From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 3 21:32:32 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 16:32:32 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: India Today wants FDI in news to be 49 pc Message-ID: <4053.203.195.199.163.1067895152.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Questioning the media houses which oppose foreign direct investment (FDI), Aroon Purie, chief of Living Media, the group which publishes India Today, asked the government to raise the FDI limit in news and current affairs to 49 per cent from the present 26 per cent. He also suggested that the government allow foreign-owned news channels to uplink from India as per existing norms since they were anyway free to downlink their content here. Source: http://web.mid-day.com/news/nation/2003/october/67647.htm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 3 21:33:20 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 16:33:20 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Indian bags global award for journalism Message-ID: <4093.203.195.199.163.1067895200.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the world’s apex body overseeing global research in agriculture, has awarded its Outstanding Journalism Category Award 2003 to Indian photojournalist, Pallava Bagla. He has been selected for the honour for his article ‘‘Drought Exposes Cracks in India’s Monsoon Model’’ published in 2002 in the prestigious journal Science and for his articles published in media and journals. The award which carries a cash prize of US$ 5000 was presented to Bagla on Wednesday at the annual general body meeting of the CGIAR at the UN office in Nairobi. This award is the highest honour for agriculture journalism. It is for the first time that an Indian has been selected for this. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=34586 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 3 21:31:15 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 16:31:15 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: 'Heavy licence fee takes its toll on Pvt FM players' Message-ID: <3983.203.195.199.163.1067895075.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> A heavy licence fee structure has inhibited the launch of niche commercial radio stations in India, said Steve England, who runs a UK-based company - S2Blue - that produces radio commercials, radio and TV jingles, custom music production and soundtracks for TV commercials. Diverse programme formats have also not emerged because of a regulated environment and a huge payout to the government. “All private FM radio stations are almost having the same content format. They are desperate to have the largest part of the market because of the drain on their resources due to a high licence fee,” said England. Urging the government to allow news on private radio stations, England said that this is “an unhealthy trend” and is “only helping All India Radio.” News is an important content element. “Brief news bulletins of 2-3 minutes actually help music stations draw in listeners,” he said. Private FM radio stations are only working out mass appeal formats. A sensible licence fee and deregulation will help change that and expand the sector, he opined. Drawing a contrast between radio today and the way the Indian television industry grew, England said private radio stations should enjoy similar freedom. “The satellite TV channels grew under an unregulated environment. Private radio stations should be allowed to flower under similar circumstances,” he added. Source: http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=6547 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 3 21:30:04 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 16:30:04 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Breaking news and new ground, always Message-ID: <3904.203.195.199.163.1067895004.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Newsmaker: AROON PURIE, Editor-in-Chief, India Today He is that rarity in the print media business — a promoter who edits a publication, vetting story ideas, reading page proofs and querying reporters on information. But Aroon Purie, the fifty-something editor-in-chief of India Today, is rare in more senses than one — quite some years ago, he wrote a book for children. Since then, Purie has come a long way. His media empire currently straddles the print, television, radio and book publishing businesses. His profitable (2003 net profit: Rs 25.95 crore) television company TV Today Network (which owns the Aaj Tak and Headlines Today channels) is getting ready for an IPO. The company has already filed a Draft Red Herring Prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India for an IPO — shares are to be sold through the 100 per cent book-building route. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=54&story=26348 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 4 20:28:01 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 15:28:01 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Panel Pegs Revenue Share From FM Players At 4% Message-ID: <4935.203.195.199.163.1067977681.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Revenue-sharing between private FM radio players and the government has been finalised at 4 per cent, according to sources. Although a lower revenue-sharing rate was proposed by some members of the expert committee on radio, it has been fixed at 4 per cent. Revenue-sharing will follow payment of a one-time entry fee through bidding. Besides revenue-sharing at 4 per cent, the committee is recommending foreign direct investment (FDI) on par with television news at 26 per cent. Currently, up to 20 per cent of foreign institutional investment (FII) is permitted in FM ventures. FDI is not allowed in FM radio at all. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=45396 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 4 20:25:25 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 15:25:25 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Microsoft's new OneNote helpful for Web journalists Message-ID: <4855.203.195.199.163.1067977525.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Microsoft added new software to its Office system this week. The program, OneNote, allows users to perform various note-taking methods not offered with other applications. This new software could serve online journalists well. OneNote allows agendas, notes, to-do lists and reference pictures to co-exist on the same page, unlike other programs that require separate windows for such applications. It also permits dragging pictures and text from other documents while attributing these items' original sources. OneNote's many features will prove useful for busy reporters craving organization and convenience. Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1073545,00.html From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 5 21:20:24 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 16:20:24 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Small screen, big jungle Message-ID: <3122.203.195.199.163.1068067224.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> In a year when all economic indicators show that India is resurgent, the media and entertainment sector seems content with merely riding the wave instead of creating one. Indian broadcasters (the film folk are worse) are conservative in their business approach. There is very little innovation in content and delivery. Short-term winnin-gs seem to be the goal of most players. The result is a fractured market which is also one of the fastest growing in the world but has the largest slippage of revenue from under declaration of subscri-bers or advertising piracy. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/ice/story.asp?Menu=69&story=26623 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 5 21:05:05 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 16:05:05 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: What is Bollywood? Message-ID: <2925.203.195.199.163.1068066305.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The first time Time carried Hindi cinema on its front pages, they put a picture of Parveen Babi on the cover and called her Zeenat Aman. This time they’ve put a tanned-on-the-Photoshop, Aishwarya Rai on the same page, and called her the “New Face of Film.” Not could be/should be/may be the new face of film, but ‘is’. For anyone who’s watched “new” films, leave alone Ms Rai’s (Dil Ka Rishta and Kuch Naa Kaho), it’s so flawed and rushed an observation, it doesn’t even merit a debate. Source: http://ww1.mid-day.com/columns/mayank_shekhar/2003/november/67938.htm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 5 20:52:56 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 15:52:56 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Indian News Sites Cater to Expats Message-ID: <2643.203.195.199.163.1068065576.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Indian News Sites Cater to Expats India's deep digital divide means most people are far from wired, and don't get their news online. Even those who use the Internet don't use it to get news of India -- they prefer to read papers. For now, Indian news sites are popular mostly with expats hungry for news of home. By Mark Glaser If India is a land of paradoxes, then the world of Indian online media fits in perfectly. While many Indians have a fascination with technology, they depend on newspapers for most of their news. Though Internet cafes have sprung up like chai shops on every corner, most Indians do not go online, and Indian news sites still depend on Indians abroad for a huge chunk of their readership. And while India has received a surge of high-tech jobs outsourced from the U.S. and Europe (including much of Reuters' content operations), it remains a rural country where 60 percent of the population lives on less than $1 per day. If you want to reach people online in India, you have to worry about more than just getting them computers and Internet access. The United Nations Development Programme reports that 40 percent of rural and 20 percent of urban households lack electricity in India. The Computer Industry Almanac estimates that just 16 million of the 1 billion people living in India were Internet users in December of 2002. The expatriate Indian community -- a huge source of traffic to Indian sites -- likely tops 2 million in the U.S. alone (it was 1.7 million at the 2000 census). And for those without an Internet connection, the flourishing cyber cafes in India offer plenty of access. Prem Panicker, managing editor of Indian portal Rediff.com, recounts just how quickly Indian Net cafes caught on. He told me via e-mail how he was covering elections in 1998 in small towns and cities in northern India. Each night, he struggled to find online access to file his stories, at cafes that had such horrendous connections that he ended up writing copy by hand and faxing it to Mumbai instead. "Two years later, when travelling in that same part of the world, I found a cyber cafe on every street," he said. "Connections were better, access was incredibly easier -- to the point where, for me, the progress in just two years was an eye-opener. Today, it would be difficult to find a small town or city in India where there wasn't a cyber cafe on every other street." Rediff started in 1996 as a way for Indians living abroad to follow the news from home. But by 2000, Indians started going online in larger numbers, and Rediff -- which now has 27 million registered users -- found its readership split almost 50/50 between Indians in India and Indians abroad. "This in turn meant the Web site developed a dual mentality -- we had to cater to the diaspora, and equally to the Indians back home," Panicker said. "Obviously the needs of the two segments would vary." Indians in India were going online for free e-mail and instant messaging, so Rediff provided that -- along with shopping and pre-paid long distance calling cards. The younger Net generation in India is not into hard news, according to Panicker, who says the site's most popular sections are entertainment (with an emphasis on Bollywood), cricket and then news. Rediff started hosting Weblogs for readers a year and a half ago, but struggles to get users to update blogs regularly. Obstacles to online success Along with Rediff, the feisty independent Indian site Tehelka.com rose and fell with the Internet boom. Tehelka broke two huge scandals at the turn of the millennium: one on score-fixing in cricket matches, and the other showing government defense officials took bribes from a phony arms manufacturer. The latter expose led to the resignations of the presidents of two main parties in the ruling coalition, but it also brought down Tehelka.com with a raft of government inquiries and charges. Tehelka's editor Tarun Tejpal says he is planning to resurrect the site and launch a weekly newspaper funded by readers' subscription fees. His staff has shrunk from 120 journalists down to just three, according to a recent BBC report. Tehelka's planned move to print has some precedence. Rediff bought a weekly newspaper called India Abroad, which it distributes from the U.S. But reaching a mass audience within India poses challenges beyond just distributing your news to far-flung villages in remote areas. There's also a language barrier, with 18 different official languages and many more dialects. English was brought to the subcontinent during British rule, and remains a language mainly of the middle and upper class. "Because India has so many languages, English is seen as the link language," said print and online freelance journalist Jyothi Kiran, who has taught new media at the Indian Institute for Journalism and New Media. "But only the educated class prefers the English media," he wrote via e-mail. "This is a very small percentage though, as most of India is still illiterate and even less English-educated. The circulation of regional newspapers [is] far ahead than that of the English press .... It is the regional language [press] that still drives India, whatever the elite few have to say." Subhash Rai has been working in online media in India for the past six years, and started an e-mail discussion group and Web site focused on Indian online journalism. He says that if the Indian media wants to make its mark on the online world, it needs to keep one eye focused on the basics, and the other on the changing times. "India presence online is very marginal," Rai told me via e-mail. "The quality of information is not up to the mark. We need to change that. It can essentially be done by news organizations. The challenge is to get the big names in the business to get a better understanding of why we need to be online in full force. The turf will otherwise be overun by the Murdochs of the world." The ritual of reading the news One advantage that Indian online operations have is the rabid interest Indians abroad have in following news from back home. Sevanti Ninan, who runs TheHoot.org, an Indian media watchdog, emphasized just how news-hungry Indians abroad can be. "Indians tend to be one of the more homesick expatriate communities in the U.S.," he told me via e-mail. "The Web helps specific ethnic or geographic communities abroad keep in touch with their state and city and people back home. There are sites for people in Bihar, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, etc. The fact that Google now offers search in at least five Indian languages ensures that journalists and others writing in regional languages use the Net a lot." S. Mitra Kalita, president of the South Asian Journalists Association in the U.S., wrote a book called "Suburban Sahibs" looking at families that emigrated from India to the U.S. She talked to me about the ritual of reading the news for the Net generation in India. "A lot of people turn to the Internet cafe, and log into Rediff, they'll go to their local Web site," she said. "It's part of their ritual of logging in. It's mainly among twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings. A family in my book was high-tech workers who came over [to the U.S.]