ITV

Tag: MIB

  • NDTV challenges I&B Ministry order in Supreme Court

    NDTV challenges I&B Ministry order in Supreme Court

    MUMBAI: NDTV has challenged in the Supreme Court the I&B Ministry’s order of one-day ban on its Hindi news channel NDTV India. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) had directed NDTV India to go off air for 24 hours from 9 November 2016 00:01 hrs as a penalty for showing strategically-sensitive information while covering the Pathankot military operation in January this year.

    In response, the company argued that it was not the only channel that disclosed the information for which it is being penalised. NDTV has petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the order.

    In a BSE filing, the news network said that it has filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court, inter-alia, challenging the constitutional validity of the said order, and the provisions of law pursuant to which the said order has purportedly been passed.

    The Editors Guild of India, the Broadcast Editors Association (BEA), the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and several influential personalities such as Rajdeep Sardesai, Sagarika Ghose, Rana Ayyub, Rahul Kanwal, Praveen Swami, and journalists from the channel — Ravish Kumar, etc have shown solidarity towards the channel and have come up in full support against the government’s order. They have demanded its immediate revocation.

    Others such as Zee group chairman Dr Subhash Chandra have said that the government is being soft on NDTV and that the ban should be for a lifetime for daring to carry reports which could harm the country’s security. He additionally said on twitter that if the channel dares to go to court to challenge the ban, its appeal will be rejected.

    The blackout of NDTV India comes at a crucial time when the news channels, apart from covering the current affairs, will be providing extensive coverage of the US Presidential Elections 2016.

  • Assamese news channel Pratidin Time banned for one day once again

    Assamese news channel Pratidin Time banned for one day once again

    MUMBAI: The Indian government continues with its caning of TV news channels. After NDTV India, it is now the turn of Pratidin Time or News Time Assam to be told to go off air on the powers-that-be’s favourite date 9 November for gross and multiple programming code violations. Pratidin Time has been accused of revealing the identity of a minor victim, showing images of mutilated bodies, and making derogatory statements about women in shows.

    The violation that has been gravely objected to is the one relating to a minor boy for which the day-long ban is being issued. The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) issued an order dated 2 November saying that the channel revealed the identity of a minor who was brutally tortured while working as a domestic servant, thus compromising his privacy and dignity and  exposing him to harm and stigma.

    A high level inter-ministerial committee (IMC) took the decision to compel the channel to turn off its signals for a day after hearing its defence.

    The MIB says that Pratidin Time has time and again being showing images of bodies of dead victims. It has also not being complying with earlier MIB orders which asked it to  apologize for airing a show which appeared to be derogatory towards women.

    The MIB in its current order has stated that Pratidin Time that all the three cases will be covered under the one day ban. It has further explained that under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, it “orders to prohibit the transmission or retransmission of News Time Assam TV channel for one day on any platform throughout India with effect from 00:01 hours on 9th November, 2016 till 00:01 hours on 10th November, 2016.”

    This is not the first time that Pratidin Time (News Time Assam) has been asked to pull the plug. It, along with another channel DY 365, was asked to go off air on 30 July 2014 in another case.

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/news-broadcasting/dy-365-news-time-assam-tv-transmission-banned-for-one-day-for-showing-programmes-denigrating-women-140725

    Then in August 2015 it was slammed on social media as well when it carried a clip on its YouTube channel, criticizing “scantily clad women” calling them a summer time nuisance that went against local culture in Assam. The uproar that followed forced it to pull down its video, but petitions have been filed against it, asking it to to report responsibly.

    Launched on 25 December 2010 as News Time Assam by the Kolkata based Brand Value Communications under the Rose Valley Grop, it was acquired by the Pratidim group in 2015 and rebranded as Pratidin Time.

