I&B Ministry
DTH guidelines next week: Swaraj
Come next week and the government guidelines on direct-to-home services should be out if information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj is true to her word.
Swaraj told reporters in New Delhi that the DTH guidelines had been sent back to the I&B ministry after being vetted by the law ministry, according to the Press Trust of India.
It was on 13 January that one of the major regulatory hurdles in the way of the launch of DTH services was lifted. A notification was issued which formally lifted the four-year-old ban on the establishment, maintenance, possession or dealing of equipment capable of receiving Ku band television broadcast signals.
The notification, effective immediately, amending the Radio, Television and Video Cassette Recorder Sets (Exemption from Licensing Requirements) Rules, 1997 removing prohibition for use of such apparatus in the frequency bands 4,800 MHz and above.
What the industry will be closely watching is whether there will a modification in the 20 per cent sectoral and foreign equity cap on DTH operations that the government is demanding. Swaraj has repeatedly said there will be no change in the guidelines issued in November 2000 despite strong lobbying from the industry for its increase.
I&B Ministry
MIB halts news TRPs for four weeks over sensational US-Iran conflict coverage
Government flags panic-mongering in television war coverage
NEW DELHI: India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC) to suspend television ratings for news channels for four weeks amid concerns over sensational coverage of the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran.
According to media reports, the move intends to curb excessive dramatisation in television reporting that could trigger unnecessary public anxiety.
Officials have observed that several news broadcasters are amplifying developments in the conflict in ways that may fuel panic among viewers. By temporarily halting the publication of viewership data, the ministry hopes to ease the competitive pressure on channels to chase ratings through sensational content.
The suspension will remain in effect for one month for now. During this period, television news channels will continue to broadcast as usual, but their audience measurement figures will neither be counted nor released.
Authorities will monitor both the evolving geopolitical situation and the tone of television coverage during the pause. The four-week suspension could be extended if the government believes the risk of panic-mongering or sensational reporting persists.