. That same ritual they had in India is something they brought here. So when they log on, they go to the Times of India Web site and their regional newspaper site, and they're on all these listservs and e-mail groups." While logging on is still a relatively middle-class phenomenon, the spread of cyber cafes, an increasingly wired youth culture, and an improved Indian infrastructure -- at least in urban areas -- have the potential of delivering an audience of hundreds of millions for Indian news sites. Source: http://www.ojr.org/ojr/glaser/1067999286.php From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 6 20:45:03 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 15:45:03 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Survey: Google News vs. reporters Message-ID: <3582.203.195.199.163.1068151503.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> A recent study done by NewsKnife revealed that as an automated news service Google performed just above average. The study dubbed “Google News Watch” showed that despite being good it still does not meet the standards of news services that use human editors. Google News picked the top two stories correctly 63% of the time, versus Yahoo News and CNN.com who came in correctly 77% of the time. Google News Watch was selected by NewsKnife, who evaluates prominent American and British news sites, to see how the computer program fared against the human editors. Source: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=31&aid=53627 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 6 20:43:52 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 15:43:52 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Panel to set norms for film financing Message-ID: <3556.203.195.199.163.1068151432.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The government has constituted a high-powered committee, headed by Planning Commission Member NK Singh, to set new guidelines for regulating film financing. Financial institutions have, so far, sanctioned about Rs 526 crore to finance films. Of this, the largest contribution of Rs 100 crore has come from IDBI. As a part of its steps to promote film making in India, the government has eased procedures and relaxed regulations in connection with script clearances and visa permissions. The Indian film industry produced 1,013 films in 2001, up from 855 in 2000 — a growth of 18 per cent in volume terms. According to industry experts, the industry spent an estimated Rs 2500 crore in 2001. This represents a 16 per cent increase over the total costs over 2000. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=26747 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 6 20:41:43 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 15:41:43 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Insider expected to take reins at Star TV Message-ID: <3539.203.195.199.163.1068151303.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> James Murdoch's move to London from Asia, where he turned Star TV around from losses of almost $100m to a modest profit in just over three years, creates a vacancy in Star's Hong Kong headquarters that media sources believe will be filled from within the group. Star has only ever appointed one chief from outside - Gareth Chang, Mr Murdoch's predecessor. The pool of talent in Asia includes: Steve Askew, vice-president in charge of content; Michelle Guthrie, who is vice-president with responsibility for distribution and business development; Jamie David, who runs mainland operations; and Peter Mukerjea, who leads the company in India. India, China and Taiwan are Star's main markets and enjoy the fastest growth rates. Sales overall have doubled since 2000 to US$300m while profits are hovering around US$10m. Source: http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer? pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1066565652189 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 6 20:40:11 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 15:40:11 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Neo Wave Cinema Message-ID: <3520.203.195.199.163.1068151211.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> But is all this hype and hoopla anything more than mere popcorn? The producers say the idea is to make the launch theatrical, fun, exciting and a way to event-ise movies. On a more practical plane — if that's not a contradiction in terms for anything to do with the Matrix — the makers claim that their innovative strategy is designed to beat video pirates to the punch. If it succeeds, this marketing move could have an enormous impact on the pirate industry which has become a life-threatening disease for the trade. If Revolutions proves a hit in India, it could lead to closer Hollywood-Bollywood links not only in terms of distribution, but also as possible joint venture productions. In the course of the movie, the Oracle tells Neo, ''It ends tonight.'' But, in fact, it only just began last night. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow? msid=268834 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Fri Nov 7 19:46:33 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2003 14:46:33 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Britain, U.S. Best at Harnessing Internet for Citizens Message-ID: <2988.203.195.199.163.1068234393.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> According to a study, the United States and Britain are at the top for using the Internet to engage citizens in learning about and discussing government systems. Also, the United States and Sweden have made the greatest efforts in equipping citizens to use the Internet for such government tools. The United Nations' study, based on government Web sites and policies accessible to the public, investigated whether the Internet was being used in the most effective way to promote open government and citizens' awareness of policies. This report showed that more and more countries are using the Internet to educate the public about the workings of their governments. Easy access to governmental information online may have wide-ranging effects on how journalists obtain resources for news reporting and how transparently they may show readers the data and documents used. Source: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=3753325 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Fri Nov 7 19:42:03 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2003 14:42:03 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Prasar Bharti to take private channels to court Message-ID: <2844.203.195.199.163.1068234123.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Prasar Bharti plans to take legal action against private news and sports channels that are illegally airing Doordarshan's cricket footage of the on- going TVS Cup Tri-series, through various sponsored programmes. As per industry practice, channels are allowed to air up to 30 seconds of footage after giving due acknowledgement. But any coverage more than 30 seconds without permission leads to copyright infringement. Sarma contented that many private channels were using as much as 40 minutes of cricket coverage with some of them being sponsored programmes. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow? msid=270364 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Fri Nov 7 19:39:35 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2003 14:39:35 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Media partnerships expand coverage Message-ID: <2776.203.195.199.163.1068233975.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> In an ongoing effort to expand their global reach and broaden coverage, newspapers, magazines, television networks and Web sites have been forming partnerships to share news. Journalists are concerned that this will limit original reporting because media outlets will rely on each other's stories. Labor unions also worry this snyergy could cost journalists work as publications combine resources. Those who support this movement insist that readers can now conveniently access a wider array of stories and different viewpoints from fewer sources. Critics of the trend fear that news outlets will start duplicating each other. "If you have these big media owners consolidating even more by combining with other big owners, it really creates bland, one-size-fits-all news," said Linda Foley, President of the Newspaper Guild. "It's not a good trend." Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6100-2003Nov5.html From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 11 00:05:57 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 19:05:57 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Attack on the press Message-ID: <56614.203.195.215.1.1068509157.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> What happened? -------------- No bid to muzzle Press, says Kalimuthu http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/05/02/stories/2003050204880400.htm Now, for an editorial http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/05/01/stories/2003050105490100.htm The Hindu reports for privileges panel http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/24/stories/2003042407520100.htm Why? ---- Rising intolerance http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/25/stories/2003042500281000.htm CM taunts Marxists again http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/23/stories/2003042305540400.htm People's court only way out for Opposition http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/13/stories/2003041303010400.htm Walkout to protest CM offensive http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/12/stories/2003041204770100.htm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 10 23:59:08 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 18:59:08 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Strangulating effect of TV piracy Message-ID: <57463.203.195.215.1.1068508748.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Indian cable and satellite broadcasters have been crying hoarse about piracy for quite sometime. Quite an old story actually. But the figure quoted by an independent study last week on the revenue lost on account of pay TV piracy in the Asia Pacific region has left many a mouth gaping. The study put the aggregated losses across all sectors of the Asia Pacific pay- TV industry, from platform operators to independent programming suppliers, at a staggering $1.29 billion for 2003. It further said that net revenue loss because of piracy in 2003 would be $874 million. The most striking observation of the study, however, was that Indian market contributed to 72 per cent of the total revenue leakage. The finding definitely can’t be ignored. Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow? msid=273859 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 10 23:57:50 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 18:57:50 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: South Asian ministers discuss knocking down barriers for media Message-ID: <52014.203.195.215.1.1068508670.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> South Asian ministers gathered in the Indian capital Monday ahead of a regional conference aimed at lowering obstacles for media, performers and others in the entertainment industry in a region where politics often comes in the way of art. The issues likely to be discussed include the free movement of media personnel, a SAARC media fund and film festival, and transnational satellite broadcasting guidelines. Journalists from India and Pakistan are frequently denied visas to each other's countries. Permission is erratic for singers, dancers and other performers. One contentious issue is Pakistan's ban of Indian movies. Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp? file=/2003/11/10/latest/14870SouthAsia&sec=latest From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 11 20:13:54 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 15:13:54 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Sex on TV: Where do we stop? Message-ID: <2024.203.195.199.163.1068581634.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> More sex, please! That’s exactly what the Bengali television channels seem to be asking for — in their programming at least. With two shows that claim to address sex related problems (read discusses sex gossip), and a more recent addition making an effort to actually educate the people about ways to healthy sex, it’s loads of sleaze talk on the Bangla telly. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow? artid=276804 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 11 20:12:18 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 15:12:18 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: TV News Channels Heading For Shakeout Message-ID: <2012.203.195.199.163.1068581538.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Although there are no clear answers as to who will survive and who won’t in the news market, experts indicate that there’s room for a maximum of four Hindi news channels. This means that a shakeout is imminent. As for English news channels, only two are expected to survive, and a business channel perhaps. Even as three to four news channels are a norm internationally, India is a unique and more fragmented market, where regional news channels also compete for space, says the marketing head of a private broadcasting company. Currently, we have six national Hindi news channels, including DD News which is predominantly a Hindi channel. Another Hindi news channel is likely to be launched soon. Plus, we have three Indian English news channels (including a business channel), along with which we have BBC and CNN. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=45826 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 11 20:06:38 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 15:06:38 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Indian NGOs urge govt to bridge digital divide Message-ID: <1989.203.195.199.163.1068581198.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Communities should be allowed to communicate and share information in their own way and in their own public space to allow equitable and sustainable development, three leading non-governmental organisations said. Participating in an interactive public debate on, "Can ICTs alleviate poverty in India?" these NGOs pointed out that despite increasing investments in IT infrastructure and growing availability of digital technologies, the digital and knowledge divides are widening. Source: http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/72289/1/ From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 12 19:05:37 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 14:05:37 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: MEDIA MANTRA 2003 Message-ID: <2062.203.195.199.163.1068663937.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Postgraduate Department of Extension Education, SNDT Women’s Univeristy, Juhu campus presents MEDIA MANTRA 2003, three-days event by students of postgraduate diploma in communication and media. This three full days event scheduled between 20-22 November, 2003 plans to bring together television, film, journalism and advertising professionals and students in an interactive academic forum. It is organized at the J.H> Mini Auditorium, SNDT Juhu campus. The three days registration is only Rs. 300 for students and Rs. 400 for others. One-day registration is also available depending upon the interest of the participants. Only 100 registrations on first come first serve basis. Registration is available at the venue from 17th to 19th November between 12 to 3 p.m. Contact: 26608462/93 Ext. 286 or mail mediamantra2003@yahoo.co.in Post Graduate Department of Extension Education S.N.D.T. Women’s University Presents Media Mantra 2003 A three-day event by Students of Post Graduate Diploma in Communication & Media Ù Days: 20 to 22 November 2003 (Thursday to Saturday) Ù Venue: J.H. Mini Auditorium, SNDT Women’s University, Juhu, Santacruz (West), Mumbai Programme Schedule Ù Day 1: 20th Nov. 2003 JOURNALISM & PHOTOGRAPHY 9.00 to 10.00 a.m. Registration 9.30 to 10.30 a.m. Inauguration and Opening Address 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Challenge of running a 24-hour NEWS slot 12.30 to 1.00 p.m. Lunch 1.00 to 3.00 p.m. Workshop on News presentation 3.15 to 5.00 p.m. Careers in Photography Ù Day 2: 21st Nov. 2003 TELEVISION & FILMS 9.30 to 10.00 A.M. Registration for the Day 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Present scenario of music channels 12.30 to 1.00 p.m. Lunch 1.00 to 3.00 p.m. Entry of film stars on small screen 3.15 to 7.00 p.m. Film Screening and discussion in collaboration with Insaaniyat Film Club Ù Day 3: 22nd Nov. 2003 ADVERTISING 9.30 to 10.00 a.m. Registration for the Day 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. In-film Advertising: new way of selling 12.30 to 1.00 p.m. Lunch 1.00 to 3.00 p.m. Indian advertising in global market 3.15 to 4.45 p.m. Relevance of M- schools Ù Registration#: Category One Day All 3 Days Students* Rs. 125/- Rs. 300/- Others Rs. 150/- Rs. 400/- # It includes lunch, one tea and seminar kit. * For student registration please show College/Institute identity card. Only 100 Registrations are available…………on first come first serve basis. Contact: Dolly 9821222335 OR Deepa 9820743981 or email: mediamantra2003@yahoo.co.in Registrations available at the venue from 17th to 19th November between 12 to 3 p.m. From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 18 21:05:52 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 16:05:52 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: ONA Superpanel discusses future of online news Message-ID: <2549.203.195.199.163.1069189552.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Senior editors, writers and news executives formed a "super panel" at the Online News Association's fourth annual conference to predict the future of online news. The biggest news is bigger bandwidths. Bigger bandwidths pumping information into homes will mean bigger play for video. High-speed Internet connections, once mostly utilized by businesses, is turning the Internet prime-time from 9 to 5 -- when surfers could ride their company's massive Internet connection -- to 9 to 9. Panelist Richard Deverell, Head of News Interactive at BBC News, said every story should be broken down into short, independent, interlocked units -- sound, video, image, text -- that can provide content for a variety of devices, from cell phones and PDAs to those yet to come. People may spend 15 minutes at a news site, but they'll spend it in 5-minute chunks. Such a move is probably goodbye to linear storytelling, said Leonard Apcar, editor-in-chief of The New York Times on the Web. With video's influence, he said, watch coverage of the 2004 presidential campaign to play out like coverage of the war in Iraq. Blogs will be there too with candidates and voters using the Internet to proselytize and analyze, political campaigns will change drastically at the grassroots level. Audiences will want more and more interactivity -- not only through their computers, but through their TVs as well. Give them the news they want, when they want it, or watch their wanting wane, panelists said. But all this choice is necessarily good, said Ruth Gersh, editorial director of AP Digital. By self selecting its news, the audience can isolate itself into a tight circle of its own limited interests -- and the threat of "losing the shared news experience" approaches, bringing change Gersh didn't try to estimate. Most panelists agreed though that the presentation of news will change drastically in the future, but the skills of a journalist -- primarily the ability to quickly find what is newsworthy in a stream of information -- will always be needed. Source: http://www.journalists.org/2003conference/ From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 18 20:57:27 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 15:57:27 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Expert online journalists create micro-pubs Message-ID: <2401.203.195.199.163.1069189047.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> New breeds of online publications are emerging, coined by Web journalist and blogger Om Malik, as “micro-pubs.” According to Malik, a micro-pub is a “combination of old fashion newsletter, blog and a directory service, managed by one to 10 people.” A micro-pub’s staff consists of independent, expert online journalists who specialize in particular sites such as the micro-pub tech Web site known as PaidContent. Another example of a micro- pub that is also a tech Web site is JIWire. Micropublishers get publicity mostly by word of mouth. The journalists or editors remain in constant contact with the specific target audience they are writing for. In Malik’s opinion, micro-pubs are a phenomenon that will not disappear. He thinks this new form of online publishing will become quite lucrative. “The specialist content is the reason the rest of the media world should gravitate to these publications,” he said. Source: http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story761.html From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 18 20:55:11 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 15:55:11 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Computer viruses are twenty years old Message-ID: <2392.203.195.199.163.1069188911.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Computer viruses celebrated their 20th birthday, reports the BBC. On Nov. 10, 1983, a graduate student at the University of Southern California says he developed the first computer virus. Fred Cohen, who was studying for his Ph.D., created the virus as an experiment in computer security. Cohen acknowledged the damage a computer virus could cause and speculated that "viruses can spread through computer networks in the same way as they spread through computers, and thus present a widespread and fairly immediate threat to many current systems." Today, virus writers use the Internet to spread their creations through multiple computer networks, some causing chaos and mayhem, others simply wishing you a Happy Towel Day or advertising a favorite Web site. Currently, there are more than 60,000 viruses in existence that affect computer users and media Web sites around the world. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3257165.stm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 19 19:02:34 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 14:02:34 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: 'TV Series Save Lives in Third World' Message-ID: <1457.61.11.88.12.1069268554.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> In parts of the Third World, television soap operas are saving lives, promoting social change and leading the fight against AIDS -- and mostly without even peeping into the bedroom. In India, "Detective Vijay" tackles issues ranging from wife-beating, the education of girls, female empowerment and HIV/AIDS in a soap opera aimed at rural males that has became one of the country's top 10 programs. In South Africa, the seven- year old soap "Soul City" is watched by two-thirds of the population and has ventured into everything from AIDS and alcoholism to diarrhea and depression. In China, the daily drama "Ordinary People" has raised issues such as the traditional Chinese preference for sons, the mistreatment of women and the ostracizing of those with HIV/AIDS. U.S. soaps have incorporated social issues into popular entertainment for years, often exporting their series around the world. Source: http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml? type=healthNews&storyID=3846884§ion=news From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 19 18:56:41 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 13:56:41 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Hollywood Movies Make Way into India's Cinemas Message-ID: <1453.61.11.88.12.1069268201.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Hollywood movies are beginning to grab a bigger chunk of India's huge movie market, traditionally dominated by its own film industry, which is known as Bollywood. There's good news for Hollywood films in India: a larger Indian audience than ever before is viewing them. The Matrix Revolutions opened in India and 60 other countries earlier this month, and theater owners say it ran to packed audiences for several days. It is the latest Hollywood movie to have fared well in India. Last year, Spiderman grossed more than $6.5 million, which is more than many hits from India's own film industry, called Bollywood. Bollywood produces nearly 1,000 films a year, and while it retains its sway over India's billion-plus population, theater owners say Hollywood films are getting more popular. Film distributors say films with action, suspense and special effects fare best because Indian films often lack these. According to industry estimates, Hollywood films now gross about 8-10 percent of the Indian film market, which is worth approximately $120 million. The explosive growth of multi-screen theaters is also helping Hollywood movies do well. In the past year, India's entertainment industry has built more multiplexes to cater to middle and upper class cinema-goers in New Delhi and Bombay. More are opening in smaller towns. However, Bollywood watchers say the popularity of Hollywood films represents no threat to the Indian industry, and insist the Indian market is big enough to allow both to co-exist. Source: http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=121DE9F6-68E6-426A- A923B60C2DCCE27B From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 19 19:14:23 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 14:14:23 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Hollywood's hitting back Message-ID: <1511.61.11.88.12.1069269263.