  • Assamese news channel Pratidin Time banned for one day once again

    Assamese news channel Pratidin Time banned for one day once again

    MUMBAI: The Indian government continues with its caning of TV news channels. After NDTV India, it is now the turn of Pratidin Time or News Time Assam to be told to go off air on the powers-that-be’s favourite date 9 November for gross and multiple programming code violations. Pratidin Time has been accused of revealing the identity of a minor victim, showing images of mutilated bodies, and making derogatory statements about women in shows.

    The violation that has been gravely objected to is the one relating to a minor boy for which the day-long ban is being issued. The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) issued an order dated 2 November saying that the channel revealed the identity of a minor who was brutally tortured while working as a domestic servant, thus compromising his privacy and dignity and  exposing him to harm and stigma.

    A high level inter-ministerial committee (IMC) took the decision to compel the channel to turn off its signals for a day after hearing its defence.

    The MIB says that Pratidin Time has time and again being showing images of bodies of dead victims. It has also not being complying with earlier MIB orders which asked it to  apologize for airing a show which appeared to be derogatory towards women.

    The MIB in its current order has stated that Pratidin Time that all the three cases will be covered under the one day ban. It has further explained that under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, it “orders to prohibit the transmission or retransmission of News Time Assam TV channel for one day on any platform throughout India with effect from 00:01 hours on 9th November, 2016 till 00:01 hours on 10th November, 2016.”

    This is not the first time that Pratidin Time (News Time Assam) has been asked to pull the plug. It, along with another channel DY 365, was asked to go off air on 30 July 2014 in another case.

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/news-broadcasting/dy-365-news-time-assam-tv-transmission-banned-for-one-day-for-showing-programmes-denigrating-women-140725

    Then in August 2015 it was slammed on social media as well when it carried a clip on its YouTube channel, criticizing “scantily clad women” calling them a summer time nuisance that went against local culture in Assam. The uproar that followed forced it to pull down its video, but petitions have been filed against it, asking it to to report responsibly.

    Launched on 25 December 2010 as News Time Assam by the Kolkata based Brand Value Communications under the Rose Valley Grop, it was acquired by the Pratidim group in 2015 and rebranded as Pratidin Time.

  • Govt hands NDTV India 24-hr ban for breach of content code

    Govt hands NDTV India 24-hr ban for breach of content code

    MUMBAI: In what is being viewed in certain quarters as an assault on media freedom reminiscent of Rajiv Gandhi government’s bid to gag media in late 1980s, the Prannoy Roy and family-controlled NDTV India, has been directed by the government to go off air for 24 hours from 9 November 2016 as a penalty for breaching telecast norms related to security issues.

    NDTV is exploring all options against this 24-hour ban with opinion split on the issue. While a section of views on social media supported the government action, many who part of the Indian media criticised it saying it reminded them of Indira Gandhi-imposed Emergency in India in 1977.

    Confirming the recent development, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) sources said that Hindi news channel NDTV India has been accused of airing images and revealing information regarding defence locations while covering the Pathankot terrorist attack a few months back. The sources added that NDTV India was given a chance by an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) of the government to put forth its viewpoint on the allegations and was found wanting.

    Indiantelevision.com made futile attempts to get in touch with NDTV for independent reactions, including newly-anointed group CEO KVL Narayan Rao and his predecessor Vikram Chandra.
    However, in a statement put out by NDTV on its website (http://www.ndtv.com/communication/ndtv-statement-on-order-against-our-hindi-channel-ndtv-india-1621155), the company said, “The order of the MIB has been received. It is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner. Every channel and newspaper had similar coverage. In fact NDTV’s coverage was particularly balanced. After the dark days of the Emergency when the press was fettered, it is extraordinary that NDTV is being proceeded against in this manner. NDTV is examining all options in this matter.”

    The IMC, the government sources said, was earlier in favour of handing out a one-month ban, which was diluted to 24 hours later.
    The matter pertains to the coverage of Pathankot defence areas after a terrorist attack in January this year. The IMC has blamed NDTV India of providing on-air information about ammunition stockpiled in the airbase, fighter-planes, rocket-launchers, fuel-tanks, etc. The committee felt that such crucial information could have been readily picked by up by hostile nations and could have compromised lives of civilians and defence personnel.

