ITV

Tag: Prasar Bharati

  • Share all World Cup, T-20 feeds with Prasar Bharati, rights holder told

    Share all World Cup, T-20 feeds with Prasar Bharati, rights holder told

    NEW DELHI: The telecast of all official one-day and Twenty-20 matches played by the Indian Men’s Cricket Team will henceforth have to be shared by the rights holder with the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act 2007.

    A Gazette notification issued on 22 October 2016 and placed on the Information and Broadcasting Ministry website today also states that this includes “such Test matches as are considered to be of high public interest by the Central Government.”

    In addition, the notification says this also includes semi-finals and finals of Men’s World Cup and International Cricket Council Championship Trophy will also figure among the the sporting events of national importance with respect to cricket.

    The notification has been issued by the Government under Section 2 (1) of the Act read with Rule 6(1) of the Sports Broadcast Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Rules 2007. The notification issued by the joint secretary Anju Nigam, says this is in supersession of the notification of the Government of 23 August 2012.

    A Ministry source told indiantelevision.com that the notification had been issued in view of some cases filed earlier in the different courts and to avoid further litigation with regard to sharing the feed with All India Radio and Doordarshan with regard to cricket.Motion Pictures Association, MPA, Netflix, RedBull Media House, torrent, forensic watermarking, online piracy

  • Broadcasters not opposed to DTT, but want safeguards

    Broadcasters not opposed to DTT, but want safeguards

    NEW DELHI: Views were sharply divided particularly on the issue of sharing infrastructure during an open house discussion today on a Consultation Paper on “Opening Up Digital Terrestrial Transmission” organised by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    However, broadcasting sector sources said that the stakeholders were in principle not opposed to opening up of digital terrestrial television (DTT). Around 40 stakeholders, a majority of them representing broadcasters, were present at the meet. Unlike previous OHDs held by TRAI, Prasar Bharati was also represented at this meet, since it is the only digital terrestrial transmission stakeholder in the country.

    TRAI sources said the objective of the meet was to hear all points of view, though the sources added that the views were by the large the same as expressed in their comments to the paper, which are available on the TRAI website.

    The paper by the TRAI was issued on 24 June 2016, about a year after Prasar Bharati – which is the only terrestrial broadcaster in the country – unanimously recommended that DTT should be opened up to the private channels. Apart from Prasar Bharati, several private channels have already responded to the paper, which was followed by a linked paper on sharing infrastructure issued on 21 September 2016.

    In its response to the DTT paper, the pubcaster said even as it supports the move, it feels that the potential of available distribution options need to be critically analysed to fulfill their requirements (for example coverage, capacity, reception mode, and type of service etc).

    The public broadcaster has also said that the terrestrial broadcast platform will be relevant in the long term if its usage offers veritable benefits to the broadcasters, the audiences and the society as a whole. Even in countries where cable, satellite or broadband hold a significant market share, terrestrial broadcasting is usually regarded as an essential, flexible and reliable way of delivering broadcast content to a mass audience.

    In its response to 11 questions asked by TRAI in its Consultation Paper on ‘Issues related to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting in India,’ the pubcaster says that the terrestrial platform must be digital to remain viable in the long term.

    Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, who had told indiantelevision.com in an interview earlier that it had cleared DTT for the private sector more than a year ago, said at the recent Indian Digital Operators Summit (IDOS) in Goa that it was willing to give its infrastructure to the private TV and radio channels.

    Also read:  Opening DTT to private sector; discussion planned

    Also read:  IDOS 2016: Prasar Bharati could share infra with private players: Sircar

  • Broadcasters not opposed to DTT, but want safeguards

    Broadcasters not opposed to DTT, but want safeguards

    NEW DELHI: Views were sharply divided particularly on the issue of sharing infrastructure during an open house discussion today on a Consultation Paper on “Opening Up Digital Terrestrial Transmission” organised by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    However, broadcasting sector sources said that the stakeholders were in principle not opposed to opening up of digital terrestrial television (DTT). Around 40 stakeholders, a majority of them representing broadcasters, were present at the meet. Unlike previous OHDs held by TRAI, Prasar Bharati was also represented at this meet, since it is the only digital terrestrial transmission stakeholder in the country.

