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Tag: Narendra Modi

  • Arasu should be given DAS licence, Jayalalithaa tells Modi

    Arasu should be given DAS licence, Jayalalithaa tells Modi

    NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has once again raised the issue of granting a digital addressable system licence to Arasu Cable TV Corporation, which is owned by the state government.

     

    While the demand was raised before Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she called on him yesterday, it is expected that this matter would be referred to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar for consideration.

     

    However, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has in two different consultation papers in 2008 and December 2012 given its opinion against state-owned multi-system operators or broadcasters getting licences.

     

    Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that licences have not been issued to any state-owned organisation for running cable TV networks as TRAI had recommended that neither state-owned, local bodies nor religious organisations should be permitted to own TV channels.

     

    Earlier this year, then I&B Minister Manish Tewari had told Parliament that Arasu Cable TV Corporation had applied on 26 November 2007 for grant of MSO registration in CAS notified area of Chennai and had been granted provisional permission on 2 April 2008, subject to the report of TRAI on the issue of whether to allow state governments/PSUs and other entities to enter into broadcasting activities.

     

    Thus, Arasu had been given permission on the ground that it would automatically lapse if the Ministry decides against allowing state governments/PSUs and other entities into broadcasting activities, including MSO/Cable operations.

     

    In April last year, the Madras High Court had been informed by TRAI that Central and  State government ministries, departments, companies and undertakings should not be allowed to enter into the business of broadcasting or distribution of television channels. 

     

    Justice S. Rajeswaran was hearing writ petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation seeking Digital Addressable System (DAS) licence to it for Chennai Metro and for the other parts of the State.

  • Ministries urged to come on social media through I&B Ministry’s Communication Hub

    Ministries urged to come on social media through I&B Ministry’s Communication Hub

    NEW DELHI: All Central Ministries have been requested by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to disseminate their policy initiatives through the Communication Hub under the existing New Media Wing of his Ministry.

     

    Firmly believing in prolific use of social media, the Minister wrote to his Cabinet colleagues for utilising this Communication Hub as a one-stop place for social media outreach based on Hub and Spoke model. 
     

    In his letter, he said each Ministry or/Department may liaise with the New Media Wing which will cater to all its needs such as disseminating information through packaging and placing of content, wider reach through variety of tools and response management.

     

    He said the two-way interaction envisaged in this endeavour would provide a 360 degree communication approach to the government and hence help in last man connectivity. 

    He informed that the directive was in adherence to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wanted to use the social media platforms extensively for transparency and better governance. 

  • PM’s oath taking ceremony sees a mass mobile connection

    PM’s oath taking ceremony sees a mass mobile connection

    MUMBAI: On the eve of 26 May, while the nation was glued to TV sets as India’s 15th prime minister, Narendra Modi took the oath, people from every corner of the world witnessed this glorious event over television sets, radio and internet.

     

    However that wasn’t the only historic thing of that evening, the event had grandeur response on mobile as well. Over a million callers dialed in to listen live streaming of oath taking ceremony right on their mobile phone.

     

    As the ceremony was held late in the evening of working day, that was a time when millions of Indians were busy working at office, caught up in their daily commute, stranded in traffic jams, etc. which meant missing the live telecast of the ceremony. If given an opportunity to enjoy the live telecast right from wherever they are, none would give a miss to the event.

     

    Bringing this thought to reality, VivaConnect, an innovative mobile marketing company partnered with BJP to broadcast the ceremony live over a phone call. They published a phone number 022 4501 4501 as a means to connect. The service connected over a million callers with the event. The response was massive considering that event lasted only for an hour.

     

    This was the first time ever that a prime ministerial oath taking ceremony was made available live over a phone call. Considering the enormous population of the country that has 529 million mobile users in urban parts and over 364 million mobile users in rural regions, the service established an easy connect for everyone right from the urbanites of metropolis to the people living in media dark regions.

  • Political appointees prefer to bid good-bye to Prasar Bharati following change of government

    Political appointees prefer to bid good-bye to Prasar Bharati following change of government

    NEW DELHI: Even as speculation continues to grow on the spate of resignations from the Board of the Prasar Bharati, it is learnt that one or two more members are expected to put in their papers.

