ITV

Tag: NBA

  • 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.

  • MIPCOM: GRB announces new titles; Walt Disney doc, real-life crime, docu-series

    MIPCOM: GRB announces new titles; Walt Disney doc, real-life crime, docu-series

    MUMBAI: GRB Entertainment, a trendsetter of unscripted, and scripted, alternative programming with a proven track record worldwide, announced a slate of new titles to debut at MIPCOM.

    As the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney’s death approaches, GRB brings a documentary on his life and career with exclusive footage and over 50 interviews with celebrities, directors, and animators. WALT: The Man Behind The Myth is the official biography of Walt Disney, sanctioned by The Walt Disney Family Foundation. This 90 minute documentary is presented by Diane Disney Miller and narrated by Dick Van Dyke and is filled with never-before-seen color home movies shot by Walt himself.

    Real-life crime is often more dramatic than fiction and GRB Entertainment owns many of the best series and docs in this genre. Occult Crimes takes a look inside the devilish minds of the most unpredictable and dangerous killers in history who take their orders from Satan to commit heinous murders. Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story tells the true story of the death of Andrew Burd, a four-year-old from Texas who died mysteriously of salt poisoning. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder and sent to prison for life. But is this churchgoing woman a vicious child killer or had the tragedy claimed its second victim?

    Turning to music, Follow The Rules is a 12-part series following Grammy-nominated international rapper turned actor, Ja Rule, and the hectic household that he and his wife Aisha are trying to keep under control. With their two sons, daughter, and Ja’s mother and mother-in-law living under one roof, the house that Rule built is anything but quiet.

    In Cleveland Hustles, NBA superstar LeBron James and longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter give four aspiring local entrepreneurs the chance to realize their business dreams while also helping to revitalize neighborhoods in their hometown of Cleveland.

    GRB also brings a series of CNN documentaries from Soledad O’Brien. In Babies Behind Bars, follow the lives of female inmates in a remarkable program allowing them to raise their babies while they serve times. Black & Blue tells the shocking real-life stories of young black men facing persistent racial profiling and police brutality. In Black In America and Latino in America, both multi-documentary collections, Soledad O’Brien explores interpretations of race and cultural identity for people living in the United States.

    “Our official doc on Walt Disney – an iconic man with a great impact on pop culture – offers amazing exclusive footage of his private life. We also have two fun and inspiring series featuring Ja Rule and LeBron James. We continue to bring riveting, real-life crime with Occult Crimes and Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story. We are also thrilled to represent a number of Soledad O’Brien’s CNN documentaries, which span crime and human-interest,” said Michael Lolato, SVP of International Distribution, GRB Entertainment.

    GRB is well-known for its gripping real-life crime series as well as intriguing and inspiring factual programs, and serves up both for the upcoming market. Intervention, GRB’s groundbreaking A&E series (200+ episodes), received two Emmy® Award nominations in 2016, a Critics’ Choice Award nomination in 2016, an Emmy® Award nomination in 2015, and an Emmy Award win in 2009 from the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences for Outstanding Reality Program.

  • MIPCOM: GRB announces new titles; Walt Disney doc, real-life crime, docu-series

    MIPCOM: GRB announces new titles; Walt Disney doc, real-life crime, docu-series

    MUMBAI: GRB Entertainment, a trendsetter of unscripted, and scripted, alternative programming with a proven track record worldwide, announced a slate of new titles to debut at MIPCOM.

    As the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney’s death approaches, GRB brings a documentary on his life and career with exclusive footage and over 50 interviews with celebrities, directors, and animators. WALT: The Man Behind The Myth is the official biography of Walt Disney, sanctioned by The Walt Disney Family Foundation. This 90 minute documentary is presented by Diane Disney Miller and narrated by Dick Van Dyke and is filled with never-before-seen color home movies shot by Walt himself.

