ITV

Tag: MIB

  • MIB demands confirmation from MSOs regarding carriage of all DD channels

    MIB demands confirmation from MSOs regarding carriage of all DD channels

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has sought affidavits from both existing MSOs as well as fresh applicants that they are carrying all 24 DD channels, besides Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV channels, on their TV network.

    The ministry has mentioned in the notice that in view of the contribution of Doordarshan towards dissemination of accurate information about policies and programmes of government, acceleration of socio-economic change, promotion of national integration and stimulation of scientific temper, it is mandated that all cable TV networks should carry DD channels.

    The ministry has noticed that the mandate is not being followed by several cable operators in contravention of existing rules. The ministry has also asked to submit the affidavit within one month of the issue of notice.

    Section 8 of The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 states that cable operators will have to compulsorily include Doordarshan channels notified by the central government in the Official Gazette. The MIB also listed DD Arunprabha as a mandatory DD channel recently.

  • TRAI floats consultation paper on KYC of DTH set top boxes

    TRAI floats consultation paper on KYC of DTH set top boxes

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued a consultation paper on 'KYC of DTH Set Top Boxes’ in order to finalise a suitable mechanism for the same. The comments of various organisations, industry bodies, DTH operators, standardisation bodies, STB manufacturers, software providers, stakeholders, experts and individuals have been invited by 19 August 2019.

    The authority received a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in 2018 wherein TRAI had been requested to give its considered recommendations on desirability or otherwise of KYC for set top boxes in DTH services and, if desirable, a process for the same.

    Later, MIB provided information in another letter to TRAI regarding the safeguards that can be applied for restricting smuggling of DTH equipment illegally to other countries.

    “Filling of KYC form and verification of AadhaarcCard may be mandatory for any customer purchasing DTH equipment. In order to check the location in accordance with customer ID /Card ID, location-based services need to be made active in DTH set-top-boxes,” the letter read.

    One of the suggestions also included that MIB and TRAI may prepare KYC verification process to ensure that STB used by Indian DTH operators are only working in India.

    DTH broadcasting service was opened in the country in 2001 and the government issued the 'Guidelines for obtaining license for providing direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting service in the same year. These guidelines prescribe the eligibility criteria, the procedure for obtaining the licence to set up and operate DTH services in the country.

  • Network18 writes to I&B ministry over BARC’s data validation and outlier policy

    Network18 writes to I&B ministry over BARC’s data validation and outlier policy

    MUMBAI: News broadcasting network Network18 India has shot off a letter to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (MIB) raising concerns over Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) of India’s data validation and outlier policy, Indiantelevision.com has learnt.

    According to those in the know, the network has brought to the ministry’s attention the subjective nature of BARC’s implementation of outlier policy and its impact on TV ratings of channels with a relatively smaller viewership base.

    On its part, BARC has consistently maintained that it cannot identify landing pages. Hence, reliance on manual intervention in weeding out outliers makes the process susceptible to bias is a view held by a section within the industry.

    Indiantelevision.com reached out to Network18 for a comment, the network, however, did not confirm this development.

    BARC’s treatment of landing pages has raised a furore among broadcasters over its approach post TDSAT’s order on landing pages.

    Reacting to stakeholder concerns, the BARC board gave its nod to form a two-member committee to carry out an independent review of BARC’s data validation and outlier policy.

    With opinion divided within the industry, some broadcasters have also written letters, highlighting the negative impact of landing pages, to TRAI and BARC’s technical committee.

    On 28 May 2019, TDSAT set aside TRAI’s 3 December 2018 direction to rule in favour of landing page placement of channels.

    Data for week 22, first since the landing page ruling, saw CNN News 18 upset the English news apple cart to top the chart, followed by Republic TV, Times Now, DD India and India Today Television.

    BARC switched back to its previous methodology from week 23 onward claiming it had received multiple representations from stakeholders and the mandate of its board.

