ITV

Tag: registration

  • MIB simplifies process of registration for India’s cable TV operators

    MIB simplifies process of registration for India’s cable TV operators

    UMBAI:  India’s ministry of Information and broadcasting has issued an advisory on 17 January outlining significant changes to the registration process for local cable operators (LCOs) and multi-system operators (MSOs) under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

    The advisory highlights that, as per Section 3 of the Act, operating a cable television network without registration is prohibited. Applicants are now required to register or renew their registration online through the newly established Broadcast Seva Portal. This modernised approach addresses long-standing concerns regarding the cumbersome manual registration processes previously employed.

    Pursuant to the above, the central government has now introduced key amendments to the Rule vide Notification S. 0. No. 65(E) dated 17  January2025. Further, in exercise of powers conferred under clause (h) of Section 2 of the CTN Act, 1995, a notification vide S.O. No.315(E) dated 17  January , 2025 notifying the section Officer and additional  joint secretary to be the registering authorities for LCOs and MSOs respectively, has been issued.

    Key amendments outlined in the advisory include:

    Online Registration: LCO registration will be facilitated online via the Broadcast Seva Portal.
    Validity Extension: The registration will now be valid for five years, increased from one year.
    Processing Fee:  The registration fee has been set at Rs 5,000.
    National Registration Number: Registered LCOs will receive a unique National Registration Number valid throughout India.

    The new registering authority for LCOs will be designated section officers handling digital addressable systems (DAS) in the ministry. Additionally, applicants will need to verify their identity online using PAN, Aadhaar, and other required documents, with Aadhaar sharing being voluntary.

    Current LCOs are urged to apply for their registration renewal at least 90 days before expiration. Those with applications pending at local head post offices must withdraw and reapply through the Broadcast Seva Portal.

    The Ministry encourages all interested parties to take immediate action and offers support via a dedicated helpline (011-23381707) and toll-free number (18002127307), which are also available on the portal.

    These changes aim to streamline the registration process and enhance the operational framework for cable television networks in India.

    The advisory can be downloaded from this link b clicking on the word advisory
    The notification of the process of registration can be downloaded by clicking on the word notification
    The notification empowering the section officer for LCOs and the additional joint secretary in the case of MSOs can downloaded by clicking on the word notification.

  • I&B Ministry clears BARC India’s registration

    I&B Ministry clears BARC India’s registration

    MUMBAI: After three months of operations, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has received the registration for operating as a television rating agency under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India by the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry.

     

    With this, the joint industry body has become the only registered television audience measurement system in India.

     

    “We are happy to be the first and only rating company to be registered by the government of India,” told BARC India CEO Partho Dasgupta to indiantelevision.com.

     

    It can be recalled that in May this year, the MIB had written a letter to BARC India asking it to stop releasing data until the registration formalities were cleared. Post that, the ratings body worked out a solution with the Ministry and continued rolling out data. 

     

    BARC India launched with week 16 data reporting 10,760 HHs (1L+ C&S) and till week 21 had reported 47,293 Individuals.

     

    Even as BARC India got its registration, TAM Media Research is still awaiting for the approval.  “As per the last update received from MIB officials on TAM’s registration under Policy guidelines dated 16 January, 2014, they informed us that TAM’s registration is under process,” said TAM in an official statement. 

     

     

  • 142 MSOs get 10 year DAS licence for specified areas, 26 denied permission

    142 MSOs get 10 year DAS licence for specified areas, 26 denied permission

    NEW DELHI: A total of 11 multi-system operators (MSOs) from  all over the country have been granted permanent registration for 10 years to operate the digital addressable system (DAS) during the last two months, bringing the total number of registered MSOs to 142 as compared by 131, as on 7 November.

    Most of these MSOs had been given provisional permission earlier.

