News Broadcasting
HC includes DTH operators, channels in adult movie ban ambit; slams cable blackout
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today ruled that broadcasters, including direct-to-home (DTH) service providers, were bound by the 21 December, 2005 order banning the telecast of movies with ‘A’ certificates.
The High Court bench, headed by Justice Lodha, pulled up the cable operators for their action of discontinuing transmission of all channels in the city. “The act was irresponsible,” the bench decreed, adding that cable operators could not charge subscribers for the two days when services was not available.
The court also specified that the broadcasters have to obtain certificate from the censor board before they air any movies. Justice Lodha pointed out that the December 2005 order holds applicable to foreign channels.
What this means is that the nine channels charged with showing adult content — Hindi and English movie channels (Zee Cinema, Star Movies, HBO, Filmy, Star Gold, AXN and Max), and Hindi entertainment channels Star One and Sahara One — will continue to remain off air at least till the next hearing of the case.
Cable services were stalled on Monday evening after the Mumbai police raided cable TV control rooms and seized decoder boxes of the nine channels.
It was in the December 2005 that the High Court had ordered the police to take action against cable operators and cable service providers who beamed movies without ‘A’ or ‘U/A’ certificates. This was in response to a public interest litigation filed by social activist Pratibha Nathani.
However, today’s order made an important modification to the original order delivered last December. The court pointed out that movies with U/A (universal/adult) certification cannot be banned. These would be allowed to be screened but would have to run a cautionary scroll highlighting that the movies can be watched under parental guidance, the court ruled.
The court also said that with this modification, if police have taken action against anybody for showing U/A movie in the past few days, such an action will have to be discharged, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
News Broadcasting
Mihir Bhatt appointed as chief content officer at News18 Studios
The media veteran brings two decades of experience across television, digital and radio to one of India’s biggest broadcast networks, Disney+ Hotstar, Discovery+
NEW DELHI: Network18 has a new strategist in the building. Mihir Bhatt, one of Indian media’s more versatile operators, has joined News18 Studios as chief content officer, stepping into a role that will see him shape content strategy, build multi-platform properties and drive brand partnerships across the network.
Bhatt brings more than two decades of experience spanning television, digital and radio, with a track record of doing something rare in Indian media: combining editorial ambition with hard commercial results. At Times Network, where he served as managing editor and chief business officer of Times Influence, he built one of the industry’s more respected content studios, launching marquee properties such as the India Economic Conclave, the Times Now Summit and Leaders of Tomorrow. He also pushed the network into premium OTT territory through tie-ups with Disney+ Hotstar and Discovery+.
His resume stretches well beyond the studio. Bhatt has led Global Investor Summits for multiple state governments, worked alongside the World Economic Forum and played a pivotal role in launching the Indian Pickleball League. Earlier, as editor of Zee Business, he pioneered investor education initiatives that are still cited as industry benchmarks.
At News18 Studios, Bhatt will report to chief executive S Shivakumar and will oversee the studios execution vertical alongside revenue verticals covering emerging markets and campaigns. Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar and Nimar Sarkaria will work under him.
Rahul Joshi, managing director and editor-in-chief of Network18 Group, made the announcement in an internal communication. “Mihir’s ability to build enduring brands, foster strategic partnerships and navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our position and explore new avenues of growth in the Studios business,” Joshi said.
In a media industry lurching between disruption and reinvention, Network18 has bet on a man who has spent two decades thriving in exactly that chaos. Whether he can do it again, at greater scale, is the question worth watching.