    Real-life crime is often more dramatic than fiction and GRB Entertainment owns many of the best series and docs in this genre. Occult Crimes takes a look inside the devilish minds of the most unpredictable and dangerous killers in history who take their orders from Satan to commit heinous murders. Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story tells the true story of the death of Andrew Burd, a four-year-old from Texas who died mysteriously of salt poisoning. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder and sent to prison for life. But is this churchgoing woman a vicious child killer or had the tragedy claimed its second victim?

    Turning to music, Follow The Rules is a 12-part series following Grammy-nominated international rapper turned actor, Ja Rule, and the hectic household that he and his wife Aisha are trying to keep under control. With their two sons, daughter, and Ja’s mother and mother-in-law living under one roof, the house that Rule built is anything but quiet.

    In Cleveland Hustles, NBA superstar LeBron James and longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter give four aspiring local entrepreneurs the chance to realize their business dreams while also helping to revitalize neighborhoods in their hometown of Cleveland.

    GRB also brings a series of CNN documentaries from Soledad O’Brien. In Babies Behind Bars, follow the lives of female inmates in a remarkable program allowing them to raise their babies while they serve times. Black & Blue tells the shocking real-life stories of young black men facing persistent racial profiling and police brutality. In Black In America and Latino in America, both multi-documentary collections, Soledad O’Brien explores interpretations of race and cultural identity for people living in the United States.

    “Our official doc on Walt Disney – an iconic man with a great impact on pop culture – offers amazing exclusive footage of his private life. We also have two fun and inspiring series featuring Ja Rule and LeBron James. We continue to bring riveting, real-life crime with Occult Crimes and Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story. We are also thrilled to represent a number of Soledad O’Brien’s CNN documentaries, which span crime and human-interest,” said Michael Lolato, SVP of International Distribution, GRB Entertainment.

    GRB is well-known for its gripping real-life crime series as well as intriguing and inspiring factual programs, and serves up both for the upcoming market. Intervention, GRB’s groundbreaking A&E series (200+ episodes), received two Emmy® Award nominations in 2016, a Critics’ Choice Award nomination in 2016, an Emmy® Award nomination in 2015, and an Emmy Award win in 2009 from the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences for Outstanding Reality Program.

  • Cap on TV ads, challenge to stay ‘action against channels’ hearing put off

    Cap on TV ads, challenge to stay ‘action against channels’ hearing put off

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today adjourned the hearing of the ad cap on television channels again, this time to 12 January 2017, with no resolution in sight to the imbroglio.

    Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangeeta Dhingra told the counsel present when the matter came up that it would be heard at the next date. No reason was attributed by the Court for the adjournment.

    On 1 August 2016, the matter was put off to today by the chief justice and Justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of part-heard cases. 

    In the hearing on 29 March 2016, a plea was made on behalf of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    (Thus, the hearing will come up almost two years after then I and B Minister Arun Jaitley had said at a public function that he did not see the need for any kind caps on the media.)

    When the case comes up next, the court is also expected to take up an application by the intervenor — Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd — seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    On 13 May 2016, the court had agreed to take up vacation of stay at the next hearing. The court had, on 11 February 2016, agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene in the matter. 

    Earlier, on 27 November 2015, the court presided over by the chief justice had said the matter had been pending for sometime and, therefore, it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. 

    On that day, MIB had informed the court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the NBA against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and others.

    The case, filed by NBA and others against TRAI and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamorus, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhile, a separate petition filed in the High Court by Vikki Choudhry and Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd., which too will be heard on the next date, seeks to charge MIB with dereliction of duties to take action against offending pay TV broadcasters for violating the terms and conditions of the licenses/permission for Uplinking and Downlinking.

    The Court had in June asked the Ministry to file its reply in four weeks. Notice was issued only to the Ministry, although the petition also listed several other broadcasting companies as respondents. 