    TRAI sources said the objective of the meet was to hear all points of view, though the sources added that the views were by the large the same as expressed in their comments to the paper, which are available on the TRAI website.

    The paper by the TRAI was issued on 24 June 2016, about a year after Prasar Bharati – which is the only terrestrial broadcaster in the country – unanimously recommended that DTT should be opened up to the private channels. Apart from Prasar Bharati, several private channels have already responded to the paper, which was followed by a linked paper on sharing infrastructure issued on 21 September 2016.

    In its response to the DTT paper, the pubcaster said even as it supports the move, it feels that the potential of available distribution options need to be critically analysed to fulfill their requirements (for example coverage, capacity, reception mode, and type of service etc).

    The public broadcaster has also said that the terrestrial broadcast platform will be relevant in the long term if its usage offers veritable benefits to the broadcasters, the audiences and the society as a whole. Even in countries where cable, satellite or broadband hold a significant market share, terrestrial broadcasting is usually regarded as an essential, flexible and reliable way of delivering broadcast content to a mass audience.

    In its response to 11 questions asked by TRAI in its Consultation Paper on ‘Issues related to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting in India,’ the pubcaster says that the terrestrial platform must be digital to remain viable in the long term.

    Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, who had told indiantelevision.com in an interview earlier that it had cleared DTT for the private sector more than a year ago, said at the recent Indian Digital Operators Summit (IDOS) in Goa that it was willing to give its infrastructure to the private TV and radio channels.

    Also read:  Opening DTT to private sector; discussion planned

    Also read:  IDOS 2016: Prasar Bharati could share infra with private players: Sircar

  • Prasar Bharati advisor reviews DD marketing and policies

    Prasar Bharati advisor reviews DD marketing and policies

    NEW DELHI: Former Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) Secretary and now Prasar Bharati advisor Sunil Arora yesterday asked Doordarshan to adopt the best policies of the industry, even as he approved the planned auction of slots on DD National.

    During a review meeting with Doordarshan where the director-general Supriya Sahu and other senior officials were present, Arora was apprised of the content mix, methodology of audience research and slotting process of the programmes.

    Arora also reviewed the marketing strategies and efforts being made to augment revenues for Doordarshan. He emphasised that DD should leverage the flagship schemes of the government to showcase the developmental initiatives.

    Arora is considered as one of the favourites to succeed Jawhar Sircar as the chief executive officer of Prasar Bharati who demits office in first week of November 2016. In the interim, member (personnel) Suresh Panda has been asked to hold interim charge by the Board, subject to the final approval of MIB.

    Under the Prasar Bharati Act, a new CEO will be selected by a three-member high-level committee headed by the Vice-President of India.

  • Prasar Bharati advisor reviews DD marketing and policies

    Prasar Bharati advisor reviews DD marketing and policies

    NEW DELHI: Former Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) Secretary and now Prasar Bharati advisor Sunil Arora yesterday asked Doordarshan to adopt the best policies of the industry, even as he approved the planned auction of slots on DD National.

    During a review meeting with Doordarshan where the director-general Supriya Sahu and other senior officials were present, Arora was apprised of the content mix, methodology of audience research and slotting process of the programmes.

    Arora also reviewed the marketing strategies and efforts being made to augment revenues for Doordarshan. He emphasised that DD should leverage the flagship schemes of the government to showcase the developmental initiatives.

    Arora is considered as one of the favourites to succeed Jawhar Sircar as the chief executive officer of Prasar Bharati who demits office in first week of November 2016. In the interim, member (personnel) Suresh Panda has been asked to hold interim charge by the Board, subject to the final approval of MIB.

    Under the Prasar Bharati Act, a new CEO will be selected by a three-member high-level committee headed by the Vice-President of India.

  • Suresh Panda may be Prasar Bharati interim CEO; liberal DD auction criteria recommended

    Suresh Panda may be Prasar Bharati interim CEO; liberal DD auction criteria recommended

    NEW DELHI: Suresh Panda, member (personnel) in Prasar Bharati is expected to take over as the acting chief executive officer of the pubcaster after the incumbent CEO Jawhar Sircar demits office on 4 November.

    The Prasar Bharati Board has recommended relaxation in the criteria for auction of prime time slots on DD National. This decision was taken at a meeting of the Board held today under the chairmanship of Dr Surya Prakash.