    The MSOs who have received permission after the last list released of 7 November are Karuvai Communications for DAS areas in Tamil Nadu, Ajana Cable Network for DAS notified area of phase III in Vaijapur, Aurangabad in Maharashtra, New Peime Network DAS notified in Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Chamoli Garhwal, and Uttarkashi Districts in Uttarakhand; Jai Mata Di Cable Network for DAS notified areas in Mehendergarh, Rewari, Bhiwani & Jhajjar District of Haryana and Alwar & Jhunjhnu Districts of Rajasthan; Onsky Technology for PAN India; Space Television Network for DAS notified area in Municipal Council of Greater Mumbai in phase I and rest of Maharashtra in phase III; Haldwani Digital Services for the State of Uttarakhand; V. R. Cable for the cities of Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and Chennai in Tamil Nadu; Satellite Cable Communication for phase II, III, and IV areas in Pune District and Nasik District; R.D Cable Network for DAS notified area in Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem and Salcettte in Goa; the Orugallu Communications for DAS notified areas under Phase II,  III and IV in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana;

    The list of MSOs who have been refused permission has gone up to 26 from the earlier figure of 22 with four MSOs being denied permission. Some of those in the cancelled list applied as early as March 2013.

    MSO sources, however, said that the approved list was in addition to the 140 whose names had been approved earlier in March last year.

    The Ministry website mib.nic.in has listed the areas and the date from which the MSOs have been given permission.

     

  • MSO’s request govt to set up regional units to facilitate DAS registrations

    MSO’s request govt to set up regional units to facilitate DAS registrations

    NEW DELHI: Even as the government has agreed to consider extension of four to five weeks for registration of multi system operators (MSO), who want to opt for phase III of the Digital Addressable System (DAS), the government has been asked to consider setting up regional units to facilitate such registrations.

    Speaking at the task force meeting last week, several stakeholders also wanted online registration for MSO’s wanting to enter their names for phase III.

    Ministry additional secretary J S Mathur, who chaired the meeting, also said that meetings were being organised between manufacturers of indigenous set top boxes and the Ministry of Information and Technology.

    Mathur responding to queries from some MSO’s wanted them to prepare a list of areas in phase III which were currently not being reached by cable television. A member had pointed out that a Headend In The Sky (HITS) platform could be used in such areas.

    Some consumer organisations which are part of the task force, said they will need to organise workshops in different parts of the country to help people understand DAS.  

    The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) representatives said that the association was planning such workshops in Kerala and Guwahati. Mathur asked CII to give him details of the workshops when they are scheduled.

    Mathur regretted that the number of stakeholders attending the meetings was very minimal and expressed hope that later meetings will be attended by larger number of members.

    In the last meeting it had been announced that the task force would meet every month to ensure deadlines are met and phase III of DAS comes into operation by December 2016.

     

  • Kolkata HC puts stay order on Digicable Comm Service’s license cancellation till 29 August

    Kolkata HC puts stay order on Digicable Comm Service’s license cancellation till 29 August

    KOLKATA: Granting relief to Digicable Comm Services, the Calcutta High Court has put a stay order on the cancellation of the registration of Kolkata-based multi-system operator (MSOs) till 29 August.

     

    In the order that was passed on 12 August, it states that “The petitioners having been in business for quite some time would suffer irreparable loss and injury, unless appropriate ad-interim protection is granted to them.”

     

    It continues to say, “The operation of the order dated 17/18 July, 2014 shall remain stayed till 29 August 2014”.

     

    Last month, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had cancelled the registration of Digicable.

     

    The Digicable counsel had argued in the court that the MIB had only stated the reason for cancellation of registration as not receiving security clearance from the Home Ministry. However, it did not give the reason for denial of security clearance. The counsel from the ministry side stated that the reason for clearance not being given cannot be disclosed to Digicable for security reasons.

     

    The court also observed that when the company was given the DAS licence in 2013, that was subject to the security clearance from Home Ministry and the same has been denied in the order passed last month. They were subsequently asked to stop operations within 15 days.

     

    Digicable Comm was hopeful that after appealing to the Home Ministry and moving the High Court, the decision would be in favour of the MSO.

     

    The company is a joint venture between Digicable (51 per cent) and Kolkata-headquartered Multicar Group (49 per cent) was formed in the year 2009, to gain the foothold in the West Bengal market.