    BARC’s flip-flop with its outlier policy implementation further fuelled the landing page row.

    With the two-member committee now reviewing the policy, industry hopes for a speedy and acceptable resolution.

  • MIB permits name change of 21 satellite channels

    MIB permits name change of 21 satellite channels

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has approved a total of 21 applications from satellite channels for name change.

    Among the newly renamed channels, ABP News HD, Sony Marathi HD, Colors Rishtey, Colors Cineplex, Times Now World, Colors Cineplex HD are some of the significant ones.

    ABN News HD is the new name for ABP Kannada, Sony Marathi HD for Ten Golf HD, Colors Rishtey for Rishtey, Colors Cineplex for Rishtey Cineplex, Times Now World for the earlier Times now HD and Colors Cineplex HD for Cineplex HD respectively. The ministry also recently granted permission to Star India to rename Movies Ok as Star Gold 2.

  • MIB permits Star India to rename Movies OK as Star Gold 2

    MIB permits Star India to rename Movies OK as Star Gold 2

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has granted Star India permission to rename Movies OK as Star Gold 2.

    In March, Star India bagged the licence for its Star Gold 2 HD channel. Earlier, it had also got the approval to rename Star Movies Kids and Star Movies Kids HD to Star Sports 1 Bangla and Star Sports 1 Marathi.

    Also, in the month of May, MIB approved two applications from NGC Network India. NGC Network got the MIB nod to rename its licences NAT GEO MUSIC HD and NAT GEO PEOPLE HD to National Geographic Tamil and National Geographic Telugu.

  • MIB cancels licences of 4 STV Enterprise channels

    MIB cancels licences of 4 STV Enterprise channels

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) recently cancelled the licences of STV Enterprises’ four channels Punjab Today, STV Haryana News, STV Jammu-Kashmir News and STV UP News (STV-Rajasthan) that were mentioned under the news category.

    A while ago, it had also cancelled the licence of V6 ENT channel from VIL Media that was earlier called Nikit Investment Pvt Ltd and was mentioned under the news category.  

    During the month of January 2019, cancellation of licences to two MSOs Digi Cable Network and SCOD 18 Networking was upheld by the Supreme Court on security grounds. Before moving the apex court, the petitioners had approached the Bombay High Court where their pleas challenging the cancellation order by the MIB were dismissed.

    Earlier, the licences issued to these cable TV service providers were cancelled by the MIB on the ground that the Ministry of Home Affairs denied issuance of "security clearance" to them.  The apex court bench comprising Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre and Justice Indu Malhotra security agreed that security clearance is a mandatory requirement as per Cable Television Network (Amendment) Rules.

    Up until August 2018, MIB was strict in giving channel licences, even cancelling some. 14 channels, whose licences were cancelled by the MIB due to security denial by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), challenged the decision and had got a stay order from the High Court.

    Out of these fourteen channels, twelve channels were news channels and two were non-news channels. Mahua Media Private Ltd, Mavis Satcom Ltd, STV Enterprises Ltd and Alliance Broadcasting Private Ltd were the concerned parties.

  • I&B Ministry advises TV channels to show caution with children in reality shows

    I&B Ministry advises TV channels to show caution with children in reality shows

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued an advisory to TV channels that show dangerous stunts via reality shows. The MIB said it noticed that several dance-based reality TV shows portray young children performing dance moves originally done by adults in movies and other popular modes of entertainment. These moves are often suggestive and age-inappropriate. Such acts may also have distressing impact on children, impacting them at a young and impressionable age.

    All private satellite TV Channels are expected to abide by the provisions contained in Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed. As per the rules, no programme should be carried on TV which denigrates children, and further that programmes meant for children should not contain any bad language or explicit scenes of violence.

    The ministry has accordingly issued an advisory to all private satellite TV channels to avoid showing children in an indecent, suggestive and inappropriate manner in dance reality shows or other such programmes. The channels have been further advised to exercise maximum restraint, sensitivity and caution while showing such reality shows and programmes.

