Media scene in the country has undergone drastic changes in the recent past.  Ministry of Information and Broadcasting put in place policies, systems and mechanisms to meet new challenges in the past two years.  The UPA Government accorded top priority to facilitating the growth of media in the country by bringing about new policy initiatives and regulatory provisions, besides providing requisite publicity for the schemes/programmes as envisaged in NCMP.  Special thrust was given to publicity campaigns on public information to reach to the masses directly about Government initiatives/schemes on key areas such as health, education, social welfare, rural development etc., in co-ordination with the concerned administrative Ministries/Departments. 

 

Expansion of Private FM Radio Broadcast

            As per the expansion policy of Private FM Radio Broadcasting, 337 channels in 91 cities were put on bid.  The step is expected to revolutionise the radio scene by ushering a wave of infotainment in the country besides creating more employment opportunities for the youth.  Letters of Intent have been issued for 243 channels.  The proposed radio stations would cover all States and Union Territories, except Uttaranchal.  Out of 91 cities, the transmission facilities are being co-located on AIR/DD towers in 86 cities, while for remaining five cities, new towers are being constructed by the Ministry at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.18 crore.  This project is likely to be completed by March 2007.

 

Three new FM channels have since been operationalized at Bangalore, Hyderabad and Jaipur in the month of April 2006, thereby taking the total of operational private FM channels in the country to 24.

 

Downlinking Guidelines for TV Channels

            Policy guidelines on downlinking of television channels have been framed and put in place.  Consequently, no person/entity is allowed to downlink a channel, which has not been registered with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 

 

The new guidelines make it obligatory on the part of all cable operators/head end operators/multi service operators/DTH operators providing downlink satellite broadcasting services downlinked from other countries to viewers in India to obtain permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.  Additional measures have been taken for the downlinking of news and current affairs channels.  So far, 65 channels/entities have applied for registration under these guidelines.

 

Uplinking Guidelines for TV Channels Revised

            In view of the spurt in the number of TV channels, uplinking guidelines have been revised and a set of consolidated guidelines issued.  Under the new provisions, it shall be incumbent on the owner company to obtain registration with the Ministry,  separately for each channel.  Also, to take care of the monopolistic position as regards the sports events, it has been made mandatory for the sports channels/sports rights, management companies having TV broadcasting rights to share their feed with Prasar Bharati for national and international sporting events which are declared as such by the Ministry.  In case of cricket events, these shall include all matches featuring India and the semi finals and finals of international competitions. 

 

Foreign investment to the extent of 26 per cent of the paid-up-capital has been allowed by means of FDI/FII/NRI in this sector.  So far, 173 TV channels have since registered for uplinking, which consist of all major channels operating in India. 

 

New Print Media Policy Introduced

            In tune with the emerging requirements, print media policy has been reviewed.  Publication of Indian editions of foreign owned scientific technical and speciality magazines/periodicals/Journals (those not downlinking in news and current affairs) has been allowed in India, on case-to-case basis.  FDI up to 100 per cent has been allowed in such publications. 

 

The ambit of foreign investment has been widened to include investments by way of portfolio investment/NRIs/PIOs along with the hitherto allowed FDI route, within the overall existing ceiling of 26 per cent.  The facsimile editions of the foreign newspapers have been allowed subject to certain conditionalities so as to protect the interests of the domestic newspaper industry.  The syndication limit has been raised to 20 per cent of the total printed area under automatic route from 7.5 per cent. 

 

Direct-to-Home (DTH) Service Launched

The Direct-to-Home TV channels became a reality with the Prime Minister launching the Ku band transmission of “DD Direct plus” in December, 2004.  As a result, 33 free-to-air TV channels and 12 AIR channels have become available throughout the country, except Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

 

Over 10 million Set Top Boxes have been sold out in the market and the service is gaining popularity among the masses.  The Number of channels available on this platform is proposed to be increased to fifty.  The DD Direct Plus has gained momentum in all parts of the country. 

