Airtel Digital Launches iRadio With 21 Radio Channels

Airtel digital TV, the direct-to-home (DTH) service by telecom major Bharti Airtel, has launched iRadio – a 24/7 entertainment application that has 21 radio channels available to all its customers, at no additional cost.

The 21 audio channels on iRadio include FM Gold, FM Gold Mumbai, FM Rainbow, FM Rainbow Bangalore, FM Rainbow Chennai, Radio Kashmir, Gyanvani Radio, AIR Hindi, AIR Punjabi, AIR Tamil, AIR Telugu, AIR Bangla, AIR Gujarati, AIR Urdu, AIR Marathi, AIR Kannada, AIR Oriya, AIR Malayalam, AIR Assamese, AIR Ragam, and AIR North-East.

History channel now available on mobile TV

History channel which debuted in India on 9 October, 2011 and claims to have reached out to 45 million viewers within a month of its launch is now available on the mobile platform. 

The broadcaster will be available on both platforms - live streaming as well as video on demand on GPRS enabled mobile phones. To access the application, the user will have to send the keyword "History" as an SMS to 51818. The user can chose to either view the channel or key episodes from a particular show. 

Dish TV: dilution fears seem overdone

Dish TV India Ltd’s stock rose 4.3% on 28 November 2011 to Rs. 65 on news reports that the company has got clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to increase overseas equity to around Rs. 980 crore.

According to media reports, the amount has only been approved, the company has not yet decided on how much to raise and when to raise. But the approval is to cover the expense on digitalisation and introducing new satellite services.

Financial Times launches FT India app for iPad and iPhone

The Financial Times (FT) has launched a new web application FT India app for iPad and iPhone. The app allows the user to access all stories on the home page for free through a web browser at app.ft.com/india. 

The FT India app showcases tailored Financial Times content, which covers the latest developments in India and international business circuits. The app also highlights news from beyondbrics blog, business education reports, and Luxury 360, Financial Times' new online hub for creative and commercial coverage of the luxury goods industry, among others. 

3G roaming issue: Sibal to take to telecos

Communications Minister Kapil Sibal will meet all stakeholders to diffuse the growing controversy over the issue of three leading incumbent operators, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular, offering 3G services without having spectrum in the circles, thus violating licence conditions. 

Sibal’s ultimate is of one nation, one licence. He, however, dismissed the request made by the three operators, to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through a letter that in case they are not allowed roaming services, the government should refund their spectrum auction payment with interest along with compensation for all the capital investments made by them to build the network. 

Delhi HC stays Rs 1.1 mn penalty on Yahoo

The Delhi High Court has stayed the imposition of Rs 1.1 million fine levied by the Union Home Ministry on the Internet portal Yahoo for not imparting information about nearly a dozen yahoo IDs and IP addresses who are suspected to be Islamic Terrorists and Maoists.

On a petition by the portal challenging the government's decision, the Court also issued a notice to the Central Government.

Dish TV gets FIPB nod to raise Rs 9.8 bn

FIPB the Government has permitted Dish TV India to increase foreign equity to the extent of Rs 1000 crores. The leading direct-to-home company had sought permission to raise funds to produce telecommunication equipment and provide management and marketing of 'agrani' services in the area of Mobile Satellite Communications.

Meanwhile, NDTV Lifestyle Ltd has been permitted to increase in foreign equity up to 100 per cent. The company is engaged in the media industry for up-linking, producing, distributing and broadcasting non-news and non- current affairs TV channels. This will not involve any additional FDI.