ITV

Tag: MIB

  • I&B ministry asks private satellite channels to telecast content cautiously

    I&B ministry asks private satellite channels to telecast content cautiously

    MUMBAI: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued an advisory to all private satellite channels regarding the telecast of content in compliance with the programme codes. MIB has also noted that it has observed some TV channels telecasting content not according to specific programme codes mentioned in an earlier advisory dated 11 December.

    MIB has reiterated that all TV channels may abstain from showing any content which is likely to instigate violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes; contains anything affecting the integrity of the nation; criticises, maligns or slanders any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social public and moral life of the country.

    All private satellite channels have been asked to compile with the advisory strictly.

  • MIB adds DD Yadagiri in must-carry list for broadcasters

    MIB adds DD Yadagiri in must-carry list for broadcasters

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has mandated all distribution platform operators to carry DD Yadagiri as a must-carry Doordarshan channel.

    In its recent notification, MIB stated that DD Yadagiri is the 27th mandatory Doordarshan channel and according to section 8 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995, all channels notified by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette have to be mandatorily carried by the cable operators.

    This year in May, MIB included DD Arun Prabha in the mandatory DD channels list.

    DD Yadagiri is a state-owned Telugu language television channel operated by India's national broadcaster Doordarshan. It is one of the 11 Indian regional language channels operated by Doordarshan and is telecast from Doordarshan Kendra Hyderabad, Telangana and caters to the state of Telangana.

  • Draft bill proposes to regulate digital news media

    Draft bill proposes to regulate digital news media

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) has proposed changes to the archaic, colonial-era Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867, which will make it mandatory for digital news sites to register themselves with the Registrar of Newspapers of India in “such manner and giving such particulars as may be prescribed”.

    Section 18 of the provisions of the draft Registration of Press and Periodical (RPP) Bill, 2019 – released by the MIB for consultations – stipulates: “The publishers of news on Digital Media shall register themselves with the Registrar of Newspapers of India in such manner and giving such particulars as may be prescribed.”

    The draft bill, if accepted, will bring digital news under the gambit of regulation as currently no news website in India has to “register” with the government or follow any regulations other than what are normally applicable for any form of speech or expression.

    The bill defines news on digital media as "news in digitised format that can be transmitted over the internet, computer or mobile networks and includes text, audio, video and graphics".

    Notably, this is the second attempt by the Narendera Modi government to bring, hitherto, freewheeling digital news media under some sort of regulation. Earlier in August, the Union cabinet said it was introducing a 26 per cent cap on foreign direct investment for news websites subjecting to official approval on a case by case basis.

    Rules for government advertisement

    Besides, the draft bill would enable the central and the state governments to frame appropriate rules and regulations to regulate the criteria and conditions for issuing government advertisements in newspapers, accreditation of newspapers and such other facilities for newspapers.

    The process of title and registration of periodicals including newspapers is proposed to be effected centrally by the Press Registrar General as a simultaneous process, the draft bill says.

    Editors to be Indian citizens

    The bill also makes it mandatory for editors to be Indian citizens. It defines editor as “an individual, whether called editor, chief editor, group editor or editor-in-chief or by any other name called, being a citizen of India and is ordinarily resident in India responsible for the selection and finalization of the content of a periodical".

    Ban on persons who have “done anything against the security of the state”

    Another notable feature in the draft bill, that is raising some concerns, is that the bill enables the government to ban any individual who have “done anything against the security of the state” from bringing any publication. As such, the phrase “done anything against the security of the state” is ambiguous and open-ended.

    The ministry has sought comments on the draft bill, released earlier this week, from stakeholders over the next 30 days.

  • MIB grants registration to 139 MSOs in 2019

    MIB grants registration to 139 MSOs in 2019

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has published a document listing all the registered multi system operators (MSO) in the country. As per the document, there are 1606 registered MSOs in India as on 26 November 2019.