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> New computer technology that allows pirated movies to be quickly compressed and transmitted is at the centre of a war that’s pitting Hollywood against the digital thieves. Using the technology, internet hackers offer access to content – without ever paying for it. The movies available on the net have poor visual quality but excellent audio quality. Typically a projectionist copies the movie from an unused booth window with the latest digital video or DVD camera and gets the sound from a direct jack into the cinema’s sound system. With the advent of movies on the internet, Hollywood is arriving at newer strategies to take on the challenge from techno wiz kids all over the world. Between January 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003, 312 Hollywood movies figured in Variety’s top 50 charts. Of these, 183 movies were illegally traded online. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/ice/story.asp?Menu=8&story=27760 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 20 08:59:24 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 02:59:24 -0600 (CST) Subject: Indian cinema archive on a website now Message-ID: <2132.203.195.199.163.1069318764.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> The National Film Archive of India has finally gathered its huge collection of films and archival material in a nutshell through their newly-launched website - nfaipune.nic.in. The website has an array of easy-to-access features like visual pop-ups of information on special film screenings, film circle activities, forthcoming film festivals, film appreciation course, NFAI library, auditorium facilities and expert opinions among others. However, the most important feature is the search engine, which can help get detailed information of any film, including details of the director, cast, crew and the number of awards won by it all over the world by just entering either the film title, year, language or film director's name. And the censor records dating back to the 1920s. Source: TOI, 17 Nov 2003 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 20 08:56:48 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 02:56:48 -0600 (CST) Subject: Telecom model mooted for FM radio Message-ID: <2116.203.195.199.163.1069318608.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> The Expert Committee on FM radio is set to recommend the telecom model for companies migrating from the existing licence-fee regime to a revenue- sharing arrangement with the Government. Among the other recommendations, the committee, which is slated to submit its report on Monday, is likely to suggest 26 per cent foreign direct investment into the radio business. Currently, foreign institutional investors can hold up to 20 per cent in private FM radio companies. Also, the committee is likely to suggest allowing news in private FM radio channels. So far, only All India Radio could broadcast news and current affairs shows. The Government had set up a 10-member task force headed by Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, to suggest changes to the existing FM radio norms. Some of the major players which have commenced operations are Living Media's Red FM, Times Group's Radio Mirchi, Ispat Group's Radio City and Sun Group's Suryan. Source: http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13309495 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 20 08:54:36 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 02:54:36 -0600 (CST) Subject: Net penetration curbed by costs Message-ID: <2100.203.195.199.163.1069318476.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> Internet penetration in India has been restricted due to the high linkage costs and low data transfer rates. Speaking at the Telecomm India 2003 seminar, Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwala, professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai said, “Internet based education and internet based entertainment has not made any significant impact in India.” With approximately 45 million people using the internet through the dial-up or fixed lines across the country, the average speed for a user is around 10 kbps on 33.6 kbps modem at a cost of Rs 35 per hour, while through a dedicated always on connection, a user can have an access speed up to 100 kbps at Rs 500 per month. Most of the internet connections in India were through dial up networking, said Jhunjhunwala. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=27425 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 24 11:20:41 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 05:20:41 -0600 (CST) Subject: Digital media the future Message-ID: <2054.203.195.199.163.1069672841.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> Broadcasters and media owners are losing control of their audiences and risk failure if they don't adjust to the changing landscape, warned an industry expert this week. Speaking at the Measuring Media in the Future conference Professor John Naughton said: "We're moving from an economic system dominated by push media and moving to a completely different world which is a pull world - where consumers are empowered by digital technology and only get what they want." Mr Naughton was referring to the growing popularity of Personal Video. "This is a pull world, and if we want to thrive in it then we have to find a way of recognising that fundamental shift," he said. He focused particularly on broadcasters and their reticence in adopting to the changing landscape. Source: http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/ThisWeek.News.View.aspx?ContentID=10913 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 24 11:23:05 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 05:23:05 -0600 (CST) Subject: "Moving Online Into the Newsroom" Message-ID: <2076.203.195.199.163.1069672985.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> Newspapers traditionally have not made room for online staff in their newsrooms, but that tradition is changing: Many papers recently have decided it makes sense to have online and print staff working elbow to elbow -- and are moving Web editors and producers into the main newsroom. Source: http://www.ojr.org/ojr/workplace/1069284495.php From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 01:18:28 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 20:18:28 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Questions swirl around India's digital-TV road map Message-ID: <57382.202.62.95.35.1069809508.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Indian government's decision two years ago to allow the uplink of satellite television broadcasts from within the country is one of many factors driving India toward greater use of digital TV, but opposing factors standing in the way are equally strong and numerous. That's put a good deal of uncertainty, and guesswork, into this country's conversion to DTV broadcasts. As in China and the United States, analog and digital TV transmissions coexist in India, though most transmitters and almost all televisions in use here are analog. How soon the changeover to digital transmission occurs will depend largely on Prasar Bharati, the statutory body that operates India's radio and television channels. Doordarshan, the board's television arm, was India's only broadcaster for years; with 1,421 transmitters and 23 channels that collectively reach nearly 90 percent of the country's population, it still leaves private broadcasters in the dust. Most of the transmitters used to reach Doordarshan's 360 million subscribers are analog, though the operator is upgrading its systems for digital transmission and simulcast mode. While broadcasting technology has only started to go digital in the last two years or so, content production is moving to the digital format, with only a few channels still sticking to analog. Most of the bigger private broadcasters, including the Rupert Murdoch-owned Star Television and regional language channels, have adopted the digital format for both transmissions and content. Equipment that supports digital transmissions is not made in India, which is struggling to establish an electronics-manufacturing base, and therefore must be imported. Currently, import duties for much digital transmission equipment are 51 percent, an amount that seems tolerable only when compared with the 80 percent charges of three years ago. Source: http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20031124S0077 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 01:16:06 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 20:16:06 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: Entertainment sector seen at $350bn in 10 yrs Message-ID: <56770.202.62.95.35.1069809366.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Indian entertainment sector could generate business worth $350 billion in the next ten years and develop into a backoffice for the global entertainment industry, experts opined at the India Economy Summit here today. Speaking at the session on entertainment at the India Economic Summit organised by the World Economic Forum and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), noted film director, Shekhar Kapoor said, “The global entertainment industry will be of the size of about $3 trillion in the next 10 years and about 70 per cent of this revenue will come from Asia. Even if we manage to corner 50 per cent of it, we can have an entertainment industry of $350 billion.” “India’s opportunity is not just in the film sector. It can also become the back office of global entertainment sector,” said Star India chief executive Peter Mukherjea. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=28265 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 01:20:54 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 20:20:54 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: 'Independent media prerequisite for law and order' Message-ID: <57992.202.62.95.35.1069809654.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Of course the media need to be free from political, commercial and other pressures to carry out their responsibilities without fear or favour. Freedom of information and freedom of speech are the guarantors of good governance. There is vast body of evidence and analysis - with examples drawn from across the political spectrum- to show that the suppression or denial of these two basic freedoms can reverse gains made in social, economic or cultural terms, Sir Clarke said. The 1959-61 Great Famine of China is one extreme example. It killed upto 40 million people. yet, while starvation and death stalked the land, information about it was completely suppressed. Instead, manipulated harvest figures were given out to mislead the Chinese people and the rest of the world. The true extent of that horror only emerged in dribs and drabs decades later, he said. In his lengthy evidence Sir Clarke said that Indian economist Amartya Sen, winner of the 1998 Noble Prize for economics, was the first to argue in the early 1980s that the tragedy was exacerbated by the suppression of information. Censorship contributes to famine, he wrote, concluding that it is much more difficult for famines to occur in countries with a free press. The creation of Good Society requires not only media freedom but also media responsibility. Many years ago, a British Prime Minister accused newspaper magnates of enjoying the privilege of the harlot throughout the ages - power without responsibility. Today the TV screen is more powerful than newsprint and whatever the bean- counters might say, responsibility should always be the bottomline, he added. Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/11/25/new25.html From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 15:18:57 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 09:18:57 -0600 (CST) Subject: Building a multi-media empire Message-ID: <1444.202.62.95.35.1069859937.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> "It was a big moment for publishing giant Aroon Purie. Back in 1998 Purie's Living Media teamed up with Doordarshan to produce a marathon three-day election programme that analysed poll results as they came in from around the country. The 100-strong team worked frantically to stay on air round the clock and Purie was jubilant at the end of it. 'We have marked our entry in the television broadcasting industry. We have shown that even we can do live 24-hour broadcasting,' he said triumphantly. Cut to 2003: Purie's broadcasting business has come an awfully long way since then. His Hindi news channel Aaj Tak has emerged as the high-profile market leader in its segment. For the week ending September 27 it had around a 41 per cent share of the viewership for Hindi news. Off screen, TV Today, the company that runs Aaj Tak, is putting all the figures together as it readies for an initial public offer (IPO). " Source: http://www.business-standard.com/weekend/story.asp?Menu=15&story=28051 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 15:19:51 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 09:19:51 -0600 (CST) Subject: Adoor calls for making film study compulsory Message-ID: <1447.202.62.95.35.1069859991.