ITV

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

  • Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    NEW DELHI: At a time when the last phase of the digital addressable system for cable TV is gathering momentum, the government cleared just under forty multi system operators over the past month, taking the total to 792 including 231 which have permanent (ten-year licences) by 26 February.

    The last list issued on 26 February had put the total at 753 including the 231 which have permanent (ten-year) licences. The Information and Broadcasting had by 12 January cancelled the licences of 26 MSOs and closed their cases.

    According to the list issued today but dated till 26 March, the areas of operation of some of the MSOs have been revised or amended. None of the 39 new licencees have got pan-India registration, though some have the registration to cover a particular state and most have only clearances for some districts. The new registrations are for from Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu Gujarat, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Chhatisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

    With the home ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs’ not being communicated in writing to the MIB, the pace remains slow.

    The permanent licence issued to Kal Cable of Chennai had been cancelled on 20 August, 2014 but this cancellation was set aside by the Madras high court on 5 September the same year. However, Kal Cable’s name continues to be in the cancelled list – presumably because the cases are still pending.

    Sources said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

  • Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    NEW DELHI: At a time when the last phase of the digital addressable system for cable TV is gathering momentum, the government cleared just under forty multi system operators over the past month, taking the total to 792 including 231 which have permanent (ten-year licences) by 26 February.

    The last list issued on 26 February had put the total at 753 including the 231 which have permanent (ten-year) licences. The Information and Broadcasting had by 12 January cancelled the licences of 26 MSOs and closed their cases.

    According to the list issued today but dated till 26 March, the areas of operation of some of the MSOs have been revised or amended. None of the 39 new licencees have got pan-India registration, though some have the registration to cover a particular state and most have only clearances for some districts. The new registrations are for from Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu Gujarat, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Chhatisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

    With the home ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs’ not being communicated in writing to the MIB, the pace remains slow.

    The permanent licence issued to Kal Cable of Chennai had been cancelled on 20 August, 2014 but this cancellation was set aside by the Madras high court on 5 September the same year. However, Kal Cable’s name continues to be in the cancelled list – presumably because the cases are still pending.

    Sources said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

  • State election results: A busy day for news channels

    State election results: A busy day for news channels

    MUMBAI: The year 2014 saw not only the 16th Lok Sabha election, but a number of states undergoing assembly elections as well.

     

    As the year ends, two states – Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand – casted their votes and elected their new governments. The result day i.e. 23 December, was a day of excitement for news channels as most of them started early with predictions. As the day progressed, the counting results were displayed on the screens as media stalwarts analysed the results.

     

    The numbers clearly showed the mark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had left on these states as the BJP won a number of seats. In Jharkhand, the party has won with almost majority while in J&K, it is the second largest party after PDP. However, the “breaking news” was J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah losing from both Beerwah and Sonawar assembly constituency seats.

     

    The news channels focused on the next step of the political parties especially in J&K as there was no clear winner. The channels got a panel discussing the same as well as senior editors within the channel analysed the winners, the overall results as well as what discussions are going on behind the closed doors of parties on their next move.

     

    The analysis continued till late afternoon; with a little break as BJP’s Amit Shah held a press conference to talk about the party’s performance in the two states. “2014 is the year of BJP,” is what the right-hand man of Modi had to say.

     

    Throughout the day, the channels also gathered as well as took people’s reaction through their digital platforms. Hashtags like #Dec23WithArnab, #NDTVResults were created and promoted on channels as they geared for the big debates to be held at primetime.

  • Govt admits Pakistan TV signals available in border areas

    Govt admits Pakistan TV signals available in border areas

    NEW DELHI: Even as the government has been claiming for several years that it is giving priority to strengthen its communication towers on the borders to strengthen its signals, the Home Ministry and Prasar Bharati have admitted that the signals/coverage of Pakistan TV is available in the bordering districts of the country.

     

    However, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told Parliament that ‘no complaints have been received during the last three years regarding telecast of Pakistan TV in the bordering districts of the country.’

     

    He said strengthening of TV coverage of Doordarshan to counter the anti-India propaganda along border areas is an ongoing process. Doordarshan has been assigning priority for expansion of its coverage in the border areas of the country in various expansion plans formulated from time to time. Special packages for expansion and improvement of Doordarshan services in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have also been implemented in the past.

     

    At present, Prasar Bharati has informed that 112 TV transmitters of varying power are functioning in the districts near the Pakistan border.

    Javadekar said that to further strengthen TV coverage in J&K, a scheme was approved in the 11th Plan which includes projects of establishment of five high power TV transmitters in J&K (Kashmir region- 1; Jammu region-1; Ladakh region-1 besides 2 high power transmitters at Rajouri).

     

    These projects are expected to be completed in phases, in about two years, he added. 

     

    Meanwhile, DD sources told indiantelevision.com that all areas uncovered by terrestrial transmitters in border areas along with the rest of the country have been provided with multichannel television coverage through Doordarshan’s free-to-air direct-to-home platform Free Dish which can be received anywhere in the country with small sized dish receiver units.