 

So far, 10,000 dish receive units (Dish and STB) have been provided free of cost in the uncovered villages of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and North Eastern States.  These are provided to pubic institutions like Aanganwadis, schools, public health centres, Panchayats, youth clubs, co-operative societies etc. in uncovered pockets. 

 

Ensuring Quality of Broadcast Content

            A draft Broadcast Content Regulatory Authority Bill is ready.  The Bill aims at putting in place. Systems and mechanism to monitor TV channels and prescribes measures to deal with broadcast/telecast, which are not in tune with the Indian sensibilities/ethos.  The Bill is expected to be tabled in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.  Once in place, it would ensure content regulation of TV programmes. 

 

Tackling Certification Issues

With a view to resolving certification issues by gaining inputs from experts from diverse fields, a Workshop was organised by the Ministry.  The Workshop came out with several positive suggestions, which were accepted by the Ministry.  The suggestions included, need for a self regulatory body for the film and TV industry to review the social responsibility aspect before the TV programme/film is submitted to CBFC for certification; film stars to appear in public service ads on all societal concerns before and after the films and TV programmes; carrying disclaimers on smoking, before the screening of the films and TV programmes, which contain smoking scenes; the need for complaints and redressal system for industry for self regulation on the lines of Advertising Standards Council of India and setting up a Steering Committee comprising representatives of film producers/directors, social activists and senior officers to take forward this process of consultation in respect of societal concerns related to the content in films and TV programmes. 

 

Dedicated Channels for Parliament Coverage

Doordarshan launched two new dedicated channels in collaboration with Lok Sabha Secretariat to telecast live the whole proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha through LPTs.  A dedicated educational channel EDUSAT for education in collaboration with ISRO has been launched.  The channel will telecast educational programmes co-produced/acquired from NCERT/SIET/CIET etc.

 

Special Efforts to Reach Out to J&K and NE

Under the Special Package for J&K, it has been decided to procure and distribute 10,000 receive systems initially to achieve wider penetration in the uncovered areas of J&K State. Under Phase-II of the Special Package Schemes for both J&K and North-Eastern Region, and Island Territories, a sum of Rs. 400.17 crore has been approved. Under it the quality of both A.I.R. and Doordarshan’s services would be strengthened through various initiatives. 

 

So as to bring children of these areas closer to the mainstream, Children Film Society of India organised a film festival in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.  Besides, another Film Festival was organised in Srinagar to promote films in the area, which received a very enthusiastic response from the people.  A film festival targeting North East was organised in Agartala, Tripura.  Expansion and modernization of Jyoti Chitrabham Film Studio (JCFS), Guwahati is a part of the fulfillment of commitment under Assam Accord by Government of India. 

 

Due to new challenges being faced by the Film and Television Industry, the proposal for modernisation and upgradation of JCFS to develop into a full-fledged film-producing organisation has been made.  An outlay of Rs. 10.00 crore has been provided in the Annual Plan 2006-07.  An amount of Rs. 8.7 crore was sanctioned in Phase-I and Phase-II of the project.

 

Indian Institute of Mass Communication in collaboration with Nagaland University started a PG diploma course in mass communication with the signing of a MoU.

 

SIMCON-XXV Held to Resolve Issues Involving States

The State Information Ministers Conference SIMCON-XXV was organised by the Ministry after a gap of four years in 2005.  All States reached a consensus on core issues like rationalization of Entertainment Tax, issues related to piracy and the need to tackle them within the existing provisions of law, need for sensitization of State apparatus on Regulation of content on Television Channels, registration of cable operators and promotion of DTH services.