    Eleven MSOs were granted registration in the month of November 2019. A total of 139 MSOs were granted registration in the years 2019. Surprisingly, just one MSO, Sharma Cable Network, was granted registration in the entire of 2018 as per the document.

    All the granted registrations are valid for a period of 10 years. Some of the companies named are Shree Sai Vision, Ajanta Sky Darshan, Zee Communications, Home Vu Digital Cable and Broadband, Mediatech Communication, etc.

    The MIB mentioned that all registered MSOs can operate anywhere in India, unless indicated otherwise.

    A day before, certain MSOs had approached the ministry regarding the status of their applications in an open house meeting.

    Earlier this year, TRAI released recommendations on MSO registrations stating that there was no need to fix a minimum entry net worth.

    You can access the full list here

  • Indian viewers want government regulation for OTT platforms

    Indian viewers want government regulation for OTT platforms

    MUMBAI: Online content regulation has stirred a lot of controversies recently in the Indian over-the-top (OTT) ecosystem. While many experts and platforms are not in favour of censorship, a survey revealed that 57 per cent of Indians want government regulation for OTT platforms.

    “Nine in ten (91 per cent) said content-either on TV, films or online, should be regulated by the government, either always (as said by 40 per cent) or sometime (51 per cent). Men are more likely than women to say they want content to be regulated always (45 per cent versus 34 per cent) while women are more likely to want censorship sometime (56 per cent 46 per cent),” Business Insider quoted a survey from YouGov.

    According to the survey, more than 59 per cent of Indians think that OTT platforms in the country have huge offensive content which is unsuitable for public viewing while 47 per cent find some of the content uncomfortable to watch around family. But 30 per cent of the respondents think content quality will be compromised due to censorship.

    YouGov Omnibus conducted the survey among 1005 respondents in India between 22-28 October using YouGov’s panel of over 6mn people worldwide.

    Earlier, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) secretary Amit Khare said there is a need to rethink regulating over-the-top (OTT) platforms because some sections of the society are voicing concerns on its content. 

  • DPIIT seeks MIB views on issues regarding 26% FDI in digital media sector

    DPIIT seeks MIB views on issues regarding 26% FDI in digital media sector

    MUMBAI: As the cabinet recently amended the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy allowing 26 per cent overseas investment in digital media with government approval, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has sought the views of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on issues raised by certain stakeholders over the new policy.

    "The extant FDI policy provides for 49 per cent FDI under approval route in up-linking of ''News & Current Affairs'' TV channels. It has been decided to permit 26 per cent FDI under government route for uploading/streaming of news and current affairs through digital media, on the lines of print media," an official statement said.

    There was a lack of clarification since the amendment that how the new policy would pan out. According to a PTI report, issues which were raised on the decision have been sent that to the MIB. The ministry is looking into it for suitable clarification, as per an unnamed official quoted by the report.

    The Internet and Mobile Association of India stated in a presentation to the DPIIT that the decision would have an impact on the startup ecosystem as continued FDI is critical to enable Indian digital media startups to achieve global scale. The association also said it would be critically harmful if there is not any clarification.

    “The scope of the impact will be determined by the wording of the provision in the FDI policy. News and current affairs are present on social media platforms, on digital platforms that are subsidiaries of foreign brands etc. How would you differentiate between TV channels which have 49% and their online streams, which will effectively have 26%?” Eros International group chief marketing officer Manav Sethi also said.

  • No current plans to impose regulation on OTT sector: MIB secretary

    No current plans to impose regulation on OTT sector: MIB secretary

    MUMBAI: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) secretary Amit Khare said there is a need to rethink regulating over-the-top (OTT) platforms because some sections of the society are voicing concerns on its content. However, Khare also added that the ministry currently does not have any plan to impose any regulation.