     

    While no official comment was available with even Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar declining to say anything, pubcaster sources said that these resignations could be due to the fact that they were political appointees.

     

    It is learnt that part-time members Dipa Dixit, Suman Dubey and CR Kesavan have put in their papers.

     

    Under the Prasar Bharati Act 1990, the part-time members have a term of six years and therefore cannot be removed before that term is over even if there is a change in government or the governance of Prasar Bharati.

     

    However, one source said that the members are believed to have resigned as a moral obligation since they were appointees of the previous government.

     

    It is also learnt that the members were apprehensive of greater interference in the working of the autonomous pubcaster, and the resignations could be termed as a ‘boycott’ or ‘protest’.

     

    Another source said that the members were also unhappy with the fact that there were crucial delays in not only filling vacancies in the Board, but also the vacancies that had been cleared by the Group of Ministers, as crucial to the function of the pubcaster.

     

    At present, the Prasar Bharati is without a chairperson as Mrinal Pande’s term has come to an end, and the posts of both the Executive Members in-charge of Personnel and Finance.

     

    Over 1100 persons are believed to have been selected by the selection committees for filling crucial posts, but these are not being cleared by the Government.

     

    The Prasar Bharati Board comprises its chairman, an executive member (chief executive officer), member (Finance), member (Personnel) and six part-time members.

    That apart, a representative of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Directors General of All India Radio and Doordarshan are its ex-officio members.

  • Government has no intentions to impose any regulations on the media: Javadekar

    Government has no intentions to impose any regulations on the media: Javadekar

    NEW DELHI: Newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said today that freedom of the press is the cornerstone of a democracy and his first aim in his new portfolio will be to find ways to strengthen this freedom.

     

    Speaking soon after taking charge of his portfolio, the Minister said that the media and politicians must work together to highlight the problems of the people and bring them before the government.

     

    Describing himself as ‘just a soldier’, he said he had always stood for freedom of the press and had suffered a 16-month imprisonment during the national emergency in 1975 in this fight as he belongs to a family of journalists.

     

    Noting that the press has conducted itself in a responsible manner and set up self-regulatory bodies, he said the government would not impose any regulations on the fourth estate.

     

    The media in its present form gives a ‘rainbow of choices’ and even dissent has its own place in a democratic system of functioning. Constructive criticism is therefore welcome.

     

    Asked about the frictions with Prasar Bharati, Javadekar said he had not had time to study the issues yet but would like to work in partnership with all the autonomous media units including Prasar Bharati.

     

    He said in reply to a question that he did not agree with his immediate predecessor that there was no need for an Information and Broadcasting Ministry in the present context.

     

    Referring to social media, he said that while it presently came under the Information Technology Act, but he would study it and see how it can be helped. He said he would meet all the officials of the Ministry, understand the issues involved and then make some suggestions to the Prime Minister.

     

    Soon after meeting the media, he met senior officials of the Ministry and also media units, apart from Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar and Director of Film Festivals Shankar Mohan.

     

    Contrary to expectations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not upgraded the post of Information and Broadcasting to cabinet rank.

     

    Like his immediate predecessor Manish Tewari, Javadekar will be a Minister of State with independent charge of Information and Broadcasting Ministry. (He has also been given charge of Environment and Parliamentary Affairs). However, he has ample experience as far as dealing with the media and its problems are concerned, since he like Tewari has served as party spokesperson for the past few years.

     

    Javedekar has also been one of the nominated members from Parliament to the Press Council of India and hence has dealt with media issues such as paid news. A member of the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra, Javadekar was born in Pune on 30 January 1951 and became associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in his young days.

     

    He commenced his professional life as an employee in the Bank of Maharashtra for 10 years from 1971 to 1981 and also worked in the Rural Development Department.

     

    His father Keshav Krishna Javadekar was a senior leader of Hindu Maha Sabha who worked as joint editor of Marathi Daily started by Lokmanya Tilak – Kesari before having stints with some other newspapers like Tarun Bharat and Kaal as journalist. He still occasionally writes his thoughts in some newspapers.

     

    Javadekar has been president of GLOBE India (Global Legislators Organisation for Balanced Environment); In-charge BJP Economic Forum and Cells related to Economy; President, NOINO (National Organisation of Insurance Officers) and president, KCKU (Khadi Commission Karmachari Union).