     

    “We will follow the mandate. We are hopeful that the authorities would consider the minute details presented by us,” said Digicable Comm director Dileep Singh Mehta.

     

  • TAM applies for registration with MIB

    TAM applies for registration with MIB

    MUMBAI: When Kantar Market Research Services, a shareholder of India’s only operational ratings agency TAM Media Research, decided to go to court against the government’s cross-shareholding norms for television ratings agencies, there was a big question mark on the future of TAM.

     

    But as Kantar on 11 February succeeded in obtaining a stay on the cross-shareholding norms from the Delhi High Court till a judgement is delivered on its petition, it had some hope that TAM could continue to operate as a television ratings service provider.

     

    The court granted TAM two weeks after the guidelines take effect on 15 February to apply for registration with the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB).  It had time till the end of next week to apply, but it submitted its registration application much earlier, on Friday.

     

    Kantar CEO Eric Salama confirmed to indiantelevision.com that TAM has submitted its application for being registered as a television ratings service provider.

     

    However, there is no clarity on the period within which the ministry will take a decision on TAM’s application for registration.

     

    There are various scenarios that can play out in the coming weeks for TAM. Further hearing on the Kantar petition will happen on 6 March.

     

    The first but highly unlikely scenario is the ministry acting on TAM’s application and before 6 March accepts the company as eligible to be granted a registration certificate. The next step will be the company, its board of directors, MD, CEO and CFO going through a security clearance.

     

    The second scenario is that the ministry rejects TAM’s application before 6 March, which also seems highly unlikely, or that the application is rejected after the hearing on 6 March. This could lead to Kantar filing an appeal against the government’s rejection of its application either in the High Court or in the Supreme Court and praying for allowing continuity in their business in the country. While granting the stay on cross-shareholding  norm, the court had also allowed TAM to continue to publish their television ratings.

     

    The third scenario could be the government asking TAM to submit more documents. In such a case, Kantar could approach the Delhi High Court for more time to submit the documents sought by the government.

     

    The fourth and more probable scenario is that the ministry may not act on TAM’s application till the Delhi High Court verdict on cross-shareholding is delivered. If the ministry finally rejects TAM’s application, Kantar may go in appeal against it.

     

    Finally, in the event of the Delhi High Court upholding the cross-shareholding norm, Kantar could either go in appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court or may decide to restructure shareholding of TAM to comply with the government’s shareholding regulations.

     

    The government’s norm requires that shareholders of a television ratings agency should not hold more than a 10 per cent stake in broadcasters, advertising agencies or other television ratings agencies.

     

    In all, it seems like TAM has got some time to continue publishing its television viewership ratings in the country.

  • Reproduce newspapers in electronic form: I&B Ministry

    Reproduce newspapers in electronic form: I&B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: The government intends to bring ‘reproduction of any newspaper in electronic form’ within the ambit of the Press and Registration of Books Act.

     

    In the amendments proposed to the PRB Act, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) has also proposed inclusion of a section which says ‘paid news’ means publishing any news or analysis in the publication for a price in cash or kind as consideration.

     

    The amendments, which have been placed on the website of the ministry, also says that ‘facsimile edition’ of a publication means an exact replica in full or in part of the original edition of a foreign publication ‘in so far as the contents concerned and may not include title’, subject to the condition that any page is not published in part.

     

    The government also proposes to establish a Press and Registration Appellate Board to be constituted by the central government, by notification in the official gazette, consisting of a chairperson and another member, to be nominated by the Press Council of India, established under section 4 of the Press Council Act 1978 from among its members.

     

    It says any dispute relating to registration of newspapers or publications would be referred to a ‘specified appellate authority’ that may be prescribed by the central government.

     

    Under the amendments, publication means newspapers, magazines, journals or newsletters printed periodically and published in India ‘including its reproduction in electronic form or any syndication, facsimile edition, and Indian editions of periodicals published outside India.’

