I&B Ministry
SET launching on ATN in Canada
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MUMBAI: Toronto-headquartered Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN) has received regulatory approval to add Sony Entertainment Television Asia (SET Asia), to the list of eligible satellite services for distribution across Canada on a digital basis. |
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ATN, in collaboration with the Canadian cable and satellite industry, will soon announce the launch date and plans for this service. |
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ATN owns and operates six television channels across Canada and has been awarded 16 more digital television licenses by the country’s regulator CRTC. As already reported by indiantelevision.com, ATN will soon add Zee Cinema, Zee Gujarati and Zee Music to its South Asian bouquet of channels across Canada.  ATN has programming alliances with Zee TV, Sony Entertainment Television, B4U, Alpha ETC Punjabi, Jaya TV, ARY Digital, Aastha TV, NDTV, ATN Bangla and Kairali. |
I&B Ministry
MIB blocks MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro and three other OTT platforms over obscene, sexually explicit content
Platforms streamed material violating IT Act provisions
NATIONAL: India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry blocked five over-the-top streaming platforms for allegedly hosting obscene and sexually explicit content, marking a fresh escalation in regulatory action against digital services operating outside the country’s content rules, as per media reports.
The platforms, MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel and Jugnu, were found to be streaming material that prima facie violates provisions of the Information Technology Act and rules governing online publishers.
Blocking orders were issued under statutory powers that allow the government to restrict access to online content in the interest of public order and decency. Internet service providers have been directed to disable access to the websites and mobile applications linked to the platforms.
The move forms part of a wider surveillance drive by the ministry targeting lesser-known and unregulated streaming services that allegedly evade self-regulatory obligations applicable to OTT platforms. Officials said the action followed repeated advisories urging compliance with Indian laws, including age-based classification, grievance redressal mechanisms and restrictions on explicit material.
Government sources described the content hosted by the blocked platforms as “highly explicit”, adding that it crossed legal thresholds permitted under Indian law. While large OTT players operate within a three-tier grievance redressal framework introduced in 2021, smaller apps have increasingly drawn scrutiny for distributing adult content without oversight.
The latest action also reflects heightened enforcement against platforms operating through mirror websites, offshore hosting arrangements or opaque ownership structures. Authorities have in recent years stepped up monitoring of online curated content amid concerns around obscenity, misleading promotions and unlawful distribution.
Officials declined to say whether further steps, including probes into operators, payment gateways or production entities, were being considered. However, sources indicated that additional platforms could face similar action if found in breach of the law.
