GECs
Govt to study Trai’s recommendations on digitisation of cable TV
NEW DELHI: The government is examining the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) recommendations for a national plan for digitalisation of cable television.
Informing fellow parliamentarians, information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today said in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) that the recommendations are being studied for feasibility of implementation.
However, he gave no time frame to a government decision on this.
In September, Trai had recommended there should be a national plan for digitalisation from 1 April, 2006 till 31 March, 2010, coinciding with the holding of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
The essential features of this plan are:
Introduction of digital service in all cities/urban agglomerations with a population of over one million by 2010. All existing analogue service will continue simultaneously.
Licensing for new entrants and automatic licensing for existing operators.
Rationalisation of import and domestic duties by 1 April, 2006.
Usage of entertainment tax for a consumer education programme during these four years (2006-10).
The minister also informed Lok Sabha that there were 302 instances of violations of censors) during 2005 that have come to the notice of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC
This included 104 violations in Thiruvananthapuram, 100 in Bangalore, 45 in Chennai, 22 in Delhi, 20 in Kolkata, six in Hyderabad and five in Mumbai.
The enforcement of the penal provisions of the Cinematograph Act lies with the state governments/Union Territories.
However, to strengthen the hands of the states in detecting violations of the Cinematograph Act and the federal government has evolved a scheme for appointment of private detective agencies for all the nine regions of CBFC, the minister said.
These agencies assist in checking violations by conducting raids in cinema theatres and filing of reports with the police.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