     

    While noting that the Press Registrar General will consider all applications of new titles ‘as soon as practicable’, the amendment says an application for a title may be rejected if it is ‘same or similar to that of a known foreign publication’, subject to the proviso that ‘the same or similar title shall not be rejected if the Indian entity seeking the title has a tie-up with the owners of the title of such a foreign publication’.

     

    The amendment further says that no publication shall be printed and published in India except with the prior approval of the central government granted if such publication is owned by or has investment from any individual who is not an Indian citizen or foreign unincorporated body of individuals or body corporate incorporated under the law of any country other than India.

     

    Furthermore, the Press Registrar General may reject, after giving the person concerned an opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken, and holding an inquiry into the matter, if he is satisfied that the publication mentioned in the declaration is found indulging or having indulged in the practice of ‘paid news’, on the basis of adjudication by the Press Council of India or any other quasi-judicial/judicial authority. Till a decision is taken, the Press Registrar General may suspend the publication of such publication.

     

    Furthermore, any person aggrieved by an order of a specified authority refusing to authenticate a declaration under section 10 or cancelling a declaration under section 19 (l) (a) to (d) may appeal within 60 days from the date on which such order is communicated to him to the Press and Registration Appellate Board and may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from appealing on time.

     

    The Appellate Board may, after calling for the records from the specified authority and after making such further inquiries as it thinks fit, confirm, modify or set aside the order appealed against. The decision of the Appellate Board shall be final in respect of provisions given in sub section 19(1) (a) to (d).

     

    Any person aggrieved by an order of the specified authority for suspension of publication under the provision of section 19(1)(e) will still be free to approach a court of law.

     

    In case of change of name or place of press, a fresh declaration will not be necessary if this information is given to the specified authority within five days.

     

    It shall be the duty of the publisher, and owner in the absence of the publisher, of every publication ‘to furnish details of the advertisement revenue of the publication as and when asked for.

     

    Whoever prints or publishes any book or publication otherwise than in conformity with the provision of section 3 will have to explain the reasons for this and to complete the formalities as specified in this section.

     

    In its penal provision, the government has said that any contravention of sub-section (1) will invite a fine not exceeding Rs 5,000 in addition to suspension of the publication for a period of 30 days.

     

    Furthermore, whoever owns any press, other than in conformity with the provision of section 4 will have to explain for such activity and to complete the formalities as specified in that section. For contravention of sub section (1), the person shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Rs 5,000 in addition to sealing of the printing press for a period of 30 days.

     

    The amendment says that ‘In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power’ such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: the period of suspension of the declaration under sub-section (i) of section 19 , and the manner of filing appeals to the specified appellate authority under sub-section (1) of section 20.

  • Cannes Lions 2013 launches special app, online game

    Cannes Lions 2013 launches special app, online game

    Mumbai: The 60th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity- 2013 is here and with full fan fare. One of the most prestigious advertising festivals of the world, Cannes Lion has launched a special pre-festival app for iPhone and Android users.

    The international festival is also launching an online contest which will be PHD’s multi-player online game. The lucky winner stands a chance to return to Cannes 2014 as a VIP delegate.

    Each year, around 11,000 members of the global creative communications industries come together to be inspired and educated at Cannes Lions. Cannes Lion 2013 can be downloaded for free on the iPhone or any 4.0 and up Android phones and will take 16 mb of space. What’s more? The app has a high rating of 4.6 on the Android platform.

    This is where you can find out everything about attending the festival as a delegate, from the registration packages available and where you can stay, to the latest news about the world-class seven day learning programme. This year’s festival will be held during 16 – 22 June in Cannes, France.

    Some of the key features of this app are listed below:

       *Full Festival programme with calendar and sharing options
       * Social feeds, news, photos and videos
       * Insider tips on locating ‘the best place in Cannes to…’
       * The last 60 years of the Film Lions Grand Prix winners
       * A massively multi-player online game
       * iPad version coming soon

    Social media and digital platforms are increasingly becoming an indispensable aspect of marketing. How could Cannes 2013 be left untouched by this phenomenon.