ITV

Tag: Priyaranjan Dasmunsi

  • Government warns of stiff action against erring TV channels

    Government warns of stiff action against erring TV channels

    NEW DELHI: Even as the AXN channel has been allowed to resume telecasts in India following an apology, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has expressed its unhappiness at the fact that the channel should have ignored warnings about its content.

    Sources in the ministry tell Indiantelevision.com that the channel, which was banned on 17 January for two months (till 15 March), “did not even acknowledge the notices of the ministry in this regard, leave aside responding to them.” AXN had been banned for telecasting programmes like The World’s Sexiest Advertisements, which the ministry felt “were against good taste or decency and were likely to adversely affect public morality.”

    I&B Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi had said recently that the government was concerned about the content being aired on electronic media and has warned of suitable action in case of violations of the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995.

    He had noted that some of the programmes being telecast on TV on different channels had poor quality content and women were depicted in a degrading fashion in advertisements etc. “We have to be very tough in this regard,” he had noted. Though he did not name any channels, it is learnt that they included FTV and Zee Café, apart from AXN.

    The ban order under Section 20(2) of the Act was lifted in view of the assurance by AXN that it would put in place a more effective self regulatory mechanism to ensure that the programmes and the advertisements telecast on the channel are in compliance with the Act.

  • Veteran journalist and ex-editor of ‘TOI’ Sham Lal is dead

    Veteran journalist and ex-editor of ‘TOI’ Sham Lal is dead

    NEW DELHI: Renowned journalist and former editor of The Times of India Sham Lal passed away this morning. He was 95.

    Lal is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. One of his daughters Neena Vyas is a journalist, working with the Hindu.

    For the last several years, Lal had been writing regularly for The Telegraph and occasionally for the literary journal Biblio: A Review of Books.

    Information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi condoled Lal’s passing away in a message: “I am deeply pained to learn about the sudden demise of veteran journalist Sham Lal. He was a thorough professional who would never compromise on the quality of his ‘report’ and was highly respected for his upright writing. Widely read and incredibly lucid, Sham Lal had a deep understanding of a wide range of subjects varying from politics to education to neo-liberalism. His sterling qualities of heart, endeared him to all who came in contact with him. His demise is a great loss for the country.”

    Born in 1912, Lal took a master’s degree in English Literature in 1933. He joined the Hindustan Times in 1934 and moved to The Times of India early in 1950. He became the editor of TOI in 1967 and retired in 1978.

  • Veteran journalist and ex-editor of ‘TOI’ Sham Lal is dead

    Veteran journalist and ex-editor of ‘TOI’ Sham Lal is dead

    NEW DELHI: Renowned journalist and former editor of The Times of India Sham Lal passed away this morning. He was 95.

    Lal is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. One of his daughters Neena Vyas is a journalist, working with the Hindu.

    For the last several years, Lal had been writing regularly for The Telegraph and occasionally for the literary journal Biblio: A Review of Books.

    Information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi condoled Lal’s passing away in a message: “I am deeply pained to learn about the sudden demise of veteran journalist Sham Lal. He was a thorough professional who would never compromise on the quality of his ‘report’ and was highly respected for his upright writing. Widely read and incredibly lucid, Sham Lal had a deep understanding of a wide range of subjects varying from politics to education to neo-liberalism. His sterling qualities of heart, endeared him to all who came in contact with him. His demise is a great loss for the country.”

    Born in 1912, Lal took a master’s degree in English Literature in 1933. He joined the Hindustan Times in 1934 and moved to The Times of India early in 1950. He became the editor of TOI in 1967 and retired in 1978.

  • India, Germany sign co-production agreement

    India, Germany sign co-production agreement

    NEW DELHI : India and Germany have signed an agreement on audio-visual co-production.

    Information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi and German foreign minister Dr Frank Walter Steinmeier signed the Agreement.

    The agreeement would contribute to facilitating co-operation in the film, videography, documentary, animation and audio industry in the two countries.
    Some of the salient features of the agreement are:

    – Films which are produced within the framework of this agreement shall be deemed national films. These films shall be entitled to claim the all state support benefits available to the film and video industries and the privileges granted by the provisions in force in the respective countries.

    – Contribution of the co-production partners includes at least one leading actor, one supporting actor and/or one qualified technical staff person.

    – The original soundtrack of each co-production film shall be made in Hindi language or dialect or, in English or German or in any combination of those permitted languages.

    – In the case of multilateral co-productions, the minority contribution may not be less than 10 per cent and the majority contribution may not exceed 70 per cent of the total cost of the film.

    – Even those films, which are produced in one of the two countries and where the minority contribution is limited to financial investment, may be granted co-production status according to this agreement.

    – The expenses incurred in the territories of both countries for the promotion of co-productions will be compensated within 2 years of the completion of the project.

    – A Joint Commission, which will be composed of representatives from the government and from the film, television and video industries of both countries will supervise and review the implementation and operation of the Agreement and will make the any proposals considered necessary to improve the implementation of the Agreement.