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> "FILMMAKER Adoor Gopalkrishnan today called for making study of classics compulsory during graduation so that people developed an understanding of cinema. A course where students see and study at least 10 classics is the need of the hour, said Gopalkrishnan who was in the city for the convocation ceremony of International School of Business and Media (ISBM). The Malayalam director who has a number of masterpieces like Swayamvaram, Kodiyettam, Mukha Mukhamto his credit says, Every film I make is for the masses. But it's like a book where appreciation of the art differs from person to person. Gopalkrishnan, who feels it's time for language films to come to the fore, has made his latest film Nizhalkuttu (Shadow Kill) with French collaboration. International co-productions is a new trend. Here, they are commercially released abroad. These methods can help offbeat cinema survive. You get a larger audience and can also recover finances if you haven't already in the country. However, he is one director who takes long gaps between films. I need time to wean away from its influence and detach myself. Once I complete a movie, I feel very empty. I attend film festivals or I'm fielding questions from people about my film, he smiles, adding, Ideas keep coming but my rate of rejection is very high and I'm particular that I don't repeat myself. " Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=68859 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 15:21:09 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 09:21:09 -0600 (CST) Subject: Two new TV channels on the anvil Message-ID: <1449.202.62.95.35.1069860069.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> "Indian television viewers will see the launch of two new channels. National Geographic Channel Network (India) announced the launch of `The History Channel in India to be broadcast from November 30. Turner International also announced the launch of its first kids channel POGO, which goes beyond animation and cartoon programmes. While the History channel will be a part of the Star bouquet, POGO will be part of the Zee bouquet. National Geographic has also decided to defocus from its AdventureOne channel, which is now reduced to just a couple of hours of programming per day. " Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=28335 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 15:22:30 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 09:22:30 -0600 (CST) Subject: BROADCASTING NEEDS REGULATOR: PRASAD Message-ID: <1452.202.62.95.35.1069860150.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> The Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that there is a definite need for a separate regulatory body for electronic media. Speaking on the occasion of the National Press Day celebrations, the Minister indicated that the Press Council of India???commendations on the need to have a mechanism aimed at regulating the fast growing television network, was under active consideration. He said the content and advertisement on televisions need to be codified and he proposes to put the issue on national debate before arriving at an applicable conclusion. Prasad said empowerment of Press Council was desirable but not at the cost of impinging on the freedom of press." The Minister said media has a vital role to play in strengthening the democracy and thus acquires natural right to inform without fear. A free press can exist in a vibrant democracy therefore it is imperative on the part of press to strengthen democracy. It needs to keep in mind the grass-root realities and report without any biases. The right to inform has to be the integral role of media it should also shun pessimism and notice positive developments of the society, he added. Prasad said that the media in India is undergoing a total metamorphosis and its institutional role was being threatened by corporate commerce. The traditional role of media has come under question because of immense competition and cross-media ownership. He said the institutional role of media needs prominence and the Government on its part has no intention to intervene. He said that the same time media also needs to be careful and a responsible pillar of the society. Source: http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/rnov2003/16112003/r161120033.html From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 27 16:37:46 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 10:37:46 -0600 (CST) Subject: Speeding news past the paper Message-ID: <1063.202.62.95.35.1069951066.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> Timeliness marks the sharpest contrast between writing for print and online. This is according to Laurie Busby, a print editor at the Orange County Register's Web site, who has written for both mediums. “Sometimes it’s very hard for reporters to get the story and the photos in on time, especially if they are working on three stories in one day,” Busby said. “If something happened at 7:00 a.m. it may not get printed until 5:00 p.m.” She said when a reporter writes online; he or she can get the story to the reader much faster.The story can also be updated throughout the day, which does not happen in print. Busby said that most of ocRegister.com readers are “work users,” in that they read the news online while at work and usually possess a shorter tension span than those who read the paper. In Busby's opinion, online readerstend to make the assumption that what they read online is a condensed version of what is in the paper, regardless of whether this is the case or not. “When writing online you need to appeal to a niche,” she said. Online readers have come to expect continuous daily updates of a story and they want the ability to link to additional sources. Source: http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/homepage.do From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 27 17:00:14 2003 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 11:00:14 -0600 (CST) Subject: How can you sell your film abroad Message-ID: <1178.202.62.95.35.1069952414.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> At the recent Cinemint conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), which looked to explore marketing Indian films globally, Kapur said, "The entry of corporates in the industry is the best thing to happen. Finance has always been the biggest problem in our film industry. Producers shoot films only after raising money. So corporates will help the industry grow. We will benefit if more organised people enter Bollywood. "Small budget films are good for the Indian film industry. New directors are now getting the opportunity to make it big. You never know, we may see some genius." Recalling his own experience when he shot his debut film, Masoom (Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah) in 1983, Kapur said, "When I made the film, people wondered how I could make a film within Rs 17 lakh. But I did. And Masoom was appreciated." He was critical of filmmakers who concentrate on urban multiplex audiences and forget the rural audiences: "We must realise the urban audience is not loyal to the film industry. The core audience of Bollywood is not from the main centres. Besides making films for multiplex audiences who pay Rs 100 per ticket, we should also think about Bollywood's core audience. If we forget them, our foundation will be shaken." Shekhar KapurKapur also said, "We are very good at marketing films. But we need to come together and take the industry ahead, like the IT businesses has done. They started small. Now, they are global giants. We too have to find a common purpose to grow large." About Western producers and artistes, Kapur said, "Western audiences are thrilled to have songs and dance in our films. They like the drama we present in our films. We tried to replicate that culture in our stage drama, Bombay Dreams [Kapur co-produced it with Andrew Llyod Webber], and it worked well. Today, it is one of the biggest hits on [London's] West End." Source: http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/27kapur.htm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 3 16:32:32 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: India Today wants FDI in news to be 49 pc Message-ID: <4053.203.195.199.163.1067895152.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Questioning the media houses which oppose foreign direct investment (FDI), Aroon Purie, chief of Living Media, the group which publishes India Today, asked the government to raise the FDI limit in news and current affairs to 49 per cent from the present 26 per cent. He also suggested that the government allow foreign-owned news channels to uplink from India as per existing norms since they were anyway free to downlink their content here. Source: http://web.mid-day.com/news/nation/2003/october/67647.htm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 3 16:33:20 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Indian bags global award for journalism Message-ID: <4093.203.195.199.163.1067895200.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the world?s apex body overseeing global research in agriculture, has awarded its Outstanding Journalism Category Award 2003 to Indian photojournalist, Pallava Bagla. He has been selected for the honour for his article ??Drought Exposes Cracks in India?s Monsoon Model?? published in 2002 in the prestigious journal Science and for his articles published in media and journals. The award which carries a cash prize of US$ 5000 was presented to Bagla on Wednesday at the annual general body meeting of the CGIAR at the UN office in Nairobi. This award is the highest honour for agriculture journalism. It is for the first time that an Indian has been selected for this. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=34586 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 3 16:31:15 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: 'Heavy licence fee takes its toll on Pvt FM players' Message-ID: <3983.203.195.199.163.1067895075.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> A heavy licence fee structure has inhibited the launch of niche commercial radio stations in India, said Steve England, who runs a UK-based company - S2Blue - that produces radio commercials, radio and TV jingles, custom music production and soundtracks for TV commercials. Diverse programme formats have also not emerged because of a regulated environment and a huge payout to the government. ?All private FM radio stations are almost having the same content format. They are desperate to have the largest part of the market because of the drain on their resources due to a high licence fee,? said England. Urging the government to allow news on private radio stations, England said that this is ?an unhealthy trend? and is ?only helping All India Radio.? News is an important content element. ?Brief news bulletins of 2-3 minutes actually help music stations draw in listeners,? he said. Private FM radio stations are only working out mass appeal formats. A sensible licence fee and deregulation will help change that and expand the sector, he opined. Drawing a contrast between radio today and the way the Indian television industry grew, England said private radio stations should enjoy similar freedom. ?The satellite TV channels grew under an unregulated environment. Private radio stations should be allowed to flower under similar circumstances,? he added. Source: http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=6547 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 3 16:30:04 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Breaking news and new ground, always Message-ID: <3904.203.195.199.163.1067895004.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Newsmaker: AROON PURIE, Editor-in-Chief, India Today He is that rarity in the print media business ? a promoter who edits a publication, vetting story ideas, reading page proofs and querying reporters on information. But Aroon Purie, the fifty-something editor-in-chief of India Today, is rare in more senses than one ? quite some years ago, he wrote a book for children. Since then, Purie has come a long way. His media empire currently straddles the print, television, radio and book publishing businesses. His profitable (2003 net profit: Rs 25.95 crore) television company TV Today Network (which owns the Aaj Tak and Headlines Today channels) is getting ready for an IPO. The company has already filed a Draft Red Herring Prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India for an IPO ? shares are to be sold through the 100 per cent book-building route. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=54&story=26348 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 4 15:28:01 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Panel Pegs Revenue Share From FM Players At 4% Message-ID: <4935.203.195.199.163.1067977681.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Revenue-sharing between private FM radio players and the government has been finalised at 4 per cent, according to sources. Although a lower revenue-sharing rate was proposed by some members of the expert committee on radio, it has been fixed at 4 per cent. Revenue-sharing will follow payment of a one-time entry fee through bidding. Besides revenue-sharing at 4 per cent, the committee is recommending foreign direct investment (FDI) on par with television news at 26 per cent. Currently, up to 20 per cent of foreign institutional investment (FII) is permitted in FM ventures. FDI is not allowed in FM radio at all. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=45396 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 4 15:25:25 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Microsoft's new OneNote helpful for Web journalists Message-ID: <4855.203.195.199.163.1067977525.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Microsoft added new software to its Office system this week. The program, OneNote, allows users to perform various note-taking methods not offered with other applications. This new software could serve online journalists well. OneNote allows agendas, notes, to-do lists and reference pictures to co-exist on the same page, unlike other programs that require separate windows for such applications. It also permits dragging pictures and text from other documents while attributing these items' original sources. OneNote's many features will prove useful for busy reporters craving organization and convenience. Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1073545,00.html From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 5 16:20:24 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Small screen, big jungle Message-ID: <3122.203.195.199.163.1068067224.