     

    As a member of Parliament, he has served as member of the Press Council of India; the Public Accounts Committee; Standing Committee on Human Resources and Development; Consultative Committee for Ministry of Power; Committee on Subordinate Legislation and Committee on Wakf.

     

    He has earlier served as executive president of the State Planning Board in Maharashtra (1995–1999); been a  member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from Pune Division Graduate Constituency for 12 years from 1990; chairman of the Task Force on IT in Maharashtra (1977–1999) and chairman of the Working Group on ‘IT for Masses’ of the central government.

     

    He has also led a delegation to Boston to negotiate Media Lab Asia Project in 2000.

  • Prakash Javadekar takes over as I&B Minister

    Prakash Javadekar takes over as I&B Minister

    NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar has been sworn in as the new Information and Broadcasting Minister. Javadekar, in an interview to a News channel has said that his first priority as the Minister of State Information & Broadcasting would be to ensure the freedom of media.

     

    Javadekar, who will take charge of the ministry later today, also said he would like to study three portfolios given to him for three to four days before taking any action.

     

    Javadekar has also been given (Independent charge) of Environment and Parliamentary Affairs.

     

    Ravi Shankar Prasad is to be the new communication and information technology minister with cabinet rank. He will also hold charge of the law and justice ministry. 

  • PM swearing in ceremony gets global reach through television and social media

    PM swearing in ceremony gets global reach through television and social media

    NEW DELHI: In a dignified function rarely seen, Indian television channels today globally beamed live the swearing in of Narendra Modi as the fifteenth Prime Minister of the country, along with his team of 44 Ministers and Ministers of State.

     

    Around 4,000 people including all the leaders of the SAARC countries and Mauritius were present in the front courtyard of Rashtrapati Bhavan where President Pranab Mukherjee swore in the Prime Minister and his team.

     

    Apart from the stars of Bollywood who have made it to the portals of Parliament House, others who were present included Anupam Kher, Dharmendra, Salman Khan with father Salim Khan, Bappie Lahiri, Suresh Oberoi and Vivek Oberoi.

     

    The winning stars seen at the ceremony included Vinod Khanna, Manoj Tiwari, Smriti Irani and Hema Malini.

     

    While all television channels were allowed to come to Rashtrapati Bhavan and were stationed at the back of the entire assembly, only Doordarshan was permitted to beam the oath taking ceremony from close quarters.  

     

    As a result, most channels beamed the ceremony by taking the feed from Doordarshan, though many had their own commentators and experts who spoke about the various persons as they were sworn in.

     

    While channels like Times Now preferred to show the commentary by Doordarshan’s Sanjeev Upadhyaya and Gaura Lal Dhawan before and after the swearing in, several other channels like NDTV 24×7 showed the visuals from DD but had its own experts speaking about each person as he/she came up to take the oath.

     

    DD, which had the live coverage on its national channel and DD News, also made arrangements for simultaneous translation into sign language for the hearing impaired. The live telecast was also beamed live on DD’s website and its channel on YouTube, President Pranab Mukherjee’s site presidentofindia.nic.in and on the Prime Minister’s website pmindia.nic.in.

     

    The telecast commenced around 40 minutes before the ceremony commenced, showing the arrival of various VIPs and leaders of different parties,  including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. 

     

    The last time that ceremonies of this nature – though smaller magnitude – were held in the front courtyard of Rashtrapati Bhavan was in 1990 and 1998 when Chandrashekhar and Atal Behari Vajpayee were sworn in as Prime Ministers.

     

    However, this was the first  time since 1991 (when Rajiv Gandhi was cremated) that all the SAARC leaders were seen together in India.

     

    Modi, who has been tweeting throughout the campaign and even after being elected, used the opportunity to send out a message to the people and the media through the Prime Minister’s website, pmindia.nic.in.

     

    Referring to the social media and the internet, he said: “I envision this website as a very important medium of direct communication between us. I am a firm believer in the power of technology and social media to communicate with people across the world. I hope this platform creates opportunities to listen, learn and share one’s views. 