    According to a Medianama report, the MIB secretary spoke at a seminar on film certification and regulation of online content, held in Mumbai on 10 October. He noted that while in all commonwealth countries, there are bodies to regulate content in films, newspapers and TV, there is no such provision for regulating content on OTT.

    “They [OTT platforms] do fall under the IT Act, but have no governance or self-regulation. This happens nowhere in the world,” Minister of Information and Broadcast Prakash Javadekar said via a video conference at the seminar. He mentioned that content creators of OTT platforms make all kinds of content including bad and obscene but there is no censor board.

    Notably, according to an India Today report, the Ministry of Technology said there is no monitoring of OTT content right now in response to an RTI.

    "So far as this ministry is concerned, the content on online platforms is not being regulated at present. However your application is being transferred under Section 6 (3) of the Act to CPIO, Ministry of Electronics and IT, New Delhi to provide information pertaining to them," MIB said as per the report.

  • I&B Ministry plans regulations for OTT platforms

    I&B Ministry plans regulations for OTT platforms

    MUMBAI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (MIB) is contemplating a regulation for OTT platforms on the lines of print and electronic media, according to a news article by the Press Trust of India. Minister Prakash Javadekar, however, said that the government will not be taking any step that will curb freedom of media. Some mainstream media outlets had relayed their concern to the government that OTT platforms are unregulated and so there can be no level-playing ground.

    He said, "I have sought suggestions on how to deal with this because there are regular feature films coming on OTT — good, bad and ugly. So how to deal with this, who should monitor, who should regulate. There is no certification body for OTT platforms and likewise news portals also.”

    All other media have a body that regulates their work but OTT is free.

    Regarding paid news, Javadekar said that the media should approach the government with suggestions on how to penalise those who indulge in the ‘unethical’ practice. He said that this was necessary to combat rising instances of fake news, which he claimed as ‘more dangerous’ than paid news. He also added that it wasn’t just the government’s job to tackle it but everyone’s.

  • MIB issues notice to 69 channels to provide technical parameters with EMMC

    MIB issues notice to 69 channels to provide technical parameters with EMMC

    MUMBAI: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued a notice instructing 69 private satellite channels to provide complete set of technical parameters with Electronic  Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC)  of the ministry. While the notice was issues on 25 September, the channels have been asked to provide necessary details within 15 days.

    “It has been brought to the notice of this ministry that 69 private satellite TV channels permitted by this ministry (list attached) have not shared their technical parameters with Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) of this Ministry,” the MIB said in the notice.

    MIB also highlighted in the notice that clause 5.5 of the extant uplinking guidelines mandate broadcasters to provide for the necessary monitoring facility at its own cost  for  monitoring  of  programmes  or  content   by the representatives of  the MIB or any  other  government agency  as  and  when  so required.

    ”Accordingly,  all   the   concerned    broadcaster    companies  are   required   to   provide complete  set of technical  parameters I Cam Module I VC Card (for pay channel)  in respect of their permitted  TV channel(s) to EMMC  for content  acquisition purpose  positively  within  15 days  of  issue  of  this  notice,  failing  which  action  shall  be initiated  in accordance with  the uplinking  guidelines, 2011,” the ministry stated.

  • Supriya Sahu’s tenure as Doordarshan DG comes to an end

    Supriya Sahu’s tenure as Doordarshan DG comes to an end

    MUMBAI: Doordarshan director general Supriya Sahu has moved on from the pubcaster. Senior IAS officer Sahu had been appointed as Doordarshan’s director general in 2016. The post was vacant for almost two years before her joining.

    On her last day at Doordarshan, Sahu expressed deep gratitude to everyone via Twitter after completing her 30-year tenure. She also added that she is heading back to her cadre in the state of Tamil Nadu to begin a new journey.

    The 1991 batch IAS from the Tamil Nadu cadre was chosen by the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati in 2016 February, after which the broadcaster had recommended her name to the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) for approval. Sahu served as the director at MIB in the past and later got promoted to the post of joint secretary.