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> In a year when all economic indicators show that India is resurgent, the media and entertainment sector seems content with merely riding the wave instead of creating one. Indian broadcasters (the film folk are worse) are conservative in their business approach. There is very little innovation in content and delivery. Short-term winnin-gs seem to be the goal of most players. The result is a fractured market which is also one of the fastest growing in the world but has the largest slippage of revenue from under declaration of subscri-bers or advertising piracy. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/ice/story.asp?Menu=69&story=26623 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 5 16:05:05 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: What is Bollywood? Message-ID: <2925.203.195.199.163.1068066305.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The first time Time carried Hindi cinema on its front pages, they put a picture of Parveen Babi on the cover and called her Zeenat Aman. This time they?ve put a tanned-on-the-Photoshop, Aishwarya Rai on the same page, and called her the ?New Face of Film.? Not could be/should be/may be the new face of film, but ?is?. For anyone who?s watched ?new? films, leave alone Ms Rai?s (Dil Ka Rishta and Kuch Naa Kaho), it?s so flawed and rushed an observation, it doesn?t even merit a debate. Source: http://ww1.mid-day.com/columns/mayank_shekhar/2003/november/67938.htm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 5 15:52:56 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Indian News Sites Cater to Expats Message-ID: <2643.203.195.199.163.1068065576.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Indian News Sites Cater to Expats India's deep digital divide means most people are far from wired, and don't get their news online. Even those who use the Internet don't use it to get news of India -- they prefer to read papers. For now, Indian news sites are popular mostly with expats hungry for news of home. By Mark Glaser If India is a land of paradoxes, then the world of Indian online media fits in perfectly. While many Indians have a fascination with technology, they depend on newspapers for most of their news. Though Internet cafes have sprung up like chai shops on every corner, most Indians do not go online, and Indian news sites still depend on Indians abroad for a huge chunk of their readership. And while India has received a surge of high-tech jobs outsourced from the U.S. and Europe (including much of Reuters' content operations), it remains a rural country where 60 percent of the population lives on less than $1 per day. If you want to reach people online in India, you have to worry about more than just getting them computers and Internet access. The United Nations Development Programme reports that 40 percent of rural and 20 percent of urban households lack electricity in India. The Computer Industry Almanac estimates that just 16 million of the 1 billion people living in India were Internet users in December of 2002. The expatriate Indian community -- a huge source of traffic to Indian sites -- likely tops 2 million in the U.S. alone (it was 1.7 million at the 2000 census). And for those without an Internet connection, the flourishing cyber cafes in India offer plenty of access. Prem Panicker, managing editor of Indian portal Rediff.com, recounts just how quickly Indian Net cafes caught on. He told me via e-mail how he was covering elections in 1998 in small towns and cities in northern India. Each night, he struggled to find online access to file his stories, at cafes that had such horrendous connections that he ended up writing copy by hand and faxing it to Mumbai instead. "Two years later, when travelling in that same part of the world, I found a cyber cafe on every street," he said. "Connections were better, access was incredibly easier -- to the point where, for me, the progress in just two years was an eye-opener. Today, it would be difficult to find a small town or city in India where there wasn't a cyber cafe on every other street." Rediff started in 1996 as a way for Indians living abroad to follow the news from home. But by 2000, Indians started going online in larger numbers, and Rediff -- which now has 27 million registered users -- found its readership split almost 50/50 between Indians in India and Indians abroad. "This in turn meant the Web site developed a dual mentality -- we had to cater to the diaspora, and equally to the Indians back home," Panicker said. "Obviously the needs of the two segments would vary." Indians in India were going online for free e-mail and instant messaging, so Rediff provided that -- along with shopping and pre-paid long distance calling cards. The younger Net generation in India is not into hard news, according to Panicker, who says the site's most popular sections are entertainment (with an emphasis on Bollywood), cricket and then news. Rediff started hosting Weblogs for readers a year and a half ago, but struggles to get users to update blogs regularly. Obstacles to online success Along with Rediff, the feisty independent Indian site Tehelka.com rose and fell with the Internet boom. Tehelka broke two huge scandals at the turn of the millennium: one on score-fixing in cricket matches, and the other showing government defense officials took bribes from a phony arms manufacturer. The latter expose led to the resignations of the presidents of two main parties in the ruling coalition, but it also brought down Tehelka.com with a raft of government inquiries and charges. Tehelka's editor Tarun Tejpal says he is planning to resurrect the site and launch a weekly newspaper funded by readers' subscription fees. His staff has shrunk from 120 journalists down to just three, according to a recent BBC report. Tehelka's planned move to print has some precedence. Rediff bought a weekly newspaper called India Abroad, which it distributes from the U.S. But reaching a mass audience within India poses challenges beyond just distributing your news to far-flung villages in remote areas. There's also a language barrier, with 18 different official languages and many more dialects. English was brought to the subcontinent during British rule, and remains a language mainly of the middle and upper class. "Because India has so many languages, English is seen as the link language," said print and online freelance journalist Jyothi Kiran, who has taught new media at the Indian Institute for Journalism and New Media. "But only the educated class prefers the English media," he wrote via e-mail. "This is a very small percentage though, as most of India is still illiterate and even less English-educated. The circulation of regional newspapers [is] far ahead than that of the English press .... It is the regional language [press] that still drives India, whatever the elite few have to say." Subhash Rai has been working in online media in India for the past six years, and started an e-mail discussion group and Web site focused on Indian online journalism. He says that if the Indian media wants to make its mark on the online world, it needs to keep one eye focused on the basics, and the other on the changing times. "India presence online is very marginal," Rai told me via e-mail. "The quality of information is not up to the mark. We need to change that. It can essentially be done by news organizations. The challenge is to get the big names in the business to get a better understanding of why we need to be online in full force. The turf will otherwise be overun by the Murdochs of the world." The ritual of reading the news One advantage that Indian online operations have is the rabid interest Indians abroad have in following news from back home. Sevanti Ninan, who runs TheHoot.org, an Indian media watchdog, emphasized just how news-hungry Indians abroad can be. "Indians tend to be one of the more homesick expatriate communities in the U.S.," he told me via e-mail. "The Web helps specific ethnic or geographic communities abroad keep in touch with their state and city and people back home. There are sites for people in Bihar, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, etc. The fact that Google now offers search in at least five Indian languages ensures that journalists and others writing in regional languages use the Net a lot." S. Mitra Kalita, president of the South Asian Journalists Association in the U.S., wrote a book called "Suburban Sahibs" looking at families that emigrated from India to the U.S. She talked to me about the ritual of reading the news for the Net generation in India. "A lot of people turn to the Internet cafe, and log into Rediff, they'll go to their local Web site," she said. "It's part of their ritual of logging in. It's mainly among twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings. A family in my book was high-tech workers who came over [to the U.S.]. That same ritual they had in India is something they brought here. So when they log on, they go to the Times of India Web site and their regional newspaper site, and they're on all these listservs and e-mail groups." While logging on is still a relatively middle-class phenomenon, the spread of cyber cafes, an increasingly wired youth culture, and an improved Indian infrastructure -- at least in urban areas -- have the potential of delivering an audience of hundreds of millions for Indian news sites. Source: http://www.ojr.org/ojr/glaser/1067999286.php From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 6 15:45:03 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Survey: Google News vs. reporters Message-ID: <3582.203.195.199.163.1068151503.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> A recent study done by NewsKnife revealed that as an automated news service Google performed just above average. The study dubbed ?Google News Watch? showed that despite being good it still does not meet the standards of news services that use human editors. Google News picked the top two stories correctly 63% of the time, versus Yahoo News and CNN.com who came in correctly 77% of the time. Google News Watch was selected by NewsKnife, who evaluates prominent American and British news sites, to see how the computer program fared against the human editors. Source: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=31&aid=53627 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 6 15:43:52 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Panel to set norms for film financing Message-ID: <3556.203.195.199.163.1068151432.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The government has constituted a high-powered committee, headed by Planning Commission Member NK Singh, to set new guidelines for regulating film financing. Financial institutions have, so far, sanctioned about Rs 526 crore to finance films. Of this, the largest contribution of Rs 100 crore has come from IDBI. As a part of its steps to promote film making in India, the government has eased procedures and relaxed regulations in connection with script clearances and visa permissions. The Indian film industry produced 1,013 films in 2001, up from 855 in 2000 ? a growth of 18 per cent in volume terms. According to industry experts, the industry spent an estimated Rs 2500 crore in 2001. This represents a 16 per cent increase over the total costs over 2000. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=26747 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 6 15:41:43 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Insider expected to take reins at Star TV Message-ID: <3539.203.195.199.163.1068151303.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> James Murdoch's move to London from Asia, where he turned Star TV around from losses of almost $100m to a modest profit in just over three years, creates a vacancy in Star's Hong Kong headquarters that media sources believe will be filled from within the group. Star has only ever appointed one chief from outside - Gareth Chang, Mr Murdoch's predecessor. The pool of talent in Asia includes: Steve Askew, vice-president in charge of content; Michelle Guthrie, who is vice-president with responsibility for distribution and business development; Jamie David, who runs mainland operations; and Peter Mukerjea, who leads the company in India. India, China and Taiwan are Star's main markets and enjoy the fastest growth rates. Sales overall have doubled since 2000 to US$300m while profits are hovering around US$10m. Source: http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer? pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1066565652189 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 6 15:40:11 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Neo Wave Cinema Message-ID: <3520.203.195.199.163.1068151211.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> But is all this hype and hoopla anything more than mere popcorn? The producers say the idea is to make the launch theatrical, fun, exciting and a way to event-ise movies. On a more practical plane ? if that's not a contradiction in terms for anything to do with the Matrix ? the makers claim that their innovative strategy is designed to beat video pirates to the punch. If it succeeds, this marketing move could have an enormous impact on the pirate industry which has become a life-threatening disease for the trade. If Revolutions proves a hit in India, it could lead to closer Hollywood-Bollywood links not only in terms of distribution, but also as possible joint venture productions. In the course of the movie, the Oracle tells Neo, ''It ends tonight.'' But, in fact, it only just began last night. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow? msid=268834 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Fri Nov 7 14:46:33 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Britain, U.S. Best at Harnessing Internet for Citizens Message-ID: <2988.203.195.199.163.1068234393.