 

Digitisation and for Improved Transmission Facilities

            Seven major studio centres of Doordarshan (DD) at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata & CPC (Delhi) have been made fully digital.  In addition, eight small studio centers at Jammu, Daltonganj, Gangtok, Panaji, Raipur, Gulbarga, Pondicherry & Port Blair have been partially digitalised.   DD set up/upgraded 12 Captive Earth Stations in various parts of the country.  It commissioned 18 projects/schemes of 1 Kw – 10 Kw, 3 of 100 Kw and 3 for Low Power Transmission relay.  Additional studio facilities at five stations in Chennai, Delhi, Panaji, Chandigarh and Leh were also set up.  

 

Agriculture broadcast received a short in the arm with the launch of dedicated agricultural channel.  Presently ‘Kisan Vani’ is being broadcast from 96 AIR stations.  Captive Earth Stations with digital uplink capabilities are being provided in the AIR network.  During the period, such facilities have been provided at AIR Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Bhopal and Ahmedabad. 

 

Film Festivals 

Goa has been made permanent venue for International Film Festival of India (IFFI), with a view to develop it as a IFFI destination and to bring it on par with other renowned film festivals all over the world.   The Government also announced its support towards development of necessary infrastructure in Goa in this regard. 

 

The Directorate of Film Festivals held Weekend Film Festivals on various legendary film personalities.  These were held in Siri Fort, New Delhi and were aimed to bring to the people cinema classics/masterpieces of yesteryears.  The doyens of Indian cinema on whom these festivals were held included – Kundan Lal Saigal, Madhubala, Devanand, Satyajit Ray, Gemini Ganesan and Sunil Dutt.  Two week long children film festivals were organised in Hyderabad.

 

Construction of Children Film Complex, Hyderabad

            A plan scheme for children’s Film Society India (CFSI) on construction of Children’s Film Complex at Hyderabad is on the anvil.  The complex is expected to have two to three auditoria of varying capacity between 100 seaters or 600-700 seater, including a provision for a café and an office complex at well, besides space for conduct of seminars, lectures, exhibitions etc.   

 

Setting up of Museum of Moving Images at Films Division, Mumbai

            A provision of Rs. 34.00 crores has been made in the X Five year Plan for setting up of a Museum of Moving Images (MOMI) at Mumbai on the lines of such Museum in USA.  The purpose and objectives of this plan include, providing a focal point in Mumbai for Industry enthusiasts and visitors alike; acquainting the contemporary generation with the evolution and journey that Indian cinema has undertaken; establishing a permanent Museum for artifacts many of which are valuable heritage items connected with film making; exhibiting the works of noted directors, producers, Institutions etc., for the benefit of visitors/film enthusiasts and arranging seminars, workshops for film makers and film students, and thereby make it a ‘living entity’.

 

Reaching out to the affected during Tsunami

When the Tsunami tragedy struck the Southern part of India, the Ministry and its media units played a key role in disseminating critical information in the affected areas.  It was Doordarshan, which was first to bring visuals of the earthquake and Tsunami. 

 

All Stations of All India Radio in the Southern States and the East Coast, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, were continuously broadcasting programmes regarding the developing situation in the affected areas based on live inputs by Districts and State Authorities from different locations. Stations were also broadcasting information about relief measures, helplines and measures to combat epidemics.  PIB started media facilitation cum information centers in the affected areas, including Port Blair.  Briefings were arranged every day and communication channels were kept open almost round-the-clock for information.  Media was conducted to the affected areas.

 

Improved Media Relations with the World

Continuing with the Government’s initiative of better relationship with its neighbours and promotion thereof through communication, the second SAARC Editors Conference took place in New Delhi in October, 2004.  The Conference called for better and stronger cooperation among the media in the SAARC nations to act as a catalyst in eliminating poverty and other social evils from the region.

 

A meeting of the Group of Experts on the establishment of the SAARC Media Development Fund, the first of its type, was organised in New Delhi.  Taking the initiative ahead the Indian delegation led by the Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, attended the SAARC Information Ministers Conference in Islamabad in December, 2004.

