ITV

Tag: information and broadcasting

  • I&B minister Manish Tewari inaugurates BES Expo 2014

    I&B minister Manish Tewari inaugurates BES Expo 2014

    NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari inaugurated the 20th International Conference and Exhibition on Terrestrial and Satellite Broadcasting – BES Expo 2014, today at New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion he said, “The last two decades have witnessed exponential growth in both the broadcasting and telecom sectors, giving rise to 800 plus television channels.”

    Commenting on the problems and challenges faced by the broadcasting sector due to competition for market share, he said the union cabinet has recently approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for a comprehensive regulatory framework in the form of guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India. These guidelines cover detailed procedures for registration of rating agencies, eligibility norms, terms and conditions of registration, cross-holdings, methodology for audience measurement, a complaint redressal mechanism, sale and use of ratings, audit, disclosure, reporting requirements and action on non-compliance of guidelines. 

    Also speaking at the function, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting secretary Bimal Julka, said the ministry is planning to strengthen community radio movement in India, which would help in giving voice to the voiceless. 

    The BES expo is being attended by over 300 eminent broadcasters, media industry professionals and experts from India and abroad. The three day long expo will have deliberations on issues such as terrestrial broadcasting, future of TV, digitization, disaster broadcast systems for information dissemination, regulatory framework in broadcasting and other important issues related to the broadcasting industry. 

  • Chennai & DAS: Madras High Court puts I&B, TRAI in a tough spot

    Chennai & DAS: Madras High Court puts I&B, TRAI in a tough spot

    MUMBAI: It seems like deja vu. It was around this time last year that Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Manish Tewari was urging the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to move fast on deciding on the issue whether the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corp should be given a digital addressable system (DAS) licence. The TRAI had responded with a paper issued on 28 December 2013 on “Issues related to entry of certain entities into broadcasting and distribution activities.”

    It had recommended that the Central Government, State Governments and their entities should not be permitted to enter into the business of broadcasting and distribution of TV channels. Based on that, a DAS licence was not issued to Arasu, despite continued pressure from the Centre’s allies AIADMK and Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa.

    Now the ball has landed back with the I&B Ministry over the weekend, with the Madras High Court reportedly telling it to once again take a stand on the MSO’s DAS licence. The court also directed the TRAI not to take any coercive action against it even if it continues to deliver analogue signals to its six million odd subscribers in the state. And it also said the case was adjourned for four weeks.

    “..it is not known to this court why the Centre has not taken any decision on the application of Arasu. When the authorities of the Union of India and the state instrumentality are not in a position to take any decision on granting or receiving the DAS licence, as the case may be, the ultimate sufferers are the subscribers. Therefore, I am of the considered opinion that the subscribers cannot be put to hardship. As such, there cannot be any disconnection of signals to the subscribers by the authorities,” said Justice V Dhanapalan on Friday.

    The Madras High Court issued these orders based on a petition that Arasu cable had filed with it. Arasu, on its part, had taken a decision to move the courts following TRAI’s announcement, earlier this month, that Chennai’s cable TV operators, broadcasters, and MSOs should take positive steps towards complete DAS in Chennai – one of the initial phase I metros – or face its wrath.

    Clearly, the I&B Ministry is in a catch 22 situation. The TRAI in its recommendations has been clear on disallowing state control in cable TV and DAS.

    With the Madras High Court now telling the Ministry to reconsider its earlier stance on it, could the court’s direction provide it with a parachute? With the current government at the Centre appearing to be on shaky ground following the Congress (I) debacle in four states, it might well use this as a trump card to win some points with the AIADMK in what appears to be building up as a tough battle for it in the 2014 elections. Additionally, the ministry and the TRAI also wants tardy Chennai to move full steam on digitisation and licensing the largest player Arasu – albeit it being state owned – might well help it achieve that objective.

    But should the I&B Ministry continues to hold on to its position that it will not issue the licence, digitisation might not really progress as Arasu will not take things lying down as it is a tour de force in the state and in the city of Chennai. With the court ruling in its favour, Arasu is well within its rights to continue with its analogue feed now, no matter how much the TRAI cracks the whip. And that’s something which will make the government’s digitisation diktat look incomplete, with one major metro abstaining from it, as it has been doing for nearly a year or so now.

    Meanwhile, local cable TV in Chennai continues to be pained by what’s being going on in the state. Some cable TV operators who are not part of Arasu’s network in Chennai went on a hunger strike yesterday to protest against the analogue signals being transmitted by it.

    “First and foremost a call needs to be taken on Arasu’s licence but more importantly TRAI needs to caution broadcasters who are giving these analog signals to them. They should be asked to sign official deals with MSOs for giving digital signals only,” says Chennai Metro Cable TV Operators Association General Secretary M.R. Srinivasan.

