ITV

Tag: Ministry

  • MSOs not ordering STBs, say manufacturers

    MSOs not ordering STBs, say manufacturers

    MUMBAI: The former Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar had emphasised the need for bringing in indigenous Set Top Boxes (STBs) and the new administration is also keen to do the same. It was with this in mind that I&B secretary Bimal Julka held a meeting with indigenous STB manufacturers recently.

    Julka said that the issue of C-Form had already been addressed by the government to ensure level playing field for the domestic manufacturers as compared to imported STBs. The meeting was to assess the readiness of the manufacturers to meet the 11 million STB requirements since they had stated that sufficient capacity had been installed.

    A meeting had also been held with the Prime Minister regarding availability of conditional access system (CAS). The issue of interoperability of STBs was also being scrutinised and a task force meeting on the same had also been held.

    The STB manufacturers informed that they have been in touch with operators for their requirements but their response has not been encouraging. According to them the operators are anticipating change in timeline of digitisation and a change in policy, leading to their slow uptake.

    The manufacturers stated that they are prepared to go head on with the imported boxes as well as have a penal clause on penalty. Since no order was coming from operators, it was a difficult task to prepare production since time was needed to receive the components from suppliers.

    Therefore, they manufacturers have requested the Ministry to facilitate a process so that MSOs look at indigenous STBs for phases III and IV of digitisation. A joint meeting between the three could be held to resolve concerns.

    Julka clarified that 2015 and 2016 are the final dates for digitisation, so there needs to be no apprehension on that front. Monitoring of the digitisation programme would be scaled up in accordance with the implementation strategy being set in the Ministry.

     

  • DD to mark 50 years of the 1965 Indo-Pak war

    DD to mark 50 years of the 1965 Indo-Pak war

    NEW DELHI: Famed singers Suresh Wadekar and Kavita Krishnamurthy today emphasised that artistes from Bollywood always came forward for a good cause without charging any fee, but someone else had to take the initiative for such events.

     

    Answering questions at a press meet to announce the ‘Smarananjali’ musical programme being held on 30 October to mark 50 years of the 1965 war with Pakistan and pay tribute to those who laid down their lives in the defence of the country, both artistes denied that Bollywood artistes were reluctant in participating in such programmes.

     

    Smarananjali is the concept of Doordarshan additional director general Mahesh Joshi, who had commenced such programmes when he was in the Bangalore Kendra of Doordarshan and now initiated the same in Delhi.

     

    To be organised by Delhi Kendra of Doordarshan, the programme will also feature violin maestro Dr L Subramaniam who was present at the press meet along with the other artistes. It will also have performances by Pankaj Udhas, artistes from the Subramaniam Foundation. The musical tribute will be interlaced with specially choreographed dance performances of memorable patriotic songs by Manjula Parmesh and group. An additional attraction is the on-the-spot painting by renowned painter B S Verma and a dance by soldiers from the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) who will perform to the song “Ma Tujhe Salaam”.

     

    Dr Mukesh Chandra, who is a special police officer for Delhi Traffic Police said he is an amateur flutist and will also perform at the event.

     

    Prasar Bharati senior advisor Brig. VAM Hussain said it was necessary for the common man to realise the hardships that the armed forces faced. He said the attempt would be to make this programme an annual affair.

     

    This programme will be telecast later on DD National and is also aimed at helping the brave soldiers and their families and keep the deeds and bravery of valiant soldiers in public memory.   

     

    ‘Smarananjali’ is being planned in the form of a lyrical tribute by artistes on stage to martyrs in the presence of their families and the Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, and the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air force and Chiefs of Paramilitary forces. Religious leaders from different religious groups will also be present to pay homage to the martyrs.

     

    The selected special guests will pay homage to the martyrs by lighting a candle before a replica of the Amar Jawan Jyoti and a soldier.

     

    Three Param Vir Chakra Awardees will also be honoured at the tribute event. They are Hony Capt Bana Singh (Retd), 8 J&K LI, Sub Yogender Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers and N/SUB Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK RIF.

     

    The Defence Ministry has appreciated the concept of the programme and is fully supporting Doordarshan’s efforts to organise the event.

     

  • Total number of TV channel goes up to 813

    Total number of TV channel goes up to 813

    MUMBAI: Within a fortnight, three more channels have been added to the entire list of channels that can be viewed in India. This includes 400 news and current affairs channels and 413 non-news and current affairs channels, as on 15 September 2014.

     

    The number of TV channels that can uplink from and downlink to India is 685 (earlier 682).This includes 378 news (earlier 376) and 307 (earlier 306) non-news channels.

     

    As for the channel that can only uplink and only downlink, the number remained constant at 35 and 93, respectively. The new channels include Kalinga TV, Epic TV. The latter, started by former Disney MD Mahesh Samat, has been waiting for more than a year to get a licence approval from MIB.