    The committee has also mentioned that the channel appeared to give out the exact locations of terrorists on air, thus compromising counter offensives by India.
    In its reply, the channel said that it was a case of subjective interpretation and most of the information they had put out was already in public domain in print, electronic and social media.

    A section of Indian media reacted strongly against such a government move.

    “Govt pulling TV news channels off air is a dangerous trend. Don’t want sarkari babus deciding what content they like and what they don’t,” India Today (TV) and Aaj Tak Managing Editor Rahul Kanwal tweeted.

    A former NDTV star and presently with India Today group, Rajdeep Sardesai, said in a series of tweets, “One of India’s most sober and responsible channels NDTV India to be banned for a day by I and B ministry. NDTV today, who tomorrow? Media should be accountable, scrutinised, but with transparency and not selectively.”



    Shekhar Gupta, former editor of the Indian Express Group and presently anchoring a digital news venture, said in a tweet, “What’s shocking is lack of protest/outrage. Reprehensible, somebody in Ind(ia) having power to ban news channels as in Pak(istan). Tom(orrow), it’ll be print.”



    Meanwhile in an another development, the NBSA (News Broadcasting Standards Authority), the self-regulatory body of news channels under the News Broadcasters’ Association ( NBA) late last month asked NDTV, the English news channel,  to air an apology covering for showing an incorrect map of India

    The letter from NBA to NDTV stated the complaint was studied and the channel was directed to run an apology (full screen) prior to 9 pm on 5 November.

    While  NBA refused to comment on this matter, it is learnt that MIB had forwarded to NBSA complaints received by it from people, especially by one person who had taken up this issue on social media in a big way.

  • Govt hands NDTV India 24-hr ban for breach of content code

    Govt hands NDTV India 24-hr ban for breach of content code

    MUMBAI: In what is being viewed in certain quarters as an assault on media freedom reminiscent of Rajiv Gandhi government’s bid to gag media in late 1980s, the Prannoy Roy and family-controlled NDTV India, has been directed by the government to go off air for 24 hours from 9 November 2016 as a penalty for breaching telecast norms related to security issues.

    NDTV is exploring all options against this 24-hour ban with opinion split on the issue. While a section of views on social media supported the government action, many who part of the Indian media criticised it saying it reminded them of Indira Gandhi-imposed Emergency in India in 1977.

    Confirming the recent development, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) sources said that Hindi news channel NDTV India has been accused of airing images and revealing information regarding defence locations while covering the Pathankot terrorist attack a few months back. The sources added that NDTV India was given a chance by an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) of the government to put forth its viewpoint on the allegations and was found wanting.

    Indiantelevision.com made futile attempts to get in touch with NDTV for independent reactions, including newly-anointed group CEO KVL Narayan Rao and his predecessor Vikram Chandra.
    However, in a statement put out by NDTV on its website (http://www.ndtv.com/communication/ndtv-statement-on-order-against-our-hindi-channel-ndtv-india-1621155), the company said, “The order of the MIB has been received. It is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner. Every channel and newspaper had similar coverage. In fact NDTV’s coverage was particularly balanced. After the dark days of the Emergency when the press was fettered, it is extraordinary that NDTV is being proceeded against in this manner. NDTV is examining all options in this matter.”

    The IMC, the government sources said, was earlier in favour of handing out a one-month ban, which was diluted to 24 hours later.
    The matter pertains to the coverage of Pathankot defence areas after a terrorist attack in January this year. The IMC has blamed NDTV India of providing on-air information about ammunition stockpiled in the airbase, fighter-planes, rocket-launchers, fuel-tanks, etc. The committee felt that such crucial information could have been readily picked by up by hostile nations and could have compromised lives of civilians and defence personnel.