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> According to a study, the United States and Britain are at the top for using the Internet to engage citizens in learning about and discussing government systems. Also, the United States and Sweden have made the greatest efforts in equipping citizens to use the Internet for such government tools. The United Nations' study, based on government Web sites and policies accessible to the public, investigated whether the Internet was being used in the most effective way to promote open government and citizens' awareness of policies. This report showed that more and more countries are using the Internet to educate the public about the workings of their governments. Easy access to governmental information online may have wide-ranging effects on how journalists obtain resources for news reporting and how transparently they may show readers the data and documents used. Source: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=3753325 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Fri Nov 7 14:42:03 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Prasar Bharti to take private channels to court Message-ID: <2844.203.195.199.163.1068234123.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Prasar Bharti plans to take legal action against private news and sports channels that are illegally airing Doordarshan's cricket footage of the on- going TVS Cup Tri-series, through various sponsored programmes. As per industry practice, channels are allowed to air up to 30 seconds of footage after giving due acknowledgement. But any coverage more than 30 seconds without permission leads to copyright infringement. Sarma contented that many private channels were using as much as 40 minutes of cricket coverage with some of them being sponsored programmes. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow? msid=270364 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Fri Nov 7 14:39:35 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Media partnerships expand coverage Message-ID: <2776.203.195.199.163.1068233975.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> In an ongoing effort to expand their global reach and broaden coverage, newspapers, magazines, television networks and Web sites have been forming partnerships to share news. Journalists are concerned that this will limit original reporting because media outlets will rely on each other's stories. Labor unions also worry this snyergy could cost journalists work as publications combine resources. Those who support this movement insist that readers can now conveniently access a wider array of stories and different viewpoints from fewer sources. Critics of the trend fear that news outlets will start duplicating each other. "If you have these big media owners consolidating even more by combining with other big owners, it really creates bland, one-size-fits-all news," said Linda Foley, President of the Newspaper Guild. "It's not a good trend." Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6100-2003Nov5.html From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 10 19:05:57 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Attack on the press Message-ID: <56614.203.195.215.1.1068509157.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> What happened? -------------- No bid to muzzle Press, says Kalimuthu http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/05/02/stories/2003050204880400.htm Now, for an editorial http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/05/01/stories/2003050105490100.htm The Hindu reports for privileges panel http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/24/stories/2003042407520100.htm Why? ---- Rising intolerance http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/25/stories/2003042500281000.htm CM taunts Marxists again http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/23/stories/2003042305540400.htm People's court only way out for Opposition http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/13/stories/2003041303010400.htm Walkout to protest CM offensive http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/04/12/stories/2003041204770100.htm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 10 18:59:08 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Strangulating effect of TV piracy Message-ID: <57463.203.195.215.1.1068508748.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Indian cable and satellite broadcasters have been crying hoarse about piracy for quite sometime. Quite an old story actually. But the figure quoted by an independent study last week on the revenue lost on account of pay TV piracy in the Asia Pacific region has left many a mouth gaping. The study put the aggregated losses across all sectors of the Asia Pacific pay- TV industry, from platform operators to independent programming suppliers, at a staggering $1.29 billion for 2003. It further said that net revenue loss because of piracy in 2003 would be $874 million. The most striking observation of the study, however, was that Indian market contributed to 72 per cent of the total revenue leakage. The finding definitely can?t be ignored. Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow? msid=273859 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 10 18:57:50 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: South Asian ministers discuss knocking down barriers for media Message-ID: <52014.203.195.215.1.1068508670.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> South Asian ministers gathered in the Indian capital Monday ahead of a regional conference aimed at lowering obstacles for media, performers and others in the entertainment industry in a region where politics often comes in the way of art. The issues likely to be discussed include the free movement of media personnel, a SAARC media fund and film festival, and transnational satellite broadcasting guidelines. Journalists from India and Pakistan are frequently denied visas to each other's countries. Permission is erratic for singers, dancers and other performers. One contentious issue is Pakistan's ban of Indian movies. Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp? file=/2003/11/10/latest/14870SouthAsia&sec=latest From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 11 15:13:54 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Sex on TV: Where do we stop? Message-ID: <2024.203.195.199.163.1068581634.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> More sex, please! That?s exactly what the Bengali television channels seem to be asking for ? in their programming at least. With two shows that claim to address sex related problems (read discusses sex gossip), and a more recent addition making an effort to actually educate the people about ways to healthy sex, it?s loads of sleaze talk on the Bangla telly. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow? artid=276804 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 11 15:12:18 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: TV News Channels Heading For Shakeout Message-ID: <2012.203.195.199.163.1068581538.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Although there are no clear answers as to who will survive and who won?t in the news market, experts indicate that there?s room for a maximum of four Hindi news channels. This means that a shakeout is imminent. As for English news channels, only two are expected to survive, and a business channel perhaps. Even as three to four news channels are a norm internationally, India is a unique and more fragmented market, where regional news channels also compete for space, says the marketing head of a private broadcasting company. Currently, we have six national Hindi news channels, including DD News which is predominantly a Hindi channel. Another Hindi news channel is likely to be launched soon. Plus, we have three Indian English news channels (including a business channel), along with which we have BBC and CNN. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=45826 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 11 15:06:38 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Indian NGOs urge govt to bridge digital divide Message-ID: <1989.203.195.199.163.1068581198.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Communities should be allowed to communicate and share information in their own way and in their own public space to allow equitable and sustainable development, three leading non-governmental organisations said. Participating in an interactive public debate on, "Can ICTs alleviate poverty in India?" these NGOs pointed out that despite increasing investments in IT infrastructure and growing availability of digital technologies, the digital and knowledge divides are widening. Source: http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/72289/1/ From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 12 14:05:37 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: MEDIA MANTRA 2003 Message-ID: <2062.203.195.199.163.1068663937.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Postgraduate Department of Extension Education, SNDT Women?s Univeristy, Juhu campus presents MEDIA MANTRA 2003, three-days event by students of postgraduate diploma in communication and media. This three full days event scheduled between 20-22 November, 2003 plans to bring together television, film, journalism and advertising professionals and students in an interactive academic forum. It is organized at the J.H> Mini Auditorium, SNDT Juhu campus. The three days registration is only Rs. 300 for students and Rs. 400 for others. One-day registration is also available depending upon the interest of the participants. Only 100 registrations on first come first serve basis. Registration is available at the venue from 17th to 19th November between 12 to 3 p.m. Contact: 26608462/93 Ext. 286 or mail mediamantra2003@yahoo.co.in Post Graduate Department of Extension Education S.N.D.T. Women?s University Presents Media Mantra 2003 A three-day event by Students of Post Graduate Diploma in Communication & Media ? Days: 20 to 22 November 2003 (Thursday to Saturday) ? Venue: J.H. Mini Auditorium, SNDT Women?s University, Juhu, Santacruz (West), Mumbai Programme Schedule ? Day 1: 20th Nov. 2003 JOURNALISM & PHOTOGRAPHY 9.00 to 10.00 a.m. Registration 9.30 to 10.30 a.m. Inauguration and Opening Address 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Challenge of running a 24-hour NEWS slot 12.30 to 1.00 p.m. Lunch 1.00 to 3.00 p.m. Workshop on News presentation 3.15 to 5.00 p.m. Careers in Photography ? Day 2: 21st Nov. 2003 TELEVISION & FILMS 9.30 to 10.00 A.M. Registration for the Day 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Present scenario of music channels 12.30 to 1.00 p.m. Lunch 1.00 to 3.00 p.m. Entry of film stars on small screen 3.15 to 7.00 p.m. Film Screening and discussion in collaboration with Insaaniyat Film Club ? Day 3: 22nd Nov. 2003 ADVERTISING 9.30 to 10.00 a.m. Registration for the Day 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. In-film Advertising: new way of selling 12.30 to 1.00 p.m. Lunch 1.00 to 3.00 p.m. Indian advertising in global market 3.15 to 4.45 p.m. Relevance of M- schools ? Registration#: Category One Day All 3 Days Students* Rs. 125/- Rs. 300/- Others Rs. 150/- Rs. 400/- # It includes lunch, one tea and seminar kit. * For student registration please show College/Institute identity card. Only 100 Registrations are available on first come first serve basis. Contact: Dolly 9821222335 OR Deepa 9820743981 or email: mediamantra2003@yahoo.co.in Registrations available at the venue from 17th to 19th November between 12 to 3 p.m. From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 18 16:05:52 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: ONA Superpanel discusses future of online news Message-ID: <2549.203.195.199.163.1069189552.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Senior editors, writers and news executives formed a "super panel" at the Online News Association's fourth annual conference to predict the future of online news. The biggest news is bigger bandwidths. Bigger bandwidths pumping information into homes will mean bigger play for video. High-speed Internet connections, once mostly utilized by businesses, is turning the Internet prime-time from 9 to 5 -- when surfers could ride their company's massive Internet connection -- to 9 to 9. Panelist Richard Deverell, Head of News Interactive at BBC News, said every story should be broken down into short, independent, interlocked units -- sound, video, image, text -- that can provide content for a variety of devices, from cell phones and PDAs to those yet to come. People may spend 15 minutes at a news site, but they'll spend it in 5-minute chunks. Such a move is probably goodbye to linear storytelling, said Leonard Apcar, editor-in-chief of The New York Times on the Web. With video's influence, he said, watch coverage of the 2004 presidential campaign to play out like coverage of the war in Iraq. Blogs will be there too with candidates and voters using the Internet to proselytize and analyze, political campaigns will change drastically at the grassroots level. Audiences will want more and more interactivity -- not only through their computers, but through their TVs as well. Give them the news they want, when they want it, or watch their wanting wane, panelists said. But all this choice is necessarily good, said Ruth Gersh, editorial director of AP Digital. By self selecting its news, the audience can isolate itself into a tight circle of its own limited interests -- and the threat of "losing the shared news experience" approaches, bringing change Gersh didn't try to estimate. Most panelists agreed though that the presentation of news will change drastically in the future, but the skills of a journalist -- primarily the ability to quickly find what is newsworthy in a stream of information -- will always be needed. Source: http://www.journalists.org/2003conference/ From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 18 15:57:27 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Expert online journalists create micro-pubs Message-ID: <2401.203.195.199.163.1069189047.