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  • News Broadcasters Federation welcomes SC order on fake news

    News Broadcasters Federation welcomes SC order on fake news

    MUMBAI: The News Broadcasters Federation has welcomed the Supreme Court order against the menace of fake news. The apex court in its order on Tuesday, 31 March , made observations on the “menace of fake news either by electronic, print or social media” and has put the onus on the media to ensure unverified panic inducing news is not circulated. 

    The NBF, which is the largest body of news broadcasters pan-India, not just acknowledges but welcomes the Supreme Court Order which states “we expect the Media (print, electronic or social) to maintain a strong sense of responsibility and ensure that unverified news capable of causing panic is not disseminated.” In the midst of India’s current battle against the novel coronavirus, the NBF recognises that there is a great need to be vigilant against fake news that is being proliferated both on certain media platforms, as well as on social media, said the federation in a release. 

    NBF president Arnab Goswami said in a statement that the NBF stands in solidarity and supports completely the proactive initiatives undertaken by the Government of India to contain, control and defeat the COVID-19 pandemic whose grave impact spans over 199 nations and over 8.5 lakh individuals, at present. The NBF believes the nationwide lockdown to contain the COVID-19 threat needs to be upheld, and any fake news that deters this national fight needs to be debunked at the earliest. In light of this, the NBF strives to uphold it's national duty and stands by the Supreme Court intervention to curb rampant fake news. 

    He added that the battle against the novel-coronavirus is and must remain a national effort, with each pillar of our democracy doing its part to ensure the social distancing norms are maintained, the lockdown rules are followed, and the concerted efforts to spread fear and mistrust amongst the people by a handful in detriment to this effort are defeated. The NBF believes that it's fundamental duty “to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so”, in the present times, includes being an active participant in fighting fake news. 

    “India is at the cusp of its battle against the pandemic, and has rapidly increased efforts to flatten the curve and delay the onset of Stage-3, that is, community transmission. The nature of the infection and the person-to-person spread means there is a need for restriction of movement in our nation of 1.3 billion, and any fake news to defeat this effort needs to be curtailed at the earliest,” he points out.

    Goswami notes that the NBF acknowledges that this fight requires a united effort by all sections of society, all organisations and all groups need to come together. The NBF pledges its complete support to our frontline warriors and stands behind the Supreme Court order to curb fake news during the extraordinary situation currently faced by the nation and the world. 

  • Arnab Goswami decries efforts to stop BARC ratings, seeks MIB help

    Arnab Goswami decries efforts to stop BARC ratings, seeks MIB help

    MUMBAI: News Broadcasting Federation (NBF) has sought the urgent intervention of union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar to prevent vested interests from stopping the publication of TV ratings.

    NBF president Arnab Goswami has said in a letter addressed to the minister that there have been attempts made by some vested interests to put pressure via the ministry to stop the publication of ratings measured by BARC at a time when news channels work round the clock in this national effort against COVID-19.

    Arnab wrote in the letter: “I am informed that some of these vested interests, who are trying to stop ratings in this period, are doing so to protect their commercial interests, and falsely claiming to represent the news broadcasting industry of India.”

    He requested the minister not to allow any such decision or any such communication from MIB or anyone associated with the ministry to BARC. According to him, such a move by vested interests is worrying news broadcasters and taking their attention away from the collective goal of defeating COVID-19, ensuring the lockdown is successful and the country comes through this together.

    He warned the minister that if such a move is implemented, it will destroy the news broadcasting industry in India, which is doing an incredible job at this crucial juncture.

    “You are aware that the efforts of the news channels have been appreciated by one and all, including the prime minister in his recent video conference with owners and editors of some news channels. In order to continue the effort, which in this period involves creation of informative and relevant news content while covering the entire country at a time when communication and transport is not easy, our hundreds of thousands of professionals are working round the clock, and taking this battle on the frontlines to ensure that COVID 19 is defeated,” Arnab wrote to the minister.

    If news channels also face a situation when ratings are stopped, we will be destroyed and our organisations will be at peril, said the NBF president. He reminded the minister that while individual channels or bodies may claim to speak for the news broadcasters, they are only defending their short-term interests.

    He also reminded the minister that news broadcasters are completely dependent on publication of TV ratings to run their business. “We are doing committed public service broadcasting in this period of national emergency,” he stated.

    The latter has been copied to the relevant authorities at BARC for their information as well.

  • News broadcasters seek government help to overcome corona crisis

    News broadcasters seek government help to overcome corona crisis

    MUMBAI:  The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), the trade organisation that represents the combined interests of the news broadcasting industry on Monday sought the immediate intervention of the central government to overcome the larger economic, social, financial and business impact arising out of the combat measures and lockdown initiatives across the country that threaten the survival of the news television channels.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his televised address to the nation, on March 19, equated the news broadcasting sector in line with essential services, is a crucial acknowledgement of the important role of news broadcasters in rendering public service in such a critical situation which the nation is facing currently.