    The committee has also mentioned that the channel appeared to give out the exact locations of terrorists on air, thus compromising counter offensives by India.
    In its reply, the channel said that it was a case of subjective interpretation and most of the information they had put out was already in public domain in print, electronic and social media.

    A section of Indian media reacted strongly against such a government move.

    “Govt pulling TV news channels off air is a dangerous trend. Don’t want sarkari babus deciding what content they like and what they don’t,” India Today (TV) and Aaj Tak Managing Editor Rahul Kanwal tweeted.

    A former NDTV star and presently with India Today group, Rajdeep Sardesai, said in a series of tweets, “One of India’s most sober and responsible channels NDTV India to be banned for a day by I and B ministry. NDTV today, who tomorrow? Media should be accountable, scrutinised, but with transparency and not selectively.”



    Shekhar Gupta, former editor of the Indian Express Group and presently anchoring a digital news venture, said in a tweet, “What’s shocking is lack of protest/outrage. Reprehensible, somebody in Ind(ia) having power to ban news channels as in Pak(istan). Tom(orrow), it’ll be print.”



    Meanwhile in an another development, the NBSA (News Broadcasting Standards Authority), the self-regulatory body of news channels under the News Broadcasters’ Association ( NBA) late last month asked NDTV, the English news channel,  to air an apology covering for showing an incorrect map of India

    The letter from NBA to NDTV stated the complaint was studied and the channel was directed to run an apology (full screen) prior to 9 pm on 5 November.

    While  NBA refused to comment on this matter, it is learnt that MIB had forwarded to NBSA complaints received by it from people, especially by one person who had taken up this issue on social media in a big way.

  • Arasu says MIB can’t enforce analogue switchoff in Chennai on 31 Dec ’16

    Arasu says MIB can’t enforce analogue switchoff in Chennai on 31 Dec ’16

    MUMBAI: Digital addressable system (DAS) or digitisation of India cable TV could well see a further slowdown if the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd (TACTV) has its way. The government-owned Chennai-based MSO has written to the information and broadcasting ministry (MIB) saying that its order to broadcasters to shut off analogue signals by 31 December 2016 cannot be adhered to for the city.

    The reason: the Madras High Court has yet to pass judgment on TACTV’s litigation with the MIB and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on the applicability of DAS regulations in Chennai and on the issue of a DAS licence to it.

    TACTV had earlier applied to the MIB for a DAS licence but not met with any success as both it and the TRAI believe that distribution of television via cable TV should be kept out of the purview of government owned undertakings, which the former is.

    Following the rejection of its application, the cable TV MSO had approached the Madras High Court through two writ petitions bearing nos. 7067/2013 and 7068/2013. Both had sought direction to the MIB to process its DAS licence applications dated 5 July 2012, and 23 November 2012. But both are pending before the court.

    The Madras High Court had then passed a restraining order on writ petitions 34213/2013 and 40365 of 2015, disallowing the disconnection of analogue TV signals in Chennai.

    TACTV says that if broadcasters heed the 31 December 2016 analogue signal switch off notification sent by the MIB to them, it would tantamount to contempt of court and could attract proceedings in that direction.

    The cable TV MSO says that the “MIB had itself admitted as much in a counter affidavit dated November 18, 2013 filed before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).”

    TRAI had through a press release on 10 December 2013 termed the transmission of analogue signals in Chennai as illegal and had tried to restrain TACTV from transmitting the same.

  • Arasu says MIB can’t enforce analogue switchoff in Chennai on 31 Dec ’16

    Arasu says MIB can’t enforce analogue switchoff in Chennai on 31 Dec ’16

    MUMBAI: Digital addressable system (DAS) or digitisation of India cable TV could well see a further slowdown if the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd (TACTV) has its way. The government-owned Chennai-based MSO has written to the information and broadcasting ministry (MIB) saying that its order to broadcasters to shut off analogue signals by 31 December 2016 cannot be adhered to for the city.

    The reason: the Madras High Court has yet to pass judgment on TACTV’s litigation with the MIB and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on the applicability of DAS regulations in Chennai and on the issue of a DAS licence to it.