  • ABP Ganga, news channel for UP/UK, set for 15 April launch

    ABP Ganga, news channel for UP/UK, set for 15 April launch

    MUMBAI: The ABP News Network appears set to launch ABP Ganga, a 24-hour Hindi news channel for Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, on 15 April.

    In February, the ABP News Network had received four new TV channel licenses from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in February under the names ABP Andhra, ABP Ganga, ABP Kannada, and ABP Tamil.

    Currently, the ABP News Network operates four news channels ABP News (Hindi), ABP Majha (Marathi), ABP Asmita (Gujarati) and ABP Ananda (Bengali), in addition to a digital news channel ABP Sanjha.

    Altering its strategy under TRAI’s new tariff regime, the formidable news network has converted its pay channels to free to air (FTA).

    Earlier, the news network bolstered its national editorial team with the elevation of Pankaj Jha to senior editor national and political affairs. 

  • DTH platforms say NaMo TV a special service, content provided by BJP

    DTH platforms say NaMo TV a special service, content provided by BJP

    MUMBAI: Amid controversy surrounding NaMo TV, a channel exclusively featuring content related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, sources within India’s top DTH operators have told Indiantelevision.com that it isn’t, in fact, a standard television channel. While a Tata Sky source said NaMo TV is a “special service with content provided by the BJP” a Dish TV spokesperson described it as an “ad sales-related service”.

    Earlier, a tweet from Tata Sky calling NaMo TV a "Hindi news service" raised several questions. However, that was soon clarified by the company.

    "NaMo TV is not a Hindi news service. If someone in the frontline at Tata Sky has tweeted or said that it is a news service, it is a mistake," Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal told NDTV.

    He also added that NaMo TV "does not fall into any genre" and special services do not need a licence.

    Earlier, the Election Commission had sought a report from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on NaMo TV, which was launched on 31 March.

    Throughout the week, several media reports citing MIB sources said the channel was an advertising platform that didn’t need the ministry’ licence.

    The 24-hour channel borrows PM Modi’s image for its logo and is available on all the major DTH platforms in the country.

  • Tata Sky terms NaMo TV as ‘Hindi news service’ causing further confusion

    Tata Sky terms NaMo TV as ‘Hindi news service’ causing further confusion

    MUMBAI: The mystery regarding NaMo TV is rising. Now, DTH operator Tata Sky has termed it as a Hindi news service, which provides the latest breaking news on national politics, on its Twitter handle. It also said that the channel is added to all subscribers as a launch offer and there is "no option to delete the individual channel".

    Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) of India sought a reply from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on the sudden launch of NaMo TV. According to a report from The Print, the channel never applied for a broadcast licence and does not even have a compulsory security clearance.

    It has been more than a week since its launch but till now there is no clarity on whether the channel has been classified as news or non-news. The report also added that MIB is considering issuing a notice to DTH operators for carrying an unauthorised channel. Media reports also suggest that it is a kind of advertising platform which does not need any kind of approval before going live.

    Two political parties, Congress and AAP have raised the matter with the EC questioning its launch especially after the model code of conduct before elections came into force. AAP’s legal cell, in its letter to EC, also raised the question that who would monitor the content of the channel. Neither Content TV nor NaMo TV find a mention in the list of permitted satellite TV channels on the MIB website.

    After undergoing a test run for several months, the channel went live as NaMo TV. The channel had no formal launch and there isn’t any information in the public domain about its ownership.

    The channel appears to be an extension of the popular NaMo app that contains information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's welfare schemes and other activities. NaMo TV airs programmes related to the Prime Minister, his speeches and government ads. Even BJP social media handles have been tweeting asking viewers to tune in to the channel. The channel is available on Videocon d2h, Dish TV, Tata Sky at 302, 770, and 512 respectively. It also has a picture of the Prime Minister as its logo.