2G gear equipments to BSNL for expansion

BSNL's countrywide 2G network expansion plans will finally take off as the Indian arm of China's ZTE Corp has agreed to meet the state-run telco's additional GSM network requirement for 4.22 million lines in the eastern and northeastern circles, aggregating Rs 1,220 crore, top BSNL executives, who didn't wish to be named, said. 

ZTE India's decision comes after BSNL recently threatened to encash its Rs 159-crore performance bank guarantees (PBGs) following the Chinese vendor's failure to meet the state-run telco's eastern zone purchase requirements by January 31, 2013. 

DTH free from entertainment tax

The Supreme Court last week held that the Madhya Pradesh government cannot demand entertainment tax on DTH services provided to customers of Tata Sky under the state Entertainment Duty and Advertisements Tax Act. The revenue department had demanded 20 per cent entertainment duty on subscription payment from the telecasters. They had moved the high court, but it had dismissed all of them, upholding the demand of the revenue authorities. Allowing the appeal of the company in the case, Tata Sky vs State of MP, the judgment stated that the Act cannot be extended to cover DTH operations. The state law imposes duty only if an entertainment takes place in a specified place or location and persons are admitted there on payment of a charge to the proprietor providing the entertainment. In the case of DTH, the operation is not a place-related entertainment. Therefore, the law is not applicable to DTH.

ATN launches two more Punjabi channels in Canada

Asian Television Network (ATN), Canada's largest South Asian Broadcaster, has expanded its bouquet of Punjabi channels to six with the launch of ATN-Sikh and ATN-Brit Asia Channel. 

ATN-Sikh is Canada's first and only 24 hour Sikh Spiritual Channel and is the first broadcasting channel of its kind in the world broadcasting Sikh religious and cultural shows round the clock across the world. 

Charlie Sheen invests in an OTT company

The Digital Development Group (DIDG) (DigiDev), a Hollywood-based Over the Top (OTT) TV, technology, content acquisition and distribution company, has announced that actor Charlie Sheen has invested in the company. 

Report: EU's planned probe into Huawei, ZTE has weak support

The purported plan by the European Commission to launch an investigation into Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE has met run into resistance from European Union member countries over fears that European equipment manufacturers would be shut out of the strong growth market of China in retaliation, Reuters reported. 

It was reported earlier this week that the EU's trade commissioner, Karel De Gucht, is seeking the backing of EU states to investigate the two Chinese network equipment over concerns that they were receiving state subsidies that enabled them to undercut rivals, as well as security concerns related to the two companies. 

Turner picks Edward Barnieh as programming and acquisitions manager- APAC

Turner International has appointed Edward Barnieh as programming and acquisitions manager for Asia Pacific, to further expand its quality offering of kids' content. 

Based in Hong Kong, Barnieh will be responsible for Turner's acquisition strategies for its kids' networks in Asia Pacific, including Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, Pogo, Toonami and Boomerang. 

Turner picks Edward Barnieh as programming and acquisitions manager- APAC

Turner International has appointed Edward Barnieh as programming and acquisitions manager for Asia Pacific, to further expand its quality offering of kids' content. 

Based in Hong Kong, Barnieh will be responsible for Turner's acquisition strategies for its kids' networks in Asia Pacific, including Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, Pogo, Toonami and Boomerang.