    In the memorandum presented to the Prime Ministers’ Office, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and TRAI etc. the NBF has sought government intervention to combat the financial and business impact on the news broadcasting sector. 

    To overcome the financial impact, the federation has requested the government to relax and offer tax concessions including lowering GST rates and filing dates, postponing the deadline for TDS payments, for at least a minimum period of three months, until June 30, 2020. The federation has also asked the government to waive off the fees for news channels on DD Freedish platform for March and April 2020.  The NBF has also sought extension in deadlines for compliance, since employees handling regulatory issues are currently working from home. 

    “The NBF strongly stands and supports the Government of India’s proactive measures to combat spread of COVID-19 virus, which has posed a health and economic threat to the country.  This extraordinary situation required the government to take extraordinary measures to save the news broadcasting sector that performs a public service for free. Else, we perish,” said NBF President Arnab Goswami.   

    The news broadcasters are facing slowdown of business operations and severe shortfall revenue as it has curtailed the flow of advertisement which is the largest source of revenue for FTA news broadcasters. The measures have also severely impacted cash flows due to lower collections of payments since clients are also scaled down their business operations. At the same time, the operating costs on connectivity and communications have tremendously increased due to the lockdowns while ensuring the safety of employees.

  • Finance Minister meets News Broadcasters Federation, NBF seeks parity in GST with the print industry

    Finance Minister meets News Broadcasters Federation, NBF seeks parity in GST with the print industry

    MUMBAI: On 17thJanuary, 2020 Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman met the members of the executive body of News Broadcasters Federation (NBF). In the meeting, the NBF has proposed a recommendation requesting the Government to treat TV News channels at par with the print industry under GST.  In the current scenario, the GST applicable on the print media stands at 5% whereas the news broadcasters are charged 18% GST.

    In the meeting the President of NBF Mr. Arnab Goswami, President of NBF Board, highlighted the need for parity given the similarity in the business model and the importance of TV news broadcasting in the country.

    The Finance Minister accepted a copy of the recommendation of NBF and assured the members that she would investigate the matter.

    The NBF was represented in the meeting by the President Mr Arnab Goswami, the Vice Presidents Ms.Jagi M. Panda and Mr.SanjiveNarain, and the Secretary-General, Mr R. Jai Krishna.
     

  • News Broadcasters Federation elects Arnab Goswami as president

    News Broadcasters Federation elects Arnab Goswami as president

    MUMBAI: News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), the country’s largest industry association of more than 78 news channels representing broadcasters from 14 languages and 25 states of the country met on Saturday to firm up the governance and management structure, as well to finalize on the modalities of a self-regulatory organisation – News Broadcasters Federation Authority – with an aim to bring in transparent self-regulation on content.

    In the biggest ever congregation of news broadcasters for a common cause that represents their combined interests and perspective on matters related to the news broadcasting industry, on Saturday in New Delhi, the members unanimously elected  Republic TV managing director and editor in chief Arnab Goswami as the new president of NBF’s governing board. 

    “I am grateful for the trust and confidence shown in me by the largest every group of broadcasters in India. NBF is a game changer and its incredible how so many channel owners and top executives have come together so quickly to make NBF happen," Arnab Goswami said on being elected as the President of NBF. “For far too long a clutch of Delhi based channels have falsely claimed to represent Indian broadcasting. NBF will change that, for good.” 

    The members also elected four vice presidents, namely Jagi Mangat Panda co-founder of Ortel Communications; Shankar Bala of Fourth Dimension Media; Sanjive Narain, Chairman and Managing Director of Prag News, and Kartikeya Sharma of ITV Network, who will be part of the governing board. 

    Among the founder members of the NBF are the following: Republic Media Network (Republic TV and Republic Bharat), Puthiyathalaimurai ( Tamil Nadu) and V6 News (Telangana), Orissa TV (Orissa), IBC24 (MP and Chhattisgarh), TV9 Bharatvarsh, Newslive and Northeast Live (Assam and Northeast), First India News (Rajasthan), Kolkata TV (West Bengal), CVR News (AP and Telangana), Polimer News (Tamil Nadu), Khabar Fast (Haryana), Living India News (Punjab), Prag News (Assam), NTV (AP and Telangana),  Maha News (AP and Telangana), TV5 News (AP and Telangana), MKTV (Tamil Nadu), Vanitha TV (AP and Telangana), DNN and IND24 (MP), Shri Sankara TV and Ayush TV (Karnataka), A1 TV (Jaipur), Power TV (Karnataka),Raj News (Tamil Nadu), Twentyfour News (Kerala), CVR News Network (AP and Telangana), 
    National Voice (Uttar Pradesh), Nirman News (Gujarat), Anaadi TV (MP and Chhattisgarh), VRL Media (Karnataka), Calcutta News (West Bengal),News 7 (Tamil Nadu), DNN and News World ( MP and Chhattisgarh), M H One ( Haryana), Mantavya News (Gujarat), Gujarat Television ( Gujarat), S Newz ( West Bengal), Bansal TV ( MP) and Onkat TV (West Bengal).

