Licence judgment in Radio City's favour, IPRS to appeal

It could well end up being music for the radio industry’s ears. In a judgment delivered on 27 July 2011, the Bombay High court stated that leading FM player Radio City would now have to only deal with Phonographic Performances Limited for obtaining a licence to play music on its stations, and the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) cannot claim or demand royalty or license fees for playing recorded music from it.

Music Broadcast Private Limited (MBPL) – the company behind Radio City – has been fighting the case against Indian Performing Right Society since 2006. It had all along stated that it has been paying IPRS royalties for broadcast of sound recordings under a mistaken belief of law for nearly a decade. MBPL has demanded a refund of Rs 12.7 million which it has forked out as royalty/ license fees to the IPRS from 1 August, 2003 to 31 July, 2006.

Imagine to launch new reality show in July-end

Imagine TV will bring on board a fresh reality show on July 29, titled Gajab Desh Ki Ajab Kahaniyan. The show will occupy the 10 pm slot.

The bi-weekly will be aired every Friday and Saturday, and will showcase a variety of bizarre stories in a talk-show format that will be hosted by controversy queen, Rakhi Sawant.

DoT proposes one nation, one market policy

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has proposed to simplify the country's telecom landscape. It has suggested one tariff for each licence holder across the country, all-India mobile number portability and doing away with roaming charges.

At present, the country is divided into 22 circles. Each circle has its own tariff structure. Number portability, too, is allowed only within a circle. And, subscribers have to pay a roaming fee for using telecom services outside their home circles.

BSNL launches VOIP services

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India's incumbent and largest integrated telecom service provider, announced last month joining with Sai InfoSystem (India) Ltd. (SIS) to launch the first of its kind VOIP services in India.

Present on the occasion of the launch were Adviser to the PM (Public Infrastructure, Information and Innovation) Sam Pitroda, BSNL CMD R. K. Upadhyay, Director (CFA), BSNL, Rajesh Wadhwa,; BSNL Director (CM) R.K Aggarwal, , and SIS CMD Sunil Kakkad.

High Court to view Emotional Atyachar episodes

Chief Justice Dipak Misra of the Delhi High Court has decided to see two recent episodes of the reality show Emotional Atyachar on UTV Bindass, following a petition that it is vulgar and obscene.

A division bench of Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna would also examine whether set guidelines have been followed while allowing its telecast.

Bharti Airtel rejigs operations for India and South Asia

India's top telecom firm Bharti Airtel is streamlining its operations in India and South Asia under two verticals to boost efficiency. The world's fifth largest telecom company, grappling with falling profits and slowing growth, will now operate under two customer business units — one serving corporate clients (business to business or B2B) and the other handling its retail offerings (business to customer or B2C) — effective August 1, the company said in a statement. 

"The new structure is aimed at driving greater business and functional synergies, providing a common interface to customers, and creating a de-layered and more agile organization," chairman and managing director Sunil Mittal said. 

Bachchan and Sony get notice from HC for insulting Netaji's slogan

The Bombay High Court has issued notices to Amitabh Bachchan and Sony Entertainment Television from the PIL filed by Mukesh Sharma that challenges a promo of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC 4) for insulting and maligning the slogan “Tum Mujhe Khoon do, main tumhe azadi doonga coined by Subhash Chandra Bose.

Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice G S Godbole have asked both Bachchan, anchor of the upcoming show KBC, and Sony TV to file their response by 28 of this month.

Discovery gets govt nod, launch of new channels a year away

Discovery has got government permission to launch four channels but it would take over a year before starting their run in India, according to a senior executive of the company.

The channels that have got the approval are Discovery Kids, Military Channel, ID and Discovery Home and Health. Interestingly, only Discovery Home and Health, a lifestyle channel that targets women, is present in some of the other Asian markets.

Hollywood action heroes belt out Telugu on outdoors in Andhra Pradesh

UTV, which had launched the 'Action' Hindi channel that showcases dubbed Hollywood movies last year, launched the same in Telugu on June 26. To promote the launch, the channel has tied up with electronic retail stores in Hyderabad to air promos of the channel across their displayed TV screens.

Eight electronic stores including NEXT at A S Rao Nagar, Nallakunta, Malkapet, Croma at Jubilee Hills, Punjagutta, E-Zone at Hyderabad Central, Punjagutta, and City Center at Banjara Hills, as well as HomeTown in Punjagutta are running the UTV Action Telugu promos. The promos will play on the TV screens for one month.