     

    At a recent function, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar had said that the ministry is working towards clearing licences of all the pending channels that had been deliberately kept pending by the earlier government. Near about 14 channels were to be listed.

     

    The ministry has also simplified the process of security clearance for broadcasters.

  • Government won’t interfere in media: Prakash Javadekar

    Government won’t interfere in media: Prakash Javadekar

    MUMBAI: The new government has always been questioned about the freedom of media in the country. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the government is committed to protecting the independence of the press, reports PTI.

     

    However, he also reiterated that freedom comes with responsibility and so media needs to look at itself by its own mechanisms. But what is needed is ‘improvement’ in these mechanisms with penal consequences for irresponsible reporting.

     

    As far as social media is concerned, Javadekar said that though there is a need to evolve a mechanism for regulating it, it comes under the information and technology law.

     

    Recently, two Telangana channels were blocked by MSOs- ABN Andhra Jyoti and TV9. On Javadekar’s query the state government said that it had nothing to do with the blocking. Asserting that media is independent, he said that MSOs can’t resort to such censorship. If the Ministry comes to know of any such case, it is empowered to take action.

  • Govt yet to work out details of Krishi channel, says I&B Ministry

    Govt yet to work out details of Krishi channel, says I&B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: Even as details are being worked out by Prasar Bharati in consultation with the stakeholders for a Krishi (farmer) channel as outlined by the finance minister Arun Jaitley in his budget, no definite timeframe has been fixed for commencement of the channel.

     

    Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry sources said this will depend on availability of resources and manpower after the details have been worked out. 

     

    Jaitley had announced in his budget speech on 10 July that a sum of Rs 100 crore would be allocated for this channel. However, the budget for the I&B Ministry shows an allocation of Rs 90 crore for this in the year 2014-15.

     

    Meanwhile, the Krishi Darshan programmes of Doordarshan are being telecast under the ‘mass media support to agriculture extension’ funded by the Agriculture Ministry focussing on dissemination of modern agricultural techniques by involving experts from various fields like insurance, banking, credit for farmers, state government schemes on agriculture/ fisheries/veterinary science/water and soil conservation/social forestry etc.

     

    In addition, a recently introduced programme Mera Gaon Connection telecast at prime time on DD National also introduces modern agricultural techniques to the viewers.  

     

    Meanwhile, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Sanjeev Kumar Balyan told Parliament that the “mass media support to agricultural extension and focused publicity campaigns has been strengthened to reach out to all farmers including small and marginal.”

     

    The audio and video spots and success stories are being aired through All India Radio (AIR), Doordarshan and private channels operating at the national and regional level.  

     

    The other component of the mass media initiative is the use of 96 FM Transmitters of AIR to broadcast area specific agricultural programmes with 30 minutes radio transmission in the evening six days a week. Focused advertisement campaigns which cut across all the divisions of the ministry have been continuing since July 2010.

     

    The campaigns are being launched through print as well as electronic media to create awareness about the assistance available under various schemes of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation.

  • Hearing on Kantar petition adjourned till 11 July

    Hearing on Kantar petition adjourned till 11 July

    MUMBAI: The Delhi High Court today adjourned hearing on a petition by Kantar Market Research Services challenging the government’s cross-shareholding norm for television rating agencies till 11 July.

     

    The court had earlier stayed operation of the cross-shareholding norm till the case is disposed of. And in accordance with the court’s directive, TAM Media Research, which is jointly owned by Kantar and Nielsen, last month applied to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for its registration as a television ratings service.

     

    The cross-shareholding norm, which came into effect from 15 February, debars shareholders owning more than 10 per cent of a television rating agency from having stakes in broadcasters and advertising agencies.

     

    TAM has also been allowed to continue publishing its television ratings till the court decides on the Kantar petition.

     

    Kantar had today sought adjournment of the case to April but the court decided to have the next hearing only in July.

     

    The election commission on Wednesday announced the dates for the 9-phase polling for Lok Sabha elections and the results would be announced on May 16.

     

    With the announcement of the election schedule, the election code of conduct came into effect which bars governments from taking any policy decisions.

  • Interim Budget: Communications and Information Technology Ministry

    Interim Budget: Communications and Information Technology Ministry

    NEW DELHI: The budgetary allocation in the vote-on-account for 2014-15 for convergence, communications and strategic electronics in the Communications and Information Technology Ministry has gone up to Rs 27 crore.

     

    In the interim budget (vote-on-account) for 2014-15 presented in Parliament for the first four months of the new year 2014-15 in view of the general elections later this year, the amount set aside in this sector which includes broadband and broadcast convergence has gone up from Rs 15.75 crore in the revised estimates but is marginally lower than the budgetary allocation of Rs 28 crore in the 2013-14 budget.