    Clearly, it seems as if the I&B ministry and the TRAI are caught between a rock and a hard place. Where will the two go from here now is anyone’s guess!

  • NBA welcomes Tewaris proposal to delay ad cap

    NBA welcomes Tewaris proposal to delay ad cap

    NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) is a happy lot and why shouldn’t it be? After all its demands are being heard and openly expressed in public meetings by the Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari himself. As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com (Tewari reaffirms his support for extension of ad cap implementation) the minister has come out in support of the news channels who for long have been asking for an extension to the implementation of the 12 minute ad cap.

     

    Welcoming his recent statement that news channels should get an extension on the 12 minute ad cap “at least till the final phase of digitisation is complete”, the NBA said that the industry is in a dire financial condition, like many other sectors of the Indian economy, with ad revenues being slow, carriage fees continuing to be burdensome and credible subscription revenues being out of sight.

     

    Reinstating its earlier argument on the need for delay in implementation of ad cap, NBA today said that a forced curb on advertising will have a catastrophic impact on revenues of news broadcasters forcing many to take drastic steps that would have an unavoidable and adverse impact on quality of service and jobs.

     

    The association has estimated that if the ad cap were indeed implemented at this stage, the revenue loss across news channels would be in excess of Rs 500 crore, forcing cuts of at least that amount in costs, if channels have to survive.

     

    The NBA agreed with the minister that the 12 minute cap on advertisements per clock hour be kept in abeyance and such restrictions “kick in only when the benefits of digitisation are apparent so that broadcasting companies can make good their advertising losses with subscription fee.”

     

    It also urged that the burdensome and crippling nature of carriage fees which have no business to exist in a truly digitised environment is also addressed urgently.

     

    NBA requested the minister and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to come out with a final notification keeping the ad cap for news channels in abeyance as above in the next 10 days as any delays beyond that will have an irreparable impact on the industry.

     

    Now with the I&B minister himself coming out in open to support the news channels, will TRAI melt and give in to the demands of the news channels is something which is worth a wait.

  • FTII to get Rs 800 mn for infrastructure development in 12th Plan

    FTII to get Rs 800 mn for infrastructure development in 12th Plan

    NEW DELHI: The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) is expected to receive a sum of Rs 800 million under the 12th Plan for infrastructure development.

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told Parliament that for the 11th Plan an amount of Rs 373.1 million was provided. Funds are provided under Plan and Non-Plan heads to the Institute.

    The Institute has reported an average teacher-student ratio of 1:7. The salaries of the staff and faculty are governed by Pay Commission recommendations. The development plans proposed by the Institute are taken up as part of Plan schemes and funds are provided accordingly. Every administrative/financial issue being brought to the notice of the Ministry is addressed at highest level.

    Courses are being conducted regularly from 2009 onwards. Due to backlog in completion of courses, a delay has occurred in awarding certificates. Notice has been issued for students who have successfully completed their courses, to collect their diplomas. FTII has also initiated steps to clear backlog in a time bound manner.

  • Several cases of paid news during assembly polls: Soni

    Several cases of paid news during assembly polls: Soni

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni has said that the recent Assembly elections in five states had thrown up several cases of paid news.

    She said: “Special observers were appointed (by the Election Commission) to check the menace of paid news in the recent Assembly elections as well as in the elections in Tamil Nadu earlier. Some pink papers (business newspapers) have also been reported to have indulged in paid news.”

    Speaking on the sidelines of an event here, she drew attention to the large number of players in the electronic and print media, and its impact on news coverage.

    She regretted that the malaise of paid news which has grown especially since 2009, was not limited just to election time.

    “(Paid news) is something which weakens the freedom of the media, and all who argue for it,” Soni added.

  • India to be promoted as filming destination in ‘Incredible India’ campaign

    India to be promoted as filming destination in ‘Incredible India’ campaign

    NEW DELHI: India is to be aggressively promoted as a filming destination.


    The Incredible India Campaign and the cinemas of India are to be promoted at various international film festivals in India and overseas, thanks to a memorandum of understanding between the Information and Broadcasting and Tourism Ministries.


    The MoU is expected to enhance the reach of “Incredible India” through the medium of cinema, develop synergy between tourism and film industry and provide a platform for enabling partnerships between the Indian and global film industry. It was signed today in the presence of I&B Minister Ambika Soni, Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, and Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed.


    It is expected that this innovative partnership will facilitate the promotion of India as a filming destination for foreign producers. In 2011-12, 20 permissions were granted for shooting in India, down from 20 in the prior year and 23 in 2009-10.


    The aim is 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‘. The emphasis will be on its linguistic/cultural/regional diversity. This will also provide an impetus to frame policies and guidelines for facilitating shooting of International films in India and promote India as a filming destination, both for international and domestic film producers.