     

    However, All India Radio and DD terrestrial coverage in the border areas in Jammu and Kashmir is being strengthened with an outlay of Rs 1 billion in the 11th Plan.

      

    A total of 273 TV transmitters of varying power are presently functioning in the border areas all over the country, DD sources told indiantelevision.com

  • Dharamshala Filmfest’s initiative for Himalayan film makers

    Dharamshala Filmfest’s initiative for Himalayan film makers

    NEW DELHI: The third Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) has launched the DIFF Film Fellows initiative for Himalayan filmmakers to encourage young filmmakers.

     

    The festival to be held from 30 October to 2 November, will take applicants who are 25 years of age or younger and the applications have to be sent in by 31 August.

     

    Though the films can be of any genre, the programme is targeted specifically at filmmakers from the Indian Himalayan regions including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and the hill regions of West Bengal and Assam.

     

    Five filmmakers will be selected to attend DIFF 2014 and participate in its various events, including screenings of the best of contemporary independent cinema. Master classes and workshops will be held by visiting filmmakers and industry professionals.

     

    The selected participants will be able to engage in special one-on-one mentorship sessions with these visiting filmmakers.

     

    The programme covers train fares, food and lodging for the selected participants for the duration of the festival. 

  • National sports academies for major sports: Arun Jaitley

    National sports academies for major sports: Arun Jaitley

    MUMBAI: The sports sector in India has received a major push in the Budget 2014 presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

     

    The FM announced that provisions will be made to set up National sports academies for major sports in India. While announcing setting up of a sports university in Manipur, Jaitley also allocated Rs 100 crore for Asian and Commonwealth games training.

     

    Jaitley also announced sops for sports in Jammu and Kashmir. He proposed to allocate Rs 200 crore for upgradation of sports facilities in the state.

     

    PricewaterhouseCoopers leader- entertainment & media practice India Smita Jha said, “You would agree with me that the Sports sector in India is much in need of transformation. Budgetary allocations towards upgrading sports infrastructure, training, nurturing best talent and setting up a sports university are in the right direction though the funds allocated are significantly less than what are needed. However, we welcome the recognition from the government that this sector requires significant investment.

  • Ziyarat denied release in Jammu despite valid agreement

    Ziyarat denied release in Jammu despite valid agreement

    NEW DELHI: A film based on communal amity in Jammu and Kashmir, ‘Ziyarat‘ directed by Suresh K Goswami, has been denied released in Jammu although the filmmakers had fulfilled all necessary formalities with the theatres.


    Goswami told indiantelevision.com that the film had been cleared by the censors and was considered an important milestone in promoting communal amity in the valley.


    He said the release had been scheduled for 2 December and the pre-booking, reservation, and the theatre advance payment had been concluded 20 days before the release date for Hari Theatre.


    The producers have complained to the industry body and also sought damages at this unethical behaviour of the theatre management.


    Goswami said, “Ziyarat was a sincere effort to promote brotherhood, regional integration, local culture and national integration, a much needed genre in present Kashmir.”


    The film tells the story of a Muslim couple who are desperately looking for a Hindu Pandit. The couple forced to flee the valley in the wake of violence, leaving behind their child.

  • Ziyarat is Indian entry to Dhaka Film Fest

    Ziyarat is Indian entry to Dhaka Film Fest

    NEW DELHI: Ziyarat, the first feature film to be made by a Kashmiri
    director and starring only Kashmiri artistes which has already won an
    award in the United States, has been invited to the Dhaka
    International Film Festival early next year.


    The film, directed by Suresh K Goswami who also wrote the story, will
    have a limited release in the country in Delhi and Mumbai in the first
    phase and later in Jammu and Kashmir.


    Noting that a film of this nature may not have a mass appeal, Goswami
    told indiantelevision.com that he expected to release the film on 21
    October with about ten prints in Delhi and Mumbai, and later a bigger
    release in Jammu and Kashmir.


    Goswami said the research on the film had taken a year after which he
    shot the film in eight days in December last and did the
    post-production in just over three months. He said the film had just
    three professional actors, the rest being either newcomers or people
    living in relief camps.


    Answering a question, he said he did not face any hurdles while
    shooting on actual locations in the valley and Jammu, and the Central
    Board of Film Certification had only asked him to tone down the
    dialogues at one or two places.


    Essentially a story based on the plight of Kashmiri pundits who had to
    flee the valley and are now living miserable lives in refugee camps,
    the film won ‘Honorable Mention‘ at the Famewalk International Film
    Festival in Los Angeles on 22 July 2011.


    The story revolves around young Muslim Abdul Qadir and his wife Mariam
    who are searching for their friends – Pandit Dinanath and his wife
    Girija who had fled the valley when their family became a victim of
    militancy. Mariam has brought up Posh, the son of Pandit and his wife
    who had thought their child had been killed.