, both in cabinet rank.

     

    Currently a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, Jaitley is a senior advocate of the Supreme Court. He had commenced his political career with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Bhartiya Janta Party. He has been a member of the national executive of Bharatiya Janata Party since 1991. After the BJP led National Democratic Alliance came to power under Atal Behari Vajoayee, Jaitley was appointed Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge) on 13 October 1999.

     

    Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is an Indian shooter and politician, who rose to fame after winning the Silver medal in Men’s Double Trap at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. On 10 September 2013, Rathore joined the BJP after taking voluntary retirement from the Indian Army. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Jaipur Rural.

     

    A film personality, singer Babul Supriyo, finds a berth in the cabinet as Minister of State for Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.