    “I think this is one of the best moves that have been taken up with all of us together and thinking that in the broadcasting industry, it will be a big step,” said Pride East Entertainment chairman and managing director Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.

    “We represent around 100 crore people. Earlier we were not be able to hear in Delhi. Now we are an association where we can reach out in Delhi and sort out our problems, and that’s the best part of it,” said Twentyfour News COO Anil Ayroor. 

    The members also unanimously named R. Jai Krishna, a former journalist and public policy specialist in the Media sector, as the first secretary-general/ executive director of NBF. R. Jai Krishna comes with more than two decades experience and expertise especially in the news media industry. He will run the secretariat being set up in New Delhi, given the proximity to government ministries, concerned departments and industry regulators. 

    “I am more than happy to represent the aspirations of news broadcasters from across the country and resolve their common issues to make news industry more sustainable,” R. Jai Krishna said on his appointment. 

    NBF is the largest-ever federation of news channels, representing news broadcasters across the country, was formed in July this year, by bringing together 50 news channels. NBF jointly is sled by an experience and expertise of over 1000 years, deliver news and information to more than 100 crore viewers from 
    Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and Gandhi Nagar to Guwahati, through their more than 100,000 direct and indirect employees. 

    Chandigarh-based Living India News director Angad Deep Singh added, “NBF had to be set up, because we the regional players wanted someone who could be a voice in the nation. Even the regional or all of us had to be together to the problems which all of us are facing.” 

    “After forming NBF everyone is coming together, and there are so many people who are interested and who are joining NBF, they are enthusiastic,” said Digiana 
    Industries chairman Sukhdev Singh Ghuman. “I think the regional channels are going to be benefitted a lot.” 

    Prior to the Board meeting, the members met the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, and presented their first set of memorandum. The Minister urged NBF and its members to form a strong self-regulatory mechanism, while recognizing the importance of news 
    channels within the Media and Entertainment sector. 

    The President of NBF will steer a focused group in formation of the self-regulatory body – ‘News Broadcasters Federation Authority’, which will create new standards for news broadcasting and address any violation through a committee of editors from within the federation. The self-regulation mechanism will be led by a Chairman, and four independent eminent persons, and another four editors. The new Self-Regulatory Organization is scheduled to be announced officially by end of January 2020. 

    “We will strive to make self-regulations and we will strive to make to benefit the industry and take forward this industry in a very positive way keeping in mind the entire country, keeping in mind the entire diversity of the country in mind. We will take it forward,” added Sanjive Narain.

    The members of NBF also formalized the members of the three issues-Specific Committees – Public 
    Policy, Distribution, and Finance – by electing among the members through a mode of consensus.

  • News Broadcasters Federation meets today in Mumbai

    News Broadcasters Federation meets today in Mumbai

    Top executives of India’s news Industry, part of News Broadcasters Federation – the largest ever federation of news channels will meet today in Mumbai in what will be the biggest meeting of regional and national broadcasters at one platform. 

    In their first meeting since the announcement, the top body will meet to chart out common interests and objectives of India’s largest body on news broadcasters – NBF. The top executives will chart out the modalities and representation of the body and fix timelines so that NBF rolls ahead with full steam.

    The NBF will represent broadcasters from all languages and parts of the country. It is the first news federation in India that is not centered out of New Delhi. More than 50 news channels have come together to form the News Broadcasters Federation – the largest-ever federation of news channels. 

    This is the first time in the history of Indian broadcasting that a group of regional and national broadcasters have come together to form a body that represents their combined interests and perspective on matters related to the news broadcasting industry. 

    When the NBF meets today, it will be the first time in Indian television history, that representatives of every region in India will truly be represented and present at a single platform, which stands at the core of NBF’s objective.

  • NBF’s emergence signals turf war in India’s news broadcast business

    NBF’s emergence signals turf war in India’s news broadcast business

    MUMBAI: India’s often noisy and always cut-throat news broadcasting business is headed for interesting times. Current challenges facing the sector aside, Thursday made matters more complex with the birth of a new industry body in the form of News Broadcasters Federation (NBF).

    The NBF claims to be the largest-ever such grouping with over 50 news channels under its umbrella and a true representative of the diversity of news broadcasting in the country.

