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Tag: Mamata Banerjee

  • Kolkata could go completely digital by 1 February

    Kolkata could go completely digital by 1 February

    MUMBAI: Kolkata could go completely digital by 1 February with the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry, the broadcasters and most of the multi-system operators (MSOs) pressing for a blackout of analogue delivery of television channels.

    The MSOs met the West Bengal state government minister to get the support for an effective implementation.

    Though technically Kolkata has gone digital along with the four other metros since 1 November, analogue signals have continued amid seeding of digital set-top boxes (STBs) as the Mamata Banerjee government has refused to support a total blackout.

    "The state government of West Bengal has given an unofficial nod to MSOs in Kolkata to switch-off analogue cable completely beginning 1 February," the CEO of a MSO who attended the meeting said on condition of anonymity.
    There is one big MSO in Kolkata who is still waiting for digital set-top boxes (STBs) to arrive and is continuing with analogue transmission. Some cable operators are also saying that STB shortage is still there in some pockets of the city.

    In the backdrop of this, the support of the state government is crucial. "The state government is fine with the analogue switch-off as long as there is no law and order problem," a senior executive representing a MSO said on condition that his identity not be revealed.

    In any case, most of the MSOs have switched off most of the channels except the Bengali entertainment and news channels. The city was expected to go digital from 28 December after initial hiccups. However, an unrelenting state government had warned MSOs against complete switch off.

    The MSOs had begun the process of switching off analogue signals from 16 December with English entertainment channels.

    The Bengali channels were the last to be swtiched off from 27 December but the Information & broadcasting ministry‘s efforts to implement complete digitisation came to a nought due to state government‘s tough posturing.

    "Kolkata should be able to go totally digital by 1 February. We have also been told by the I&B ministry verbally that they will take action if we do not switch off analogue signals," said Manthan director Gurmeet Singh.

  • Mamata Banerjee plans to start state-run channel

    Mamata Banerjee plans to start state-run channel

    MUMBAI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee loves to be in news, for whatever reasons. After gaining intense criticism and negative publicity over several recent decisions, she is now planning to launch her own television channel and a newspaper.

    Banerjee said today that she would start a television channel and a newspaper to disseminate correct information and publicise the activities and achievements of the government.

    She said, “I have already told my ministers that I want to start a channel and a newspaper for the West Bengal government.”

    “No matter how many good deeds we do, they are not broadcast in the right way, instead are broadcast negatively… That is why I think we have to do something good ourselves and that is why we have taken the decision to show the work done in West Bengal…We need our own news channel and paper to inform the people,” Banerjee said at a convention in Kolkata.

    Last month, Banerjee had drawn criticism after her government came out with a list of newspapers to be kept at the state-run libraries, keeping out some prominent English dailies out of the list.

    Last Thursday, she advised people in her state not to watch “some news channels”; they should instead watch entertainment channels. “Do not watch the two television channels that are spreading falsehood against us, watch Star Jalsa, Tara and Channel 10,” she had said while addressing a government programme in North 24 Parganas.

  • Mediapersons to get railway ID cum credit cards

    Mediapersons to get railway ID cum credit cards

     NEW DELHI: The press would be able to take advantage of travel on railways through the use of photo identification cum credit cards based on the certification by the Press Information Bureau and other competent State and local authorities.

    Until now, the mediapersons had to acquire coupons from the railways for concessions.

    Presenting the Railway Budget for 2011-12, Rail Minister Mamata Banerjee said on production of this card, the Press Correspondents would be able to get reservation done and also tickets issued from the PRS/UTS counters.  
         
      Facilities would also be provided to get compact accommodation for both the Press Correspondents and their family members who are not availing this concession. In addition, concession of 30 per cent will be increased to 50 per cent for Press Correspondents and permission to travel with spouse at 50 per cent concession will be given for once a year, she said.

    Meanwhile, she announced the setting up of an expert committee headed by Sam Pitroda, the key person behind the growth of telecommunication revolution in the country, to suggest further innovations, to utilise the optic fiber cables network of the railway and take information technology to the door steps in remote areas.

    She said this was being done because there had been little progress after the announcement in the 2001-02 Railway Budget of laying of Optic Fibre Cable network along Railway track for commercial utilisation.

  • Trinamool Congress to launch news channel

    Trinamool Congress to launch news channel

    MUMBAI: Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress is planning to launch a television news channel soon.

    Amid media reports, the channel, to be called Maa Mati Manus (Mother, soil and people), will be launched in order to counter “the false propaganda” of West Bengal‘s ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). The announcement was made by Trinamool Congress party chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday.  
         
      “Unlike the CPI-M, we don‘t have any television news channel to take our views before the public. We will launch our own channel through which we will counter the CPI-M‘s false allegations. The channel will telecast the truth and air the views of the common people,” Banerjee said while addressing a rally at Dum Dum, IANS reported.

    Banerjee further added, “Only a few channels sometimes try to broadcast the truth. So we will launch our own channel – Maa Mati Manus – which will telecast the facts.”

    Maa Mati Manus (mother, soil and people) is also Trinamool Congress slogan which Banerjee coined at the height of her anti-farmland acquisition agitation in Singur and Nandigram in the state.