     

    An explanatory note says this includes supporting research and development in convergence communications, broadband technologies and strategic electronics. The indigenous efforts are aimed at facilitating developments in emerging, next generation convergence communication, broadband, broadcast and strategic technologies for inclusive and sustainable growth in the country.

     

    In addition, there is budgetary allocation of Rs 7 crore for Media Lab Asia, which is far less than the revised estimates of Rs 12.75 crore for 2013-14. Media Lab Asia is a Section 25 company aimed at bringing the benefits of the most advanced information and communication technologies to the common man and the needy people.

     

    Keeping in view large-scale incidents of hacking or damaging websites, the budget for cyber security has gone up three times from Rs 36.87 crore in the revised estimates for 2013-14 to Rs 114 crore.

     

    The explanatory note says that cyber security is gaining adoption in all types of products for a variety of reasons including national security and appreciation of the consequences of insecurity, and the grants to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-in)

  • Colors gets notice for Bigg Boss 7

    Colors gets notice for Bigg Boss 7

    MUMBAI: The popular reality show Bigg Boss, now in its seventh season, has landed into trouble, weeks after its launch. A show cause notice has been served by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the content that has been aired on the channel Colors saying that it was not appropriate for unrestricted public exhibition.

     

    The objections raised are on episodes where concern was raised regarding the language used by some contestants as well as the scene where participants are seated in a chair and given electric shocks. The source told PTI that these scenes violate the programming code under the cable TV act.

     

    The channel, Colors, has been asked to explain itself. Bigg Boss is currently one of Colors’ flagship shows and it claims to have molded it to suit a family audience. Previously also the channel has got into trouble due to Bigg Boss’ content.

     

    Bigg Boss is created by Endemol for the channel Colors, an adaptation of the popular international reality show Big Brother. In its seventh season, this year the show is themed around ‘Heaven and Hell’ where participants are in two houses – one themed around heaven and the other themed around hell.

  • Sports ministry gets notice to ensure compliance of IOC directions by IOA

    Sports ministry gets notice to ensure compliance of IOC directions by IOA

    NEW DELHI: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court today issued notice to the Union Sports Ministry on a public interest litigation filed by IPS officer Amitabh Thakur and social activist Nutan Thakur to ensure compliance by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) of the directions issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

    After hearing arguments of petitioners’ counsel Asok Pande, the bench of Justice Imtiyaz Murtaza and Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya directed the Sports Ministry to present facts related with the matter within one week.

    According to the petition, IOC suspended IOA in December 2012 for not complying with the directions to suitably amend its constitution for introducing integrity, ethics and good governance in sports and reiterated it again during its meeting in Buenos Aires on 4 September directing IOA to amend its constitution by 31 October.

    Amitabh and Nutan said that participation in the Olympics is associated with not only sports but is also linked with the nation’s sentiments and has ramifications in international diplomacy and prestige, hence the sports ministry be directed to use its authority to ensure that IOA complies with the IOA directions in the prescribed period.

  • I&B ministry’s ad cap succor for broadcasters

    I&B ministry’s ad cap succor for broadcasters

    MUMBAI: On the one hand, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is putting the squeeze on broadcasters. On the other, the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) is proving to be an angel in disguise all ready to provide it with some succor. At least in the area of the 12 minute cap on advertising per hour allowed on television which TRAI activated earlier this year, and which is to be implemented next month.

    Reports are that the ministry is collecting data from broadcasters to ascertain the loss that they would incur on account of the TRAI-mandated ad cap.  It is then expected to prepare a consultation paper within the next 10 days, say these reports.

     
    Broadcasters – especially news broadcasters – have been yelping about how any reduction in air time would lead to a shriveling of revenues for them; in fact it might make it unviable for them to sustain their operations. Their constant wailing caught the attention of I&B minister Manish Tewari who last month requested the TRAI to post-pone the ad cap to end-2014 to coincide with the inflow of subscription revenues which are expected to accrue to broadcasters post the completion of cable TV digitisation.

    The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) concurred with the news broadcasters’ appeal and put a freeze on the applicability of the ad cap, till their plea was heard on 11 November 2013. General entertainment channels have, however, agreed to comply with TRAI’s directions and have even gone ahead and reduced their commercial advertising air time.

    Says a media observer: “All the players – TRAI, I&B, broadcasters – need to get together to have a road map for the reduction of the ad cap gradually and periodically over time and not in one fell swoop as TRAI has been suggesting. It’s good that the I&B ministry and TDSAT have been supporting the broadcasting sector as far as the ad cap is concerned. It is imperative for its survival.”