    In a sense, it is positioning itself as an alternative to the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), which critics describe as an elite club that is mostly receptive to concerns of news broadcasters headquartered in the national capital.

    Following NBF’s announcement, an NBA delegation of chairman Rajat Sharma (India TV), NBA secretary general Annie Joseph, honorary treasurer Anurradha Prasad (News24 Broadcast India), Rahul Joshi (TV18 Broadcast), Avinash Pandey (ABP News Network), Kalli Purie (TV Today Network) and Sonia Singh (NDTV) met the Minister for Information and Broadcasting (MIB) Prakash Javadekar.

    The NBA presently has 27 news and current affairs broadcasters (comprising 70 news and current affairs channels) as its members and describes itself as a unified and credible voice before the government on matters that affect the growing industry.

    The setting up of a parallel body though will have several implications for the ecosystem. For starters, it can deliver a blow to the broadcasting industry’s demand for recognition of the self-regulatory codes of Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) and News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) for non-news and news channels respectively. While MIB has expressed satisfaction with the performance of BCCC during several interactions with stakeholders, it has found that NBSA lacks vision and discipline, often not meeting its own standards. With the setting up of NBF, the task of getting the ministry to recognise NBSA code of NBA will only get tougher.

    “The NBF has at least 10 such news channels which do not have licence but have entered into structures with other companies to lease channel licences which is illegal,” said a senior news broadcasting executive who did not wish to be identified.

    This list includes the likes of Living India News, Khabar Fast, IND24, A1 TV, National Voice, and Nirman News among others. Critics of the NBF also highlight the fact that it houses some channels that are part of the non-news category like MK Television, Ayush TV among others.

    Indiantelevision.com reached out to some of the founding members of the NBF. They, however, were not available for comment.

    The NBF is now in the process of accepting new members and will soon interact with relevant industry and regulatory bodies. With Javadekar terming the formation of NBF as a “very positive development”, its next move – forming the governing board – will be closely watched.

  • Regional & national news broadcasters form News Broadcasters Federation

    Regional & national news broadcasters form News Broadcasters Federation

    MUMBAI: News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), a new association of more than 50 news channels representing broadcasters from all languages and parts of the country will form the largest-ever federation of news channels.

    Both national and regional news broadcasters have come together with an aim to contribute their combined interests and perspectives on matters related to the news broadcasting industry.

    Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar, said, “I am very happy today that more than 50 news channels have come together to form the News Broadcasters Federation. These members of the NBF are from various regions and broadcasting in various states of India. India has more than 700 channels and if more associations are formed in genres like news, then it is a very positive development. We don’t believe in censorship but believe in self-regulation. I am very sure and confident that the News Broadcasters Federation will be a platform to discuss matters relevant to the TV News Industry. I also hope NBF gives its recommendations and ensures discipline in broadcasting where truth does not become a casualty. I wish the NBF all the very best.”

    Among the founder members of the NBF are: Republic Media Network (Republic TV and Republic Bharat), Puthiyathalaimurai and V6 News (Tamil Nadu), Orissa TV (Orissa), IBC24 (MP and Chattisgarh), Asianet News Network (Asianet News and Suvarna News, Kerala and Karnataka), TV9 Bharatvarsh, Newslive and Northeast Live (Assam and Northeast), First India News (Rajasthan), Kolkata TV (West Bengal), CVR News (AP & Telangana), Polimer News (Tamil Nadu), Khabar Fast (Haryana), Living India News (Punjab), Prag News (Assam), NTV (AP & Telangana), Maha News (AP & Telangana), TV5 News (AP & Telangana), MKTV (Tamil Nadu),  Vanitha TV (AP & Telangana), DNN and IND24 (MP), Shri Sankara TV  & Ayush TV (Karnataka), A1 TV (Jaipur), Power TV (Karnataka),Raj News (Tamil Nadu), Flowers TV (Kerala), CVR News Network (AP&Telangana), National Voice (Uttar Pradesh), Nirman News (Gujarat), Anaadi TV (MP&Chattisgarh), VRL Media (Karnataka), Calcutta News (West Bengal),News 7 (Tamil Nadu), DNN & News World ( MP & Chattisgarh), M H One ( Haryana), Mantavya News (Gujarat), Gujarat Television ( Gujarat), S News ( West Bengal) Bansal TV ( MP) and Onkat TV (West Bengal).

    “This is the first time in the history of Indian broadcasting that a group of regional and national broadcasters have come together to form a body that represents their combined interests and perspective on matters related to the news broadcasting industry. The NBF is welcoming new members and looks forward to interacting with relevant industry and regulatory bodies. The NBF secretariat has informed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting about the formation of the body. Further announcements on the governing board and membership will be made soon,” said the NBF statement.