    TACTV had earlier applied to the MIB for a DAS licence but not met with any success as both it and the TRAI believe that distribution of television via cable TV should be kept out of the purview of government owned undertakings, which the former is.

    Following the rejection of its application, the cable TV MSO had approached the Madras High Court through two writ petitions bearing nos. 7067/2013 and 7068/2013. Both had sought direction to the MIB to process its DAS licence applications dated 5 July 2012, and 23 November 2012. But both are pending before the court.

    The Madras High Court had then passed a restraining order on writ petitions 34213/2013 and 40365 of 2015, disallowing the disconnection of analogue TV signals in Chennai.

    TACTV says that if broadcasters heed the 31 December 2016 analogue signal switch off notification sent by the MIB to them, it would tantamount to contempt of court and could attract proceedings in that direction.

    The cable TV MSO says that the “MIB had itself admitted as much in a counter affidavit dated November 18, 2013 filed before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).”

    TRAI had through a press release on 10 December 2013 termed the transmission of analogue signals in Chennai as illegal and had tried to restrain TACTV from transmitting the same.

  • Govt seeks professional help for DD revival

    Govt seeks professional help for DD revival

    NEW DELHI: Fazed by private sector television channels’ stridency in terms of revenues and viewership in an increasingly digital India, the government is seeking outside professional help in “transformation of Doordarshan.”

    A tender has been issued by an organisation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to look for a consultant to revamp Doordarshan into a leading public broadcaster that becomes a highly successful medium of mass communication.

    Amongst the objectives listed in the tender documents by the Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. (BECIL) a stated aim is to engage a consulting firm to support Doordarshan in achieving this “transformation goal by undertaking a comprehensive view on the projects and initiatives to be executed” by the Indian pubcaster.

    Pointing out that in the last couple of decades after introduction of cable television and technological changes in a country that’s now openly flirting with digital consumption of video and audio on multiple platforms, the government admitted DD’s monopoly days are over and it is not the target media for a large swathe of Indian population. “Given the potential television has, not just commercially but also as a means for socio-economic transformation, it’s critical to revitalize Doordarshan and develop it into a powerful and commercially successful organization of mass communication,” BECIL said in a note enumerating the objectives for the project.

    The consultant would have to undertake a comprehensive view on the projects and initiatives to be executed by Doordarshan, engage all stakeholders to arrive at trouble-spots and prepare a solution map for addressing those difficulties. The government is hoping that the consultant will identify in medium term goals for “quick wins” and further help Doordarshan develop a long-term strategic roadmap.

    The interested bidders are expected to send in their queries by 2 November 2016 and get responses in a pre-bid meeting on 4 November. The technical bids will be opened on 15 November at 1530 hours. Dates for presentations by bidders and opening of financial bids will be intimated later by BECIL.

    Interestingly, Minister of State for MIB Rajyavardhan Rathore few days back had admitted at a media conference that Prasar Bharati, DD’s parent, lacked adequate programming and marketing capabilities and was open to seeking help from private players.

    Doordarshan is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in the world in terms of studios and infrastructure and claims to cover 90 per cent of the total Indian population — a claim that, however, doesn’t aptly reflect in audience measurement data. DD, which offers 23 TV channels in various Indian languages, provides television, radio, online and app-based mobile services throughout India and overseas.

    ALSO READ:

    Prasar Bharati lacks content & marketing; open to tie-ups: MIB Minister

     

  • Govt seeks professional help for DD revival

    Govt seeks professional help for DD revival

    NEW DELHI: Fazed by private sector television channels’ stridency in terms of revenues and viewership in an increasingly digital India, the government is seeking outside professional help in “transformation of Doordarshan.”

    A tender has been issued by an organisation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to look for a consultant to revamp Doordarshan into a leading public broadcaster that becomes a highly successful medium of mass communication.