    ALSO READ:  Ad cap & linked case put off to Sept; court to hear plea against stay order

  • Cap on TV ads, challenge to stay ‘action against channels’ hearing put off

    Cap on TV ads, challenge to stay ‘action against channels’ hearing put off

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today adjourned the hearing of the ad cap on television channels again, this time to 12 January 2017, with no resolution in sight to the imbroglio.

    Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangeeta Dhingra told the counsel present when the matter came up that it would be heard at the next date. No reason was attributed by the Court for the adjournment.

    On 1 August 2016, the matter was put off to today by the chief justice and Justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of part-heard cases. 

    In the hearing on 29 March 2016, a plea was made on behalf of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    (Thus, the hearing will come up almost two years after then I and B Minister Arun Jaitley had said at a public function that he did not see the need for any kind caps on the media.)

    When the case comes up next, the court is also expected to take up an application by the intervenor — Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd — seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    On 13 May 2016, the court had agreed to take up vacation of stay at the next hearing. The court had, on 11 February 2016, agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene in the matter. 

    Earlier, on 27 November 2015, the court presided over by the chief justice had said the matter had been pending for sometime and, therefore, it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. 

    On that day, MIB had informed the court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the NBA against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and others.

    The case, filed by NBA and others against TRAI and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamorus, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhile, a separate petition filed in the High Court by Vikki Choudhry and Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd., which too will be heard on the next date, seeks to charge MIB with dereliction of duties to take action against offending pay TV broadcasters for violating the terms and conditions of the licenses/permission for Uplinking and Downlinking.

    The Court had in June asked the Ministry to file its reply in four weeks. Notice was issued only to the Ministry, although the petition also listed several other broadcasting companies as respondents. 

    ALSO READ:  Ad cap & linked case put off to Sept; court to hear plea against stay order

  • SPN India to broadcast National Football League

    SPN India to broadcast National Football League

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) is bringing to its viewers sports leagues from North America — the National Football League (NFL).

    Action begins with the first game of NFL Kick off 2016 Weekend featuring the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos hosting the Carolina Panthers in a rematch of Super Bowl 50 on Sony Six, Sony Six HD and Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD on 9 September, 2016, at 6 am. Three NFL games a week will be telecast live on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD during the 2016 NFL season.

    NFL games will be telecast three times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 6am IST giving viewers more options in the breakfast viewing category. Apart from this, select games during the season will also be telecast at prime- time.

    The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world. It consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC).

    Each regular season runs for a period of 17 weeks with each team playing 16 games and having one bye week. At the end of the regular season, six teams from each conference (four division winners and two wild card teams) advance to the playoffs that concludes with the Super Bowl, played between the champions of the NFC and AFC.

    SPN distribution and sports president Rajesh Kaul said, “The sports cluster of SPN possess the broadcast rights of two of the ‘Big 4’ professional sports leagues in America with the NFL and NBA, consequently showcasing the best of American sports leagues to our viewers. We have seen a growing interest amongst urban Indian viewers for American sports it seems set to grow further with the NFL games”.

    He further added, “Breakfast Viewing is a transformational concept initiated and fostered by SPN that has changed the way live sports is consumed by viewers today. At present, we are the only network catering to die-hard sports fans in this segment and are giving our viewers more options in sports consumption owing to the demand for live international content in this time band. There is a significant viewership in the breakfast viewing category for our other content and we are expecting to see a definite growth in viewership for the NFL too.”

  • SPN India to broadcast National Football League

    SPN India to broadcast National Football League

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) is bringing to its viewers sports leagues from North America — the National Football League (NFL).

    Action begins with the first game of NFL Kick off 2016 Weekend featuring the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos hosting the Carolina Panthers in a rematch of Super Bowl 50 on Sony Six, Sony Six HD and Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD on 9 September, 2016, at 6 am. Three NFL games a week will be telecast live on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD during the 2016 NFL season.

    NFL games will be telecast three times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 6am IST giving viewers more options in the breakfast viewing category. Apart from this, select games during the season will also be telecast at prime- time.

    The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world. It consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC).

