Dileep Kumar
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NEW DELHI: India will not allow state-owned broadcasting companies to crop up. If the earlier government at the Centre had taken this view, there seems to be no change in stance by the new Narendra Modi-led BJP government.
The new government has rejected requests of the state governments of West Bengal and Punjab to enter broadcasting business.
While the West Bengal government is not run by BJP but by Mamata Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress, Punjab is ruled by Parkash Singh Badal’s Shiromani Akali Dal, an ally of BJP.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had received requests from the governments of West Bengal and Punjab for permission to enter the broadcasting space but those were not approved, minister Prakash Javadekar said.
Even state-run cable TV networks will find it tough to get clearance. In case of Arasu Cable TV Corporation, an application of the Tamil Nadu government for digital addressable system (DAS) licence is pending and the new government is in no hurry to give its clearance.
An application of Arasu TV Corporation for multi-system operator (MSO) licence to operate in DAS areas in Tamil Nadu is under examination in light of the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Javadekar told the Lok Sabha.
In December 2012, TRAI had reiterated its stand that government or government-owned entities should not be allowed to enter the business of broadcasting or distribution of television channels.
The authority also recommended that in case the central government has already accorded permission to any state government or its entity to enter into the cable distribution platform, then it should provide an appropriate exit route.
There is no certainty now that Arasu will get the nod to operate in DAS areas. Arasu had applied for DAS licence on 5 July 2012 for operating in Chennai and on 23 November 2012 for operating in the rest of Tamil Nadu.
The new I&B minister’s statement indicates that it will be no easy sailing for Arasu to get a DAS licence. With a friendlier regime at the helm, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa had earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to present the state government’s wish list that included its demand for granting DAS licence to Arasu Cable TV Corporation.
Speaking on another issue, Javadekar said that collection of entertainment tax has seen a quantum jump in cities where DAS has been implemented.
In response to a question concerning the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), he said cases had been filed by the corporation to recover outstanding dues from advertising agencies.
He gave details of 17 such cases involving an amount of over Rs 24 crore (Rs 240 million).
He also said that of the eight cases of irregularities pertaining to the Films Division, two had been closed. A fact-finding inquiry has been recommended for one case, while an inquiry is being conducted into another.
Govt rejects WB’s and Punjab’s proposals to enter TV broadcasting | TelevisionPost.com
The new government has rejected requests of the state governments of West Bengal and Punjab to enter broadcasting business.
While the West Bengal government is not run by BJP but by Mamata Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress, Punjab is ruled by Parkash Singh Badal’s Shiromani Akali Dal, an ally of BJP.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had received requests from the governments of West Bengal and Punjab for permission to enter the broadcasting space but those were not approved, minister Prakash Javadekar said.
Even state-run cable TV networks will find it tough to get clearance. In case of Arasu Cable TV Corporation, an application of the Tamil Nadu government for digital addressable system (DAS) licence is pending and the new government is in no hurry to give its clearance.
An application of Arasu TV Corporation for multi-system operator (MSO) licence to operate in DAS areas in Tamil Nadu is under examination in light of the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Javadekar told the Lok Sabha.
In December 2012, TRAI had reiterated its stand that government or government-owned entities should not be allowed to enter the business of broadcasting or distribution of television channels.
The authority also recommended that in case the central government has already accorded permission to any state government or its entity to enter into the cable distribution platform, then it should provide an appropriate exit route.
There is no certainty now that Arasu will get the nod to operate in DAS areas. Arasu had applied for DAS licence on 5 July 2012 for operating in Chennai and on 23 November 2012 for operating in the rest of Tamil Nadu.
The new I&B minister’s statement indicates that it will be no easy sailing for Arasu to get a DAS licence. With a friendlier regime at the helm, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa had earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to present the state government’s wish list that included its demand for granting DAS licence to Arasu Cable TV Corporation.
Speaking on another issue, Javadekar said that collection of entertainment tax has seen a quantum jump in cities where DAS has been implemented.
In response to a question concerning the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), he said cases had been filed by the corporation to recover outstanding dues from advertising agencies.
He gave details of 17 such cases involving an amount of over Rs 24 crore (Rs 240 million).
He also said that of the eight cases of irregularities pertaining to the Films Division, two had been closed. A fact-finding inquiry has been recommended for one case, while an inquiry is being conducted into another.
Govt rejects WB’s and Punjab’s proposals to enter TV broadcasting | TelevisionPost.com
