ITV

Tag: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

  • DD Kisan set for launch on Baisakhi

    DD Kisan set for launch on Baisakhi

    NEW DELHI: The launch of the 24-hour channel devoted to farmers and rural India – DD Kisan – has been pushed back by three months to Baisakhi Day on 14 April as Doordarshan has still to complete all the formalities relating to staff and programme. 

     

    The channel was earlier slated to launch on Makar Sankranti on 14 January but Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley has now been assured that all arrangements would be completed by mid-April. 

     

    As per information available with Indiantelevision.com, the assurance was given in Jaitley’s customary morning meeting with senior officials of his Ministry as well as Prasar Bharati. 

     

    Jaitley sought full details of the work done on the channel, for which he had set aside Rs 100 crore in the Budget in his capacity as Finance Minister. However, the budget for I&B Ministry shows an allocation of Rs 90 crore for the same in the year 2014-15.

     

    DD sources told Indiantelevision.com that the Minister had been assured that all preparations would be completed by mid-April. It was also stated that 14 April is a very important day for farmers as it marks the start of the sowing season.

     

    Apart from Jaitley and Miniser of State Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, I&B secretary Bimal Julka, Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar and senior DD officials were present in the meeting held earlier this week. 

     

    Noting that the proposed Doordarshan Kisan is a dedicated channel for the farmers to give them information targeted to address the wholesome edutainment needs of a farmer to adopt and adapt to modern scenario, the national broadcaster had in early December invited proposals for programmes under the Self Financing Commissioned (SFC) Scheme. 

     

    DD sources said that the content expected for DD Kisan will primarily address the developmental needs of the farmer addressing ‘Core Agriculture’, ‘Critical Support’ and ‘Essential Ancillary’ areas, keeping in mind the varied Agro-Economic Zones, Climatic Areas, Different Crops and the need to address the target audience spread across various states but will have to be entertaining and engaging. 

     

    The content on DD Kisan will be in Hindi with regional dubbing. 

     

    The genres for which it invited proposals were: Documentaries/Features (Field Based); Magazines/Docu Dramas (Field Based); Cookery Shows/Biographies; Daily Soap/Fiction Serials/Family Serials/Thrillers; film song based programmes; Reality Shows/Game Shows; and Mandi Bhav/Bazar Bhav/Agro Based Bulletins.

     

    In addition, DD Kisan will have a new segment for iconic characters plus content packaging where animation characters will convey the agricultural themes and desired messaging. It is expected that the participants under this category will also provide layouts of the channel’s packaging. 

     

    The channel will also have a segment for edited feature films where the entire film is expected to be capsuled with anchor based presentation for 60 minutes. 

     

    In the Bazar Bhav/ Mandi Bhav segments, updates from the mandis including the template will be required to be provided, which will give the core audiences suitable direction and help in the agricultural activity. 

     

    Ministry sources highlighted Prasar Bharati’s plan to take inputs from different Agricultural Universities and Institutes to develop rich content for the channel. 

     

    DD is hoping to engage people in the fields of production as well as marketing in positions ranging from senior to mid to junior level. 

     

    There are a total of 67 vacant posts of post production professionals, visual graphics designer, record keeper, senior videographer, junior videographer, senior production executive, production executive, senior creative editor, creative editor, senior presenter, presenter, copy editor–cum-writer, programme trainees, head- sales & marketing, and senior sales & marketing executive.

     

    Other steps being taken by Prasar Bharati for this channel include: production of in-house and outsourced content; liason with relevant ministries to get inputs for channel content and for which advertisements will be issued; calculation of budget and expenditure for the channel; crowd sourcing for channel name, logo, jingles etc; issue of advertisement for channel packaging and branding along with look and feel and montage.

     

    A consultation meeting has been held with various educational institutes for a rich content and to create a ‘Resource Persons Group’ and this would be a continuous process.

     

    Meanwhile, the Krishi Darshan programmes of Doordarshan are being telecast under the “Mass Media Support to Agriculture Extension” funded by the Agriculture Ministry focusing on dissemination of modern agricultural techniques by involving experts from various fields like insurance, banking, credit for farmers, State Government schemes on agriculture/ fisheries/veterinary science/water and soil conservation/social forestry etc.