    “Through this website you will also get all the latest information about my speeches, schedules, foreign visits and lot more. I will also keep informing you about innovative initiatives undertaken by the Government of India.” 

     

    A section has been inserted on the website to greet the Prime Minister or send him a message.

     

     

  • World’s biggest fund manager, Mohamed El-Erian speaks exclusively on ET NOW

    World’s biggest fund manager, Mohamed El-Erian speaks exclusively on ET NOW

    MUMBAI: One of the most influential voice in the global market and a veteran economist, today, speaks exclusively on ET NOW, India’s # 1 Business News channel. Catch him as he shares his views on India & Indian Economy post Modi Government and why he thinks a growth rate of sub 5 % in India is equivalent to recession elsewhere onlyon ET NOW’s marquee show ‘FII View’ today, at 7.30pm and 10.30pm.

    Chief Economic Advisor, Allianz Group and Former CEO & Co CIO at PIMC, Mohamed El-Erian is responsible for the global asset allocation strategies. In this exclusive interview which is his first ever interaction with any Indian media, he talks about expectations from the new government, risk to global liquidity in lieu of tapering & potential tightening by the Fedand opportunities to invest in Indian markets amongst many other things.
     

    ‘FII View’ features foreign institutional investors that give the viewers an opportunity to gain insights into the global markets Catch repeat telecast of the special Mohamed El-Erianshow by tuning in to ET NOW on Saturday at 10:30 am.

  • Launch of ‘Modi Tsu’namo’ mobile game by Milestone Interactive Group

    Launch of ‘Modi Tsu’namo’ mobile game by Milestone Interactive Group

    MUMBAI: With BJP’s recent win and Narendra Modi all geared up to take charge of India, Milestone Interactive Group, India’s leading game publishing, marketing, retail and distribution organization has launched the Modi Tsu’namo’ mobile game. The game is available on the Google Play Store and celebrates the spirit of elections in a fun and casual manner whereby the player has to match at least three or more faces of popular Indian election candidates including Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and Mamta Banerjee in a single swipe of each leader in any continuous motion combination and earn points. Combinations containing Modi will fetch more points than those containing any other leader. Play the game and celebrate this win for Modi and for India and lead the change by sharing it on Facebook.

    Commenting on the launch of the game, Mr Jayont R. Sharma, Chairman & CEO, Milestone Interactive Group said, “The win for BJP and Narendra Modi in the recent Loksabha elections, has encouraged us to launch theModi Tsu’namo’ mobile game. The game is part of our celebration of this momentous occasion. We are certain that with all the support Shri Narendra Modi has garnered, the players will have a good time playing this mobile game.”

    The game is available on: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.milestone.moditsunamo

  • Esha Media Research sees upsurge in demand for political content clips

    Esha Media Research sees upsurge in demand for political content clips

    KOLKATA: With the 2014 Lok Sabha elections likely to become a case study for the whole country, Esha Media Research, a media monitoring and research company, has registered an increase in inquiries seeking clips of political content of top political leaders.

     

    If sources are to be believed, Trinamool Congress’s advertising agency, after the party’s performance in the 16th Lok Sabha polls, has approached Esha Media to conduct a media perception study on the elections as whole.

     

    According to Esha Media Research managing director RS Iyer, of the 1200 hours of business content they track, 700 hours comes from channels that have negligible proportion of political content. “However, during the election season, we have monitored and tracked political content of 45 hours per month resulting in 2,000 clips every month for the past three months,” informs Iyer.

     

    “Apart from political parties and leaders soliciting these clips, we are also receiving inquiries from media agencies and business houses tracking the economic content of certain political leaders,” he adds.

     

    Without revealing the names of the clients and agencies, Iyer informs that some forums are interested in getting the speeches of Prime Minister elect Narendra Modi.

     

    He also emphasised that the demand for content clips is higher in politics than in business news. “For instance, 100 clips are derived from every 12 hours of business content while in the political content the same number of clips is derived in 2 hours 15 minutes. This indicates that more number of people are chasing the same portion of content in the political segment,” Iyer explains.

     

    So what is it that is getting viewers attracted to the political content? Answers Iyer, “The oratory skills of the political leaders have attracted the attention of TV channels to go live and reach out to the drawing rooms of the citizens across the country.”