    Another key objective is to initiate dialogue with State Governments and Union Territories within India for development of locations for film shootings and promotion of tourism.


    At the institutional level, the attempt is to constitute a National Level Committee for coordination with various stakeholders for promotion of India as a film and tourism destination and for facilitating visas for film units from overseas. On some of the key aspects, the roadmap will be charted out through mutual consultations between the two ministries.


    The Tourism Ministry would provide budgetary support for identified film festivals, markets and events. The Ministry would facilitate publicity through the available content based on existing audio visual material and print designs. The joint participation of the two ministries would cover the Cannes Film Festival and Market, International Film Festival of India in Goa including the Film Bazaar, and the European Film Market at Berlin.


    The agreement reiterates the branding of ‘Incredible India’ at critical outreach positions at the identified film festivals markets and events. This includes the display of the logo of Incredible India, through wall hoardings, stalls and the screening of the promotional film.

  • I&B Minister wants IFFI dates to be changed

    I&B Minister wants IFFI dates to be changed

    MUMBAI: The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni said that the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) would be approached with a proposal to change the dates of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) as the concluding day – 3 December – clashes with the St. Francis Xavier feast.

    Soni was speaking after presenting renowned French filmmaker Bernard Tavernier with the Lifetime Achievement Award, a tradition revived after a decade. The award includes a shawl, a scroll and a cash prize of Rs 1 million at the 42nd IFFI in Margao.

    Accepting the award, Tavernier said he had tried through his films to share his vision and the pleasure and joy of filmmaking. Films opened the windows of the world, he said, adding that ‘films can be weapons of massive construction‘.

    Soni wanted the film festival to become a people‘s festival and promised that two more theatres would be ready by the time of the next festival in 2012.

    She expressed the hope that the market section should be strengthened to reach out internationally. IFFI has become an agent of the growing acceptance of Indian cinema and has given an impetus and an identity to the industry making it one of the most prosperous film industries of the world, she added.

    Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan, who was the chief guest at the inauguration of the Festival, said that one should not be afraid to destroy systems and try new things in cinema, which “is food for the soul and the singular experience to which all relate.” Khan, however, did not like to demarcate between art and commercial cinema since all films were mirrors of the world.

    Speaking on the occasion, Goa chief Minister Digambar Kamat said that the state is being developed into a major film centre with a film culture of its own. He has already introduced single-window clearance for producers wanting to make films here. He said he had himself had the privilege of hosting the Festival for the fifth time in a row.

    After the vote of thanks by Film Federation of India President (FFI) TP Aggarwal, the opening film The Consul of Boredeaux directed by Francisco Manso and Joao Correa was screened.

    Others present at the inauguration included I&B Secretary Uday K Varma and Joint Secretary DP Reddy, Margao Mayor Sushila Nayak, Goa chief secretary Sanjay Srivastava, Festival Director Shankar Mohan, Entertainment Society of Goa CEO Manoj Srivastava and the five-member International Jury headed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan.

    Also present were producer-directors Ramesh Sippy, Jahnu Barua and Sudhir Mishra, Dharmesh Tiwari who represents a workers association in the industry, Oscar awardee Resul Pokkutty, Steering Committee Chairman Mike Pandey, and Prem Chopra.

    In a change of tradition, the IFFI, being held for the eighth time in a row in Panaji had its inauguration at the Rabindra Bhavan in Margao.

  • Allahabad High Court issues notice to Delhi Belly maker

    Allahabad High Court issues notice to Delhi Belly maker

    MUMBAI: Exactly 12 days after the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur issued a notice to Aamir Khan and three others for alleged obscenity and use of abusive language in Delhi Belly, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has issued notices to Aamir Khan Productions, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Censor Board of Film Certification challenging the public exhibition certificate issued to the film.


    The petitioners alleged that the film had indecent, immoral and abusive language. They submitted that it was clear violation of Section 5 B of the Cinematograph Act.


    The notices were issued by the bench of Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice Anil Kumar on a writ petition seeking direction to quash the certificate for public.


    The notices were issued by the bench of Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice Anil Kumar on a writ petition seeking direction to quash the certificate for public exhibition issued to the film that released on 1 July.


    The Court has asked the respondents to file a reply within four weeks.


    It may be remembered that it is because of the same reason that Nepal and Pakistan banned the film.

  • 2 new DD satellite channels for North-East India mulled

    2 new DD satellite channels for North-East India mulled

    NEW DELHI: Pubcaster Doordarshan is likely to set up uplinking facility for two new North East Indian channels in about a year and a half.

    These would, however, commence when adequate number of suitable programmes is ready, information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said today.

    The minister said that Rs. 27.9 million and under Rs. 1 million have been earmarked for the launch of these channels and their inclusion in Ku-Band under the North East special package phase-II, which was approved in May, 2006.