     

    In addition, a programme Mera Gaon Connection telecast at prime time on DD National also introduces modern agricultural techniques to the viewers.  

     

    The mass media support to agricultural extension and focused publicity campaigns has been strengthened to reach out to all farmers including small and marginal. 

  • Govt. plans no change in regulating advertisements on private television

    Govt. plans no change in regulating advertisements on private television

    NEW DELHI: Even as a legal debate continues on the ad cap of 12 minutes to the hour, the Government feels the existing mechanism available in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is ‘adequate’ to regulate advertisements on private TV channels

    There is no proposal under consideration of the Government to amend Section 6 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 in this regard, Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com.

    While replying to a question during the last Parliament session, Minister of State for I&B Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had said no study had been brought to the notice of the Ministry with regard to the efficacy of self-regulation vis-a-vis legislative regulation.

    However, advertisements telecast by private satellite TV channels are regulated under the provisions of Advertising Code as contained in the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 framed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

    Besides this as a part of self-regulatory process, Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), established in 1985, undertakes self-regulation of advertisements. ASCI has a Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) to consider complaints in respect of advertisements.

    The sources said the self-regulation mechanism put in place by the industry, however, does not replace the existing regulatory function of the Government.

     

  • Electronic Media Monitoring Centre to go up to 1500 channels by 2017: Rathore

    Electronic Media Monitoring Centre to go up to 1500 channels by 2017: Rathore

    NEW DELHI: The government hopes to increase the capacity of the state-of-art Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC), which currently monitors around 300 television channels, to 1500 by 2017.

     
    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore told Parliament that these 300 channels are chosen randomly out of the 839 channels beaming into Indian homes.

     
    He said that the aim was to first achieve the target of monitoring 600 channels within the next few months, while answering a question about reality shows playing with the sentiments of the people.

    In a reply to a supplementary question about young children being used in dance shows, Rathore said that there are a large number of channels and there is undoubtedly a race to attract as many eyeballs as possible. Therefore, most of these channels, no doubt, are walking a very thin line and working in that grey area. However, there is a freedom of expression. Therefore, the government does not want to impinge on the freedom of expression. Keeping in mind the morality, decency and various levels of acceptance on television, certain guidelines have been issued. “What the Ministry can say is that we will issue advisories and we will also take into account any complaint that comes,” he said.

     

    He also said that a Task Force had earlier been set up to work on a regulatory body but the channels had opposed this and wanted self-regulation.

     
    Answering the main question, I&B Minister Arun Jaitley said no fact had been brought to the notice of the government alleging shows playing with sentiments of the people. However, the content carried on private satellite TV channels is regulated according to the provisions of the Programme and Advertising Codes contained in the Cable Television Network Rules 1994 and the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995. The rules provide for a whole range of parameters to regulate programme and advertisements on TV channels including the reality shows.

     
    The programme code says that no programme should be carried which (a) offends good taste or decency (b) contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths (c) criticizes, maligns or slanders any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country (d) denigrates women through the depiction in any manner of the figure of a woman, her form or body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being indecent or derogatory to women, or is likely to deprave, corrupt or injure the public morality or morals (e) denigrates children (f) is not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition (g) is unsuitable for children.

     

    Action is taken against defaulting channels whenever any violation of the said codes is noticed or brought to the notice of the Ministry.

     

    The Ministry also has an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) to look into the violations of the Programme and Advertisement Codes. IMC has representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs, Law, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Consumer Affairs and a representative from the industry in Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). IMC meets periodically and recommends action against violations.

     

    Besides, as part of self-regulation by industry, Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), which is a representative body of non-news and current affairs TV channels, has set up Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) to examine the complaints about television programmes.

     

  • Issue on surrogate advertising of liquor brands in print media pending with I&B Ministry

    Issue on surrogate advertising of liquor brands in print media pending with I&B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: There have been nine complaints including four in the electronic media since 2011 relating to advertisements of tobacco and liquor, Parliament was told today.