    Each regular season runs for a period of 17 weeks with each team playing 16 games and having one bye week. At the end of the regular season, six teams from each conference (four division winners and two wild card teams) advance to the playoffs that concludes with the Super Bowl, played between the champions of the NFC and AFC.

    SPN distribution and sports president Rajesh Kaul said, “The sports cluster of SPN possess the broadcast rights of two of the ‘Big 4’ professional sports leagues in America with the NFL and NBA, consequently showcasing the best of American sports leagues to our viewers. We have seen a growing interest amongst urban Indian viewers for American sports it seems set to grow further with the NFL games”.

    He further added, “Breakfast Viewing is a transformational concept initiated and fostered by SPN that has changed the way live sports is consumed by viewers today. At present, we are the only network catering to die-hard sports fans in this segment and are giving our viewers more options in sports consumption owing to the demand for live international content in this time band. There is a significant viewership in the breakfast viewing category for our other content and we are expecting to see a definite growth in viewership for the NFL too.”

  • Ad cap & linked case put off to Sept; court to hear plea against stay order

    Ad cap & linked case put off to Sept; court to hear plea against stay order

    NEW DELHI: With no resolution in sight to the imbroglio relating to adcaps on television channels, the Delhi High Court has adjourned the hearing one more time, this time to September 29, 2016.

    The matter had earlier been put off on May 13, 2016 to today by chief justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of part-heard cases.

    When the case comes up next, court is also expected to take up an application by intervenor Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    In the hearing on March 29, 2016, a plea was made on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    On May 13, 2016, the court had agreed to take up at the next hearing for vacation of stay. The court had on February 11, 2016 had also agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene on the matter.

    Earlier on November 27, 2105, the court chaired by the chief justice, had said the matter had been pending for some time and, therefore, it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. On that day, MIB had informed the court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap of 12 minutes per hour. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the NBA against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and others.

    The case, filed by NBA and others against TRAI and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamorus, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhile, the separate petition filed in the High Court by Vikki Choudhry and Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd., which too will be heard on the next date in September, seeks to charge MIB with dereliction of its duties to take action against offending pay TV broadcasters for violating the terms and conditions of the licenses/permission for Uplinking and Downlinking.

    The Court had in June asked the Ministry to file its reply in four weeks. Notice was issued only to the Ministry, although the petition also listed several other broadcasting companies as respondents.

    ALSO READ

    Ad cap case put off to 1 August, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    Ad cap case adjourned till 15 July

  • Ad cap & linked case put off to Sept; court to hear plea against stay order

    Ad cap & linked case put off to Sept; court to hear plea against stay order

    NEW DELHI: With no resolution in sight to the imbroglio relating to adcaps on television channels, the Delhi High Court has adjourned the hearing one more time, this time to September 29, 2016.

    The matter had earlier been put off on May 13, 2016 to today by chief justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of part-heard cases.

    When the case comes up next, court is also expected to take up an application by intervenor Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    In the hearing on March 29, 2016, a plea was made on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    On May 13, 2016, the court had agreed to take up at the next hearing for vacation of stay. The court had on February 11, 2016 had also agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene on the matter.

    Earlier on November 27, 2105, the court chaired by the chief justice, had said the matter had been pending for some time and, therefore, it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. On that day, MIB had informed the court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap of 12 minutes per hour. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the NBA against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and others.

    The case, filed by NBA and others against TRAI and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamorus, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhile, the separate petition filed in the High Court by Vikki Choudhry and Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd., which too will be heard on the next date in September, seeks to charge MIB with dereliction of its duties to take action against offending pay TV broadcasters for violating the terms and conditions of the licenses/permission for Uplinking and Downlinking.

    The Court had in June asked the Ministry to file its reply in four weeks. Notice was issued only to the Ministry, although the petition also listed several other broadcasting companies as respondents.

    ALSO READ

    Ad cap case put off to 1 August, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    Ad cap case adjourned till 15 July