    However, Prasar Bharati sources told indiantelevision.com that Panda’s ad hoc charge will be subject to approval by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

    After 4 November, a high-level committee headed by India’s vice-president Hamid Ansari will meet as stipulated in the Prasar Bharati Act 1990 to select a new CEO.

    Meanwhile, the Board also took some decisions with regard to the proposed auction of prime time slots on Doordarshan National.

    It was decided, among other changes, to fix the minimum reserve price for the auction of half-hour slots at Rs 1,50,000. Full details were not available but there may also be a reduction in the total number of hours a prospective producer should have clocked either as a filmmaker or as television producer.

    The slot auction was first announced in June but failed as there were no bidders, while those who bid the second time late last month failed to meet the minimum requirements.

    The regulations had been relaxed and the second auction had been fixed for 5 September.

    Under the rules until now, only producers/production houses that have produced at least 200 hours of general entertainment programming including feature film production in any Indian language in the last three years will be eligible to apply for bidding for slots on the national channel of Doordarshan.

    Following a revision of terms after June, the Prasar Bharati Board had said that production houses with a turnover of minimum Rs 3 crore per annum in the field of TV and Film production in the last three financial years are eligible to apply.

    Applicants for weekend slots in the genres of Reality, Game, Quiz, should have produced 100 hrs of such content in the last 3 years.

    Earlier, only those with production in television and a minimum of 300 hours had been allowed. But this has been amplified ti include film production houses and 200 hours of entertainment programming.

    Successful bidder(s) will produce fresh programmes in various genres of general entertainment programme for Doordarshan adhering to the programming/broadcasting codes of Prasar Bharati.

  • Suresh Panda may be Prasar Bharati interim CEO; liberal DD auction criteria recommended

    Suresh Panda may be Prasar Bharati interim CEO; liberal DD auction criteria recommended

    NEW DELHI: Suresh Panda, member (personnel) in Prasar Bharati is expected to take over as the acting chief executive officer of the pubcaster after the incumbent CEO Jawhar Sircar demits office on 4 November.

    The Prasar Bharati Board has recommended relaxation in the criteria for auction of prime time slots on DD National. This decision was taken at a meeting of the Board held today under the chairmanship of Dr Surya Prakash.

    However, Prasar Bharati sources told indiantelevision.com that Panda’s ad hoc charge will be subject to approval by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

    After 4 November, a high-level committee headed by India’s vice-president Hamid Ansari will meet as stipulated in the Prasar Bharati Act 1990 to select a new CEO.

    Meanwhile, the Board also took some decisions with regard to the proposed auction of prime time slots on Doordarshan National.

    It was decided, among other changes, to fix the minimum reserve price for the auction of half-hour slots at Rs 1,50,000. Full details were not available but there may also be a reduction in the total number of hours a prospective producer should have clocked either as a filmmaker or as television producer.

    The slot auction was first announced in June but failed as there were no bidders, while those who bid the second time late last month failed to meet the minimum requirements.

    The regulations had been relaxed and the second auction had been fixed for 5 September.

    Under the rules until now, only producers/production houses that have produced at least 200 hours of general entertainment programming including feature film production in any Indian language in the last three years will be eligible to apply for bidding for slots on the national channel of Doordarshan.

    Following a revision of terms after June, the Prasar Bharati Board had said that production houses with a turnover of minimum Rs 3 crore per annum in the field of TV and Film production in the last three financial years are eligible to apply.

    Applicants for weekend slots in the genres of Reality, Game, Quiz, should have produced 100 hrs of such content in the last 3 years.

    Earlier, only those with production in television and a minimum of 300 hours had been allowed. But this has been amplified ti include film production houses and 200 hours of entertainment programming.

    Successful bidder(s) will produce fresh programmes in various genres of general entertainment programme for Doordarshan adhering to the programming/broadcasting codes of Prasar Bharati.

  • DD FreeDish to roll out call centre

    DD FreeDish to roll out call centre

    MUMBAI: It’s getting customer-focused. Almost as if inspired by the services provided by the private DTH providers such as Tata Sky, DishTV, Videcon d2h, Airtel Digtial TV, and Sun Direct, the Doordarshan-promoted free TV provider DD FreeDish is getting set to launch its call centre facility.