    – For approved co-productions, each country will facilitate entry into and temporary residence in its territory for technical and artistic personnel of the other country as well as the import into and export from its territory of technical and other film making equipment and materials by producers of the other country.

    – Applications for qualification of a film for co-production benefits must be made simultaneously to the competent authorities in both countries at least 30 days before the shooting begins. They should be accompanied by the final scripts and synopsis, documentary proof of having legally acquired the rights to produce the co-production and a copy of the co-production contract signed by the two co-producers for the sharing of revenues, markets, media or a combination of these.

  • Ban on AXN: IBF seeks meeting with I&B minister

    Ban on AXN: IBF seeks meeting with I&B minister

    MUMBAI: Broadcasters have reacted strongly to the move by the government yesterday banning for two months the telecast of Sony Entertainment’s action channel AXN on the charge that it was telecasting “obscene programmes”.

    The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), the representative body for broadcasters in the country, is planning an urgent meeting to thrash out how to deal with the matter and have sought an appointment with I&B minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi on the matter.

    Says IBF director finance Naresh Chahal: “The IBF views this as a very serious issue that may lead to uncertainty and confusion regarding day-to-day operations of channels. The IBF board will be meeting very shortly to discuss the matter and we have also sought an urgent meeting with the information and broadcasting minister to put forward our point of view.”

    The I&B ministry yesterday issued directions blocking signals of the channel into India up to 15 March.

    Sources told Indiantelevision.com that the ministry had taken objection to the channel repeatedly telecasting programmes such as World’s Sexiest Commercials that “are against good taste or decency and are likely to adversely affect public morality”.

    The government has been issuing warnings from time to time to various channels to desist from telecasting “obscene programmes” and software not suitable for women and children.

    The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 clearly stipulates that the government has the right to block or take action against channels which violate the broadcasting and advertising codes of the country.

  • Lalli is new Prasar Bharati CEO

    Lalli is new Prasar Bharati CEO

    NEW DELHI: Baljit Singh Lalli, an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1971 batch from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is to take over as the new Prasar Bharati CEO.

    The post had been vacant since K S Sarma retired on 30 June after serving a term of six years. However, the post was held on a temporary basis first by Doordarshan Director General Navin Kumar until his retirement and then by All India Radio DG Brijeshwar Singh.

    The candidature of Lalli, who is presently the secretary in charge of border management in the union ministry of home, was selected on 21 December by a high-level committee meeting under vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. The name could not be announced earlier as information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi was out of the capital.

    Under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act 1990, the selection of the chief executive has to be made by a high-level committee comprising the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Press Council of India Chairman (Justice G N Ray), and a nominee of the president. It is understood that S K Arora who is secretary in the I&B ministry was the third member on the committe.

    The chief executive normally has a term of six years and functions under the Prasar Bharati board that is headed by a Chairman.

    Meanwhile, AK Jain who is a 1977 batch IAS Officer has taken over as the member (Finance) of Prasar Bharati, following his appointment to the post on the recommendations of the high powered selection committee. He will hold the office of member (Finance) for a period of six years, as per the provisions of the Prasar Bharati Act.

    V. Shivakumar is the new member (Personnel) of Prasar Bharati. He is presently holding the post of director (HR) in MTNL – a board level position. The post of member (personnel) was lying vacant since the retirement of D P S Lamba.

    Jain, an M.B.A. in finance and marketing from the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi, also holds an MBA in finance and public sector management from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. He claims to have grounding in financial management and corporate affairs and has worked in the department of public enterprises/ heavy industries and the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers in his previous postings. He acquired first hand experience in the functioning of commercial enterprises as the executive director of NAFED.

    Having served a tenure as the joint secretary in the ministry of home affairs, Jain was the principal secretary to the government of Nagaland before his new assignment.

    The appointment of a full-time member (Finance) assumes significance in view of the corporate restructuring plan being worked out for Prasar Bharati. A group of ministers is deliberating the issue.

  • Prasar Bharati CEO selected, anouncement later

    Prasar Bharati CEO selected, anouncement later

    NEW DELHI: A high-level committee meeting under vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat late this evening is understood to have finalised the name of the chief executive of Prasar Bharati.

    As information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi is out of the country, the name is unlikely to be announced until his return.

    The post of chief executive has been lying vacant since 30 June this year, when K S Sarma retired after serving his term of six years.

    The post was held on a temporary basis first by Doordarshan director general Navin Kumar until his retirement and then by All India Radio DG Brijeshwar Singh.

    Under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act 1990, the selection of the chief executive has to be made by a high-level committee comprising the chairman of the Rajya Sabha (who is the Vice-President), Press Council of India chairman (Justice G N Ray), and a nominee of the president. It is understood that S K Arora who is secretary in the I&B ministry was the third member on the committee.

    The chief executive normally has a term of six years and functions under the Prasar Bharati Board which is headed by a chairman.