     
    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said warnings were issued to two channels – ET Now and Star Cricket in 2012 and an advisory was issued to FTV in January last year, all relating to liquor advertisements.

     
    In the fourth case, the advertisement being aired on several channels in 2011 was taken off after an advisory by the Advertising Standards Council of India.

     
    While four cases were closed by the Press Council of India with regard to the print advertisements, one matter relating to surrogate advertisements has been under the consideration of the government since March 2013.

     
    The Press Council of India has formulated ‘Norms of Journalistic Conduct’ for adherence by the media and the relevant norm 36(ii) relating to ‘Advertisements’ prescribes that no advertisement shall be published, which promotes directly or indirectly production, sale or consumption of cigarettes, tobacco products, wine, alcohol, liquor and other intoxicants. The PCI takes cognizance, suo motu or on complaints, of the contents in print media which are in violation of the ‘Norms of Journalistic Conduct’.

     

    In so far as private satellite TV channels are concerned, all advertisements telecast on such channels are regulated in accordance with the Advertising Code prescribed in Rule 7 of the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994. As per Rule 7(2)(viii)(A) thereof, no direct or indirect advertisements of liquor or tobacco products are permissible on TV channels. The detailed provisions of the Rule are available on Ministry of Information and Broadcasting website www.mib.nic.in.

     

    An Inter-Ministerial Monitoring Committee has been constituted in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to monitor misleading advertisements appearing in print and other outdoor media.
     

     

  • Govt does not have details of revenue generated by sale of CAS, DAS: Rathore

    Govt does not have details of revenue generated by sale of CAS, DAS: Rathore

    NEW DELHI: The Government has said that there was no provision under the present digital addressable system regulations or the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 for any assistance or relief to cable TV subscribers to buy set top boxes (STBs).

     
    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has told the Parliament that the Ministry had assessed the requirement of STBs to be installed at the customer premises, based on Population Census 2011.

     
    Thus, a total of 140 million STBs were required to implement cable TV digitisation in the country. Out of this, 30 million STBs had already been installed under phase I and phase II and the balance 110 million are required to be installed in the remaining two phases which are under implementation.

     
    He said the Ministry does not make any assessment with regard to quantum of revenue generation arising out of sale of CAS and DAS.

     
    He said according to a notification issued on 11 November 2011 issued by the Ministry, digitisation of cable TV in India is to be completed in four phases. Phase I and phase-II of digitisation have already been completed.

     
    Phase III is to be completed by 31 December 2015 whereas phase IV is to be completed by 31 December 2016.

     

  • Over 50% of Prasar Bharati’s expenditure for 2013-14 went into salaries: Rathore

    Over 50% of Prasar Bharati’s expenditure for 2013-14 went into salaries: Rathore

    NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati spent 51 per cent of its total expenditure for 2013-14 on salaries, Parliament was told today.

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that approximately 15 per cent was spent by the pubcaster on infrastructure.

    Only an approximate 11 per cent was incurred by Prasar Bharati on programming during 2013-14.

    In the budget announced on February last year (2013), the grants-in-aid for Prasar Bharati had been raised from the revised estimates of Rs 172.904 crore to Rs 218.037 crore but there was no separate investment by the Government in the pubcaster as in previous years.

    However, there was provision for investment of Rs 20 crore from Internal and Extra-budgetary resources for Prasar Bharati.

    An explanatory memorandum said the grants-in-aid were towards meeting the salary and salary related expenditure.

    Prasar Bharati sources had then told indiantelevision.com that this had been done to meet the extra expenditure on salaries which has fallen on the shoulders of the Government since all Prasar Bharati employees who were in employment as on 5 October 2007 have been given deemed deputation status.

     

  • Only TAM and BARC apply for registration for TV rating agencies

    Only TAM and BARC apply for registration for TV rating agencies

    NEW DELHI: The applications of TAM and the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) for registration under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India notified early this year is under process under established procedure/practices, Parliament has been informed.