    Amongst the objectives listed in the tender documents by the Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. (BECIL) a stated aim is to engage a consulting firm to support Doordarshan in achieving this “transformation goal by undertaking a comprehensive view on the projects and initiatives to be executed” by the Indian pubcaster.

    Pointing out that in the last couple of decades after introduction of cable television and technological changes in a country that’s now openly flirting with digital consumption of video and audio on multiple platforms, the government admitted DD’s monopoly days are over and it is not the target media for a large swathe of Indian population. “Given the potential television has, not just commercially but also as a means for socio-economic transformation, it’s critical to revitalize Doordarshan and develop it into a powerful and commercially successful organization of mass communication,” BECIL said in a note enumerating the objectives for the project.

    The consultant would have to undertake a comprehensive view on the projects and initiatives to be executed by Doordarshan, engage all stakeholders to arrive at trouble-spots and prepare a solution map for addressing those difficulties. The government is hoping that the consultant will identify in medium term goals for “quick wins” and further help Doordarshan develop a long-term strategic roadmap.

    The interested bidders are expected to send in their queries by 2 November 2016 and get responses in a pre-bid meeting on 4 November. The technical bids will be opened on 15 November at 1530 hours. Dates for presentations by bidders and opening of financial bids will be intimated later by BECIL.

    Interestingly, Minister of State for MIB Rajyavardhan Rathore few days back had admitted at a media conference that Prasar Bharati, DD’s parent, lacked adequate programming and marketing capabilities and was open to seeking help from private players.

    Doordarshan is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in the world in terms of studios and infrastructure and claims to cover 90 per cent of the total Indian population — a claim that, however, doesn’t aptly reflect in audience measurement data. DD, which offers 23 TV channels in various Indian languages, provides television, radio, online and app-based mobile services throughout India and overseas.

    ALSO READ:

    Prasar Bharati lacks content & marketing; open to tie-ups: MIB Minister

     

  • Prasar Bharati lacks content & marketing; open to tie-ups: MIB Minister

    Prasar Bharati lacks content & marketing; open to tie-ups: MIB Minister

    NEW DELHI: Conceding that Prasar Bharati is lagging in both content and marketing, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting (MIB) Rajyavardhan Rathore on Wednesday said there was a need to bring in outside experts for improving these aspects.

    At the same time, not willing to throw out the baby with the bath-water, the Minister clarified that for India’s pubcaster it wasn’t an easy task as it had to telecast in 23 languages. He said that Prasar Bharati was open to partnering with other broadcasters.

    Speaking at the CII Big Picture Summit 2016 here, Rathore admitted that with technological changes and innovations, a content platform is undergoing constant change with respect to creation, access and distribution. As a consequence, revenue and business models were being fragmented along with changes in market distribution and talent pool identification, he added.

    Pointing out that a series of measures have been undertaken to facilitate the growth and innovation within the media and entertainment (M&E) sector, the Minister said those initiatives included streamlining of processes and procedures for broadcasting sector in the context of licensing TV channels and measures to promote the branding of India’s soft power at international films festivals.

    Referring to the animation sector, the Minister said the government would be fast tracking the setting up of the National Centre for Excellence in partnership with the industry in an effort to optimise the returns in the sector.

    Later answering questions from participants, he regretted that news on online channels was going overseas unregulated and MIB would be taking up the issue with the Ministry of Information Technology. However, he said streaming of a film could not be done without a certification by the Central Board of Film Certification.

    On a question about spectrum and its scarcity, Rathore said as the whole process involved different ministries the logistics got delayed, but also pointed out that the IT Ministry had recently obtained a large chunk of spectrum from the Ministry of Defence for use in the telecoms and broadcast sectors.

    Asked about the cumbersome and time consuming process to get security clearances for television channels and multi-system operators, Rathore explained that delays were caused as several government organisations, apart from MIB, were involved in giving clearances. Still, a total of 881 TV channels had been licensed, including 349 news channels, he added, hinting that such procedural delays hadn’t slowed down the hunger for licences.