16 October 2009
Indias Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is planning to put stringent entry-level restrictions on broadcasters launching new television channels, the Business Standard reports.
The move is to ensure only serious players enter the business and have effective use of the limited bandwidth available for broadcasting.
A top ministry official said: We have already asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to give its recommendations on the various criteria and conditions on the basis of which scarce resources will be given.
Currently, India has over 500 TV channels with another 70 requests for new channels pending approval. Another 50-60 channels have been given a licence but are not operational. The ministry has asked Trai to review the existing norms and prepare the minimum criterion for granting permission.
It said that Trai would also include conditions of commitment to run the channel for a certain number of years to protect against fly-by-night operators.
At the moment, broadcasters can get permission to run a new channel if they have a net worth of India Rupees $10 million (about US$21,600) for operating one channel and India Rupees $30 million (about US$64,800) for operating a bouquet of 15 channels.
The broadcasters also have to currently ensure they operate from India and the foreign direct investment is not more than 49 percent (26 percent in the case for a news channel). There are no other restrictions on them. (Source: ABU website)
15 October 2009
Panelists emphasized the role of free press in promoting democracy at a Town Hall in Hargeisa, Somaliland today as the Voice of America (VOA) launched a new radio station in the Somalia breakaway region.
We expect this station to serve our people impartially and to inform us not just with news but with balanced reports and knowledge, Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin said as he welcomed VOAs new broadcast.
The launch of 88.0 FM brought together journalists, government officials, opposition members and civil society activists who gathered afterwards for a discussion entitled, A Free Press in a Democracy.
Panelists praised the gains in independent media, but said challenges remain. Faisal Ali Sheikh, chairman of Jamhuriya newspaper, opposed pending legislation that would require the Ministry of Information to review advertisements.
The media should lobby against the amendment
which is aimed at restricting the freedom of the press, Ali Sheikh said. Other panelists included Suas Hussein Hagi Elmi, a female activist and Mohamoud Hussain Farah, dean of Hargeisa Univesitys Department of Law.
During an interview with VOAs Somali service, Somalilands main opposition leader, Ahmed Mohammed Silanyo, also expressed his appreciation for the new station. We are happy to see the Voice of American launch this FM station which will help the people of Somaliland, Silanyo said.
VOA Hargeisa 88.0 will air 24 hours of VOA programs daily. The broadcast stream includes three and half hours of news and features from VOAs Somali service along with popular English news, discussion and music programs such as World News Now, Daybreak Africa, Hip Hop Connection and Music Mix. Besides Somali, VOA also broadcasts in English and 11 other languages throughout Africa. More information is available at www.voanews.com/Somali and www.voaafrica.com
15 October 2009
Bloomberg has emerged as the winning bidder for BusinessWeek, the troubled 80-year-old title that McGraw-Hill had put on sale this summer.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the price was said to be near USD 5m, plus assumption of liabilities, which were USD 31.9m as of April. The magazine will continue to be a weekly print publication, rechristened Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
Decisions have not been made about BusinessWeeks staff of more than 400 people; Bloomberg will select which of those employees it wants by the end of the year, when the deal closes. Those not selected will receive severance from McGraw-Hill, said a BusinessWeek executive. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.
While there was interest from parties in the private equity world, Bloomberg was seen as the preferred buyer. (Source: New York Times)
15 October 2009
Vector 3, a pioneer in graphics and playout solutions, announced that Islam Channel has installed 2 Vectorbox 8000 HD systems and Vector configured NAS system to manage automated, multi-channel playout and production storage of three Islam Channel signature channels; Islam Channel, Islam Channel Urdu, and Noor TV.
With headquarters in Central London, Islam Channel provides alternative news, current affairs and entertainment programming from an Islamic perspective. A popular and well respected channel, Islam Channel has a global viewership with simultaneous transmission to studios in South, West, and East Africa. “Our broadcast facilities will support up to 20 channels,” comments Mr Kiarash Bodouhi, Head of IT, Islam Channel.
“Knowing this, we went through a rigorous qualification process to ensure the playout automation technology we installed today would support the imminent growth of our operation with the same capabilities and reliabilities. Vector3 technology scored high when it came to adapting and supporting this rapid expansion.”
Islam Channel has two locations in London; a production center where all programming is created and a broadcast centre for continuity and live program playout and transmission. The broadcast Centre houses the 2 new Vectorbox 8000 HD automated playout systems and a custom Vector 3 NAS system to facilitate continuity playout of pre-recorded programs and live playout of thematic magazine format shows with fully integrated production storage.