     

    These are the only two agencies to have applied for registration under the guidelines issued on 16 January with the objective of creating a credible, transparent and accountable rating system in the country which , cover detailed procedure for registration of rating agencies, eligibility norms, terms and conditions of registration, cross-holdings, methodology for audience measurement , complaint redressal mechanism , sale and use of ratings, audit, disclosure, reporting requirements and action on non-compliance of guidelines etc.

     

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said all rating agencies shall require registration from the Ministry under the guidelines, which are also available at the Ministry’s website at www.mib.nic.in.

     

    These guidelines are based on recommendations made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on “Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies” of 11 September 2013. The recommendations have been made by TRAI after holding wide-ranging consultations with various stakeholders. 

    Some of the provisions of these guidelines have been challenged by Kantar Market Research Services and another in Delhi High Court. The High Court has granted stay to some paras relating to restrictions on cross–holding of the company and its board members in rating agencies and generating and publishing ratings till the disposal of the writ petition. The matter is sub-judice.

  • DD moving to digitisation through Freedish and DTT: Rathore

    DD moving to digitisation through Freedish and DTT: Rathore

    NEW DELHI: The percentage of rural viewers who are accessing Doordarshan through its terrestrial network is 7-8 per cent of 170 million TV households, Parliament was told today.

     

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore addressing the Parliament said that 28.73 per cent of the total expenditure of Doordarshan was spent on terrestrial distribution in the year 2013-14.

     
    Prasar Bharati has informed that it has decided upon progressive digitisation of Doordarshan’s transmission network by way of expansion of DD Freedish and setting up of a commercially viable Digital Terrestrial Transmitter (DTT) platform in harmony with the recommendations of the Expert Committee.

    In order to gain experience in digital transmission technology, Doordarshan had set up four digital transmitters, one each at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in January 2003 on an experimental basis using DVB-T system. 

    Four digital HPTs (HDTV) have been installed at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai which are ready for commissioning. Prasar Bharati has informed the Ministry that 40 digital HPTs (DVB-T2) under 11th Plan and 23 digital HPTs (DVB-T2) under 12th Plan have been approved as part of digitisation schemes. Out of 40 digital HPTs, 19 are presently under implementation. 

     

    The 19 digital transmitters include two each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The other states apart from Delhi are Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab, Tanil Nadu, Telengana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

     

  • DD has no plans for new terrestrial transmitters in view of Freedish: MoS Rathore

    DD has no plans for new terrestrial transmitters in view of Freedish: MoS Rathore

    NEW DELHI: A total of 19 digital transmitters have been installed in 17 states including Delhi ‘to keep pace with the advancement in broadcasting industry in the world’, Parliament has been informed.

     

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said a total of 40 digital high power transmitters under the 11th plan and 23 under the 12th plan have been approved as part of the digitisation schemes.

     

    The 19 which are already under implementation include two each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The other states apart from Delhi are Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab, Tanil Nadu, Telengana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

     

    Meanwhile, the Minister said no new transmitters for terrestrial were envisaged for Doordarshan “in view of multi channel TV coverage having been provided in the entire country including rural areas through the free-to-air Freedish, except a few in border areas.”

     

    As part of the ongoing schemes of the 11th plan, four transmitter projects are under implementation in J&K including a high power transmitter for DD1 and DD News in Rajouri. The others are HPTs in Green Ridge, Himbotingla and Natha Top (Patnitop). 

  • Delay in promotions in Prasar Bharati not due to central budgetary grants: MoS Rathore

    Delay in promotions in Prasar Bharati not due to central budgetary grants: MoS Rathore

    NEW DELHI: The government has told Parliament that the delay in promotions is not attributable to allocation of funds by the government to Prasar Bharati.

     

    Stating this, Minister of State in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore told Parliament that a total allocation of Rs 2495.03 crore was given to Prasar Bharati for the current financial year at the budget estimates stage for plan schemes.

     

    This included salary and salary related expenses of Prasar Bharati, he said in reply to a question.

    Funds are allocated by the government to Prasar Bharati (Doordarshan and All India Radio) on the basis of budget proposals sent by this Ministry in consultation with Prasar Bharati.

     

    The budget proposals are finalised after due consultations with Prasar Bharati before being sent to the Government for allocation.