Category: Television

Broadcasting Bill draft leaves industry divided; concerns raised over censorship, excessive regulation

To regulate the OTT content, the Ministry of I&B is formulating a new Broadcast policy that is currently in the public domain to elicit views from the public and other stakeholders.

With multiple layers of stringency, the second draft proposes to regulate broadcasters, OTTs, and content creators under one umbrella of rules, who are liable for heavy penalties in case of violation.

Broadcast Bill draft emphasises methodology for audience measurement; promotes multiple agencies

The present government is playing a proactive role in facilitating the establishment of multiple audience measurement agencies, leaving the industry more divided.

The second draft of the Broadcast Bill contains a proposal similar to the one mentioned in the first draft, which is about establishing a framework for audience measurement and the sale of ratings data. Industry urges Ministry to instead focus on working on one robust agency.

Exclusive: Broadcasting Bill – Govt can conduct inspections, seize equipment without intimation

BARC charges a fee based on the fixed percentage of advertisement revenues, helping maintain a stable cash flow

Storyboard18 reviewed the second version of the proposed Broadcast Bill, consisting of 49 pages. The draft outlines the government’s authority to conduct inspections on broadcasting networks and broadcasting services.

Tata Play drops Sony Channels citing low viewership; Sony calls it arbitrary

On August 1, Tata Play started removing the SPNI channels from the subscription plans of about 10 million users and had then said it would continue to undertake this process over the next few days and accordingly plans to adjust monthly charges.

SPNI calls out the ‘low viewership’ narrative misleading. Harit Nagpal, MD & CEO, Tata Play, says the DTH service provider is streamlining its channel packs to optimise prices for customers.

Paris-based media giant Vivendi’s plans to list Havas and Canal+ revealed

On the Havas split the company shared that Havas, with the majority of its activities being carried out internationally, would be listed as a Dutch public limited liability company (NV) on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange, which already witnessed Universal Music Group’s success.

For the first half of 2024, Vivendi’s revenues were €9,052 million, an increase of 92.7% compared to the same period of 2023. Canal+ Group is a major player in the creation and distribution of cinema and audiovisual content on all continents.

Broadcasters question Prasar Bharati’s role in the private sector: EXCLUSIVE

FDI in the information and broadcasting sector increased by 87% to Rs 7,012 crore for FY24, which was up from Rs 3,745 crore in FY23.

During a stakeholders’ consultation meeting, chaired by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology, broadcasters suggested that Prasar Bharati and DD Free Dish restrict itself to DD channels to educate the masses. The cable TV industry has also raised various objections including advertising time on Pay TV channels.