    It is taking this step concurrent with the expansion of its channel capacity from 80 channels to 104, courtesy the move to upgrade its set-top boxes from MPEG2 to MPEG4.

    A senior Prasar Bharati official yesterday confirmed while talking to indiantelevision.com that a call centre would be set up after completion of MPEG4 Switchover.

    Once customers buy their iCAS-enabled and approved set top boxes from authorized retailers, they will then have to make a call to the FreeDish call centre to get their STB registered. This will then allow DD’s engineers to keep a tab on the number of subscribers the DTH platform has.

    The call centre would be set up after the total switch-over to MPEG4 when a centre number on which a subscriber could call would also be given, the Prasar Bharati official said.

    DD has been plagued by a lack of subscriber information to DD FreeDish over the years. The pubcaster created the platform but sold the MPEG2 STBs through retailers without keeping a tab on who was buying them and who is active. Estimates are that its subscriber base could be anywhere from 20 million to 40 million.

    Since the new STBS are MPEG 4 compliant and have a conditional access system installed in them, they will have to be activated which will happen courtesy the call centre. This will give DD the facility of logging in every new subscriber into its system and hence have accurate subscriber counts. The call centre will apparently be the touch point for all service related complaints to the STB also.

    Hitherto DD FreeDish had toll free help line and a customer help desk numbers which operate from morning to 10 pm, according to its website. The opening of a 24 hour call centre facility could add to the FreeDish customer’s delight

  • DD FreeDish to roll out call centre

    DD FreeDish to roll out call centre

    MUMBAI: It’s getting customer-focused. Almost as if inspired by the services provided by the private DTH providers such as Tata Sky, DishTV, Videcon d2h, Airtel Digtial TV, and Sun Direct, the Doordarshan-promoted free TV provider DD FreeDish is getting set to launch its call centre facility.

    It is taking this step concurrent with the expansion of its channel capacity from 80 channels to 104, courtesy the move to upgrade its set-top boxes from MPEG2 to MPEG4.

    A senior Prasar Bharati official yesterday confirmed while talking to indiantelevision.com that a call centre would be set up after completion of MPEG4 Switchover.

    Once customers buy their iCAS-enabled and approved set top boxes from authorized retailers, they will then have to make a call to the FreeDish call centre to get their STB registered. This will then allow DD’s engineers to keep a tab on the number of subscribers the DTH platform has.

    The call centre would be set up after the total switch-over to MPEG4 when a centre number on which a subscriber could call would also be given, the Prasar Bharati official said.

    DD has been plagued by a lack of subscriber information to DD FreeDish over the years. The pubcaster created the platform but sold the MPEG2 STBs through retailers without keeping a tab on who was buying them and who is active. Estimates are that its subscriber base could be anywhere from 20 million to 40 million.

    Since the new STBS are MPEG 4 compliant and have a conditional access system installed in them, they will have to be activated which will happen courtesy the call centre. This will give DD the facility of logging in every new subscriber into its system and hence have accurate subscriber counts. The call centre will apparently be the touch point for all service related complaints to the STB also.

    Hitherto DD FreeDish had toll free help line and a customer help desk numbers which operate from morning to 10 pm, according to its website. The opening of a 24 hour call centre facility could add to the FreeDish customer’s delight

  • Sunil Arora to step in Sircar’s place as Prasar Bharati CEO?

    Sunil Arora to step in Sircar’s place as Prasar Bharati CEO?

    MUMBAI: With the resignation of Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, the punters are betting on who is going to come in as his replacement. Among the names being talked about is the former I&B secretary Sunil Arora. He currently serves as an advisor to Prasar Bharati, a post he was given in August after retiring from the MIB.

    Arora is a 1980-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre. Sources indicate that Arora’s candidature as Prasar Bharati CEO has been recommended by the former information and broadcasting minister Arun Jaitely.

    However, observers don’t expect Arora’s candidature to be a shoo-in. Reason: it is not clear who the current I&B minister Venkaiah Naidu will back. “For all you know, he might want somebody from his state of Andhra Pradesh,” says a Prasar Bharati source. “Finally, the PM will decide.”

    Sircar submitted his resignation on 4 October, and has sought to be relieved by 4 November 2016 after which he will return to Kolkata.