 

A Memorandum of Understanding on Information and Broadcasting was signed with Afghanistan to cooperate and expand ties in areas covering radio and television broadcasting, films and exchange of journalists. 

 

An agreement was signed between the Chandigarh Press Club and the Lahore Press Club for initiation of a regular interaction process.

 

 

Film Co-Production Agreements         

With a view to giving a fillip to the Indian Film industry, and to enable it attain global dimensions, the Ministry signed film co-production agreements with United Kingdom and Italy.  The signing of such agreements with Germany, China and Canada is at an advanced stage of finalisation.

 

Fresh IT Measures Initiated for Better Communication

PIB stepped up the use of information technology by launching intra-PIB, intranet on a highly interactive platform, for better communication with field offices and to serve as a tool for professional activities.  PIB’s main website, pib.nic.in, posts information in English, Hindi and Urdu. The Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram and Aizawl offices have launched their own sites in Tamil and Mizo respectively.  All other field offices of PIB are in the process of launching sister websites, which will provide information also in regional languages.

 

PIB took up the e-clippings project whereby feedback related clippings from newspapers are kept in digitised form.  Till December 2005, over 2.45 lakh press clippings had been digitised. 

 

Employment News has gone on-line, facilitating availability of information about job vacancies in Government and allied departments through online medium.  Network of dealers extended resulting in better reach of Employment News to various parts of the country.  New series of articles on self-employment opportunities carried out.  Career guidance series started through website of Employment News thus providing an interactive media between our esteemed readers and Employment News. 

 

The Registrar of Newspapers for India launched an online list of Certificates of Registration issued to newspaper publishers on its web-site www.rni.nic.in. The list indicates the Certificate of Registration issued from October, 2004 and is being updated regularly.  It gives details such as title of the newspaper/periodical, language of publication, periodicity, place from which it is published, registration number and name of publisher.  This is a step in the direction of promoting transparency in the working of this Ministry. 

 

Publications Division Initiates Measures to Preserve Nation’s Heritage

            The Department published biographies of 103 eminent freedom fighters of India under the Builders of Modern India series in various languages of the country.  The leaders taken up in this series include Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Azad, Pt. Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Rajagopalachari, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Smt. Indira Gandhi. The Publications Division has brought out books like the World of Ezra Mir, Indian Railways-Glorious 150 years, Guru Nanak Se Guru Granth Sahib Tak, Gandhi-A Pictorial Biography. 

 

The Division has completed four multimedia interactive CDs on subjects of culture and heritage monuments.  Three CDs on world heritage monuments, Brihadeshwara Temple – Tanjavour, Sanchi Stupa, Qutub and Mehrauli Complex have also been completed.  Similarly, a CD on Indian Paintings covering pre-historic to modern period has also been completed.

 

Message of Dandi March Taken to the Masses

As part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s historic Dandi March, various media units organized a series of special functions.  The Films Division released a DVD of the film on Dandi Yatra entitled “The Great Salt March”.  The Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity put up an exhibition on the freedom struggle and also made spots on the Dandi Yatra, which were aired during the occasion.  The Directorate of Field Publicity organized competitions, rallies and public meetings to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee. 

 

Others 

 

Ø                   RTI Act introduced in the Ministry as well as all its subordinate offices, bringing further transparency in the functioning.

 

Ø                   The Ministry and the Prasar Bharati agreed to launch of a new satellite Urdu Channel.  The proposed Channel will have at least seven-hours of transmission everyday.  Rs. 40 crore has been provided for the new Channel during the current financial year, against the projected requirements of Rs. 78.40 crore.    

 

Ø                   The project to build a state of art National Media Centre at Delhi with all modern facilities at a cost of Rs. 35 crores has been approved.  Rs. 10 crore have been provided for the year 2006-07 for the purpose.   

 

Ø                   DAVP organised several photo exhibitions on Dandi March, Tsunami, Freedom Struggle and Journey of Indian Cinema. 

 

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