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> New breeds of online publications are emerging, coined by Web journalist and blogger Om Malik, as ?micro-pubs.? According to Malik, a micro-pub is a ?combination of old fashion newsletter, blog and a directory service, managed by one to 10 people.? A micro-pub?s staff consists of independent, expert online journalists who specialize in particular sites such as the micro-pub tech Web site known as PaidContent. Another example of a micro- pub that is also a tech Web site is JIWire. Micropublishers get publicity mostly by word of mouth. The journalists or editors remain in constant contact with the specific target audience they are writing for. In Malik?s opinion, micro-pubs are a phenomenon that will not disappear. He thinks this new form of online publishing will become quite lucrative. ?The specialist content is the reason the rest of the media world should gravitate to these publications,? he said. Source: http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story761.html From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 18 15:55:11 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Computer viruses are twenty years old Message-ID: <2392.203.195.199.163.1069188911.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Computer viruses celebrated their 20th birthday, reports the BBC. On Nov. 10, 1983, a graduate student at the University of Southern California says he developed the first computer virus. Fred Cohen, who was studying for his Ph.D., created the virus as an experiment in computer security. Cohen acknowledged the damage a computer virus could cause and speculated that "viruses can spread through computer networks in the same way as they spread through computers, and thus present a widespread and fairly immediate threat to many current systems." Today, virus writers use the Internet to spread their creations through multiple computer networks, some causing chaos and mayhem, others simply wishing you a Happy Towel Day or advertising a favorite Web site. Currently, there are more than 60,000 viruses in existence that affect computer users and media Web sites around the world. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3257165.stm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 19 14:02:34 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: 'TV Series Save Lives in Third World' Message-ID: <1457.61.11.88.12.1069268554.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> In parts of the Third World, television soap operas are saving lives, promoting social change and leading the fight against AIDS -- and mostly without even peeping into the bedroom. In India, "Detective Vijay" tackles issues ranging from wife-beating, the education of girls, female empowerment and HIV/AIDS in a soap opera aimed at rural males that has became one of the country's top 10 programs. In South Africa, the seven- year old soap "Soul City" is watched by two-thirds of the population and has ventured into everything from AIDS and alcoholism to diarrhea and depression. In China, the daily drama "Ordinary People" has raised issues such as the traditional Chinese preference for sons, the mistreatment of women and the ostracizing of those with HIV/AIDS. U.S. soaps have incorporated social issues into popular entertainment for years, often exporting their series around the world. Source: http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml? type=healthNews&storyID=3846884§ion=news From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 19 13:56:41 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Hollywood Movies Make Way into India's Cinemas Message-ID: <1453.61.11.88.12.1069268201.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Hollywood movies are beginning to grab a bigger chunk of India's huge movie market, traditionally dominated by its own film industry, which is known as Bollywood. There's good news for Hollywood films in India: a larger Indian audience than ever before is viewing them. The Matrix Revolutions opened in India and 60 other countries earlier this month, and theater owners say it ran to packed audiences for several days. It is the latest Hollywood movie to have fared well in India. Last year, Spiderman grossed more than $6.5 million, which is more than many hits from India's own film industry, called Bollywood. Bollywood produces nearly 1,000 films a year, and while it retains its sway over India's billion-plus population, theater owners say Hollywood films are getting more popular. Film distributors say films with action, suspense and special effects fare best because Indian films often lack these. According to industry estimates, Hollywood films now gross about 8-10 percent of the Indian film market, which is worth approximately $120 million. The explosive growth of multi-screen theaters is also helping Hollywood movies do well. In the past year, India's entertainment industry has built more multiplexes to cater to middle and upper class cinema-goers in New Delhi and Bombay. More are opening in smaller towns. However, Bollywood watchers say the popularity of Hollywood films represents no threat to the Indian industry, and insist the Indian market is big enough to allow both to co-exist. Source: http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=121DE9F6-68E6-426A- A923B60C2DCCE27B From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 19 14:14:23 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Hollywood's hitting back Message-ID: <1511.61.11.88.12.1069269263.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> New computer technology that allows pirated movies to be quickly compressed and transmitted is at the centre of a war that?s pitting Hollywood against the digital thieves. Using the technology, internet hackers offer access to content ? without ever paying for it. The movies available on the net have poor visual quality but excellent audio quality. Typically a projectionist copies the movie from an unused booth window with the latest digital video or DVD camera and gets the sound from a direct jack into the cinema?s sound system. With the advent of movies on the internet, Hollywood is arriving at newer strategies to take on the challenge from techno wiz kids all over the world. Between January 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003, 312 Hollywood movies figured in Variety?s top 50 charts. Of these, 183 movies were illegally traded online. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/ice/story.asp?Menu=8&story=27760 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 20 02:59:24 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Indian cinema archive on a website now Message-ID: <2132.203.195.199.163.1069318764.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> The National Film Archive of India has finally gathered its huge collection of films and archival material in a nutshell through their newly-launched website - nfaipune.nic.in. The website has an array of easy-to-access features like visual pop-ups of information on special film screenings, film circle activities, forthcoming film festivals, film appreciation course, NFAI library, auditorium facilities and expert opinions among others. However, the most important feature is the search engine, which can help get detailed information of any film, including details of the director, cast, crew and the number of awards won by it all over the world by just entering either the film title, year, language or film director's name. And the censor records dating back to the 1920s. Source: TOI, 17 Nov 2003 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 20 02:56:48 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Telecom model mooted for FM radio Message-ID: <2116.203.195.199.163.1069318608.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> The Expert Committee on FM radio is set to recommend the telecom model for companies migrating from the existing licence-fee regime to a revenue- sharing arrangement with the Government. Among the other recommendations, the committee, which is slated to submit its report on Monday, is likely to suggest 26 per cent foreign direct investment into the radio business. Currently, foreign institutional investors can hold up to 20 per cent in private FM radio companies. Also, the committee is likely to suggest allowing news in private FM radio channels. So far, only All India Radio could broadcast news and current affairs shows. The Government had set up a 10-member task force headed by Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, to suggest changes to the existing FM radio norms. Some of the major players which have commenced operations are Living Media's Red FM, Times Group's Radio Mirchi, Ispat Group's Radio City and Sun Group's Suryan. Source: http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13309495 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 20 02:54:36 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Net penetration curbed by costs Message-ID: <2100.203.195.199.163.1069318476.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> Internet penetration in India has been restricted due to the high linkage costs and low data transfer rates. Speaking at the Telecomm India 2003 seminar, Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwala, professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai said, ?Internet based education and internet based entertainment has not made any significant impact in India.? With approximately 45 million people using the internet through the dial-up or fixed lines across the country, the average speed for a user is around 10 kbps on 33.6 kbps modem at a cost of Rs 35 per hour, while through a dedicated always on connection, a user can have an access speed up to 100 kbps at Rs 500 per month. Most of the internet connections in India were through dial up networking, said Jhunjhunwala. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=27425 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 24 05:20:41 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Digital media the future Message-ID: <2054.203.195.199.163.1069672841.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> Broadcasters and media owners are losing control of their audiences and risk failure if they don't adjust to the changing landscape, warned an industry expert this week. Speaking at the Measuring Media in the Future conference Professor John Naughton said: "We're moving from an economic system dominated by push media and moving to a completely different world which is a pull world - where consumers are empowered by digital technology and only get what they want." Mr Naughton was referring to the growing popularity of Personal Video. "This is a pull world, and if we want to thrive in it then we have to find a way of recognising that fundamental shift," he said. He focused particularly on broadcasters and their reticence in adopting to the changing landscape. Source: http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/ThisWeek.News.View.aspx?ContentID=10913 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Nov 24 05:23:05 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: "Moving Online Into the Newsroom" Message-ID: <2076.203.195.199.163.1069672985.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> Newspapers traditionally have not made room for online staff in their newsrooms, but that tradition is changing: Many papers recently have decided it makes sense to have online and print staff working elbow to elbow -- and are moving Web editors and producers into the main newsroom. Source: http://www.ojr.org/ojr/workplace/1069284495.php From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 25 20:18:28 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Questions swirl around India's digital-TV road map Message-ID: <57382.202.62.95.35.1069809508.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Indian government's decision two years ago to allow the uplink of satellite television broadcasts from within the country is one of many factors driving India toward greater use of digital TV, but opposing factors standing in the way are equally strong and numerous. That's put a good deal of uncertainty, and guesswork, into this country's conversion to DTV broadcasts. As in China and the United States, analog and digital TV transmissions coexist in India, though most transmitters and almost all televisions in use here are analog. How soon the changeover to digital transmission occurs will depend largely on Prasar Bharati, the statutory body that operates India's radio and television channels. Doordarshan, the board's television arm, was India's only broadcaster for years; with 1,421 transmitters and 23 channels that collectively reach nearly 90 percent of the country's population, it still leaves private broadcasters in the dust. Most of the transmitters used to reach Doordarshan's 360 million subscribers are analog, though the operator is upgrading its systems for digital transmission and simulcast mode. While broadcasting technology has only started to go digital in the last two years or so, content production is moving to the digital format, with only a few channels still sticking to analog. Most of the bigger private broadcasters, including the Rupert Murdoch-owned Star Television and regional language channels, have adopted the digital format for both transmissions and content. Equipment that supports digital transmissions is not made in India, which is struggling to establish an electronics-manufacturing base, and therefore must be imported. Currently, import duties for much digital transmission equipment are 51 percent, an amount that seems tolerable only when compared with the 80 percent charges of three years ago. Source: http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20031124S0077 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 25 20:16:06 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Entertainment sector seen at $350bn in 10 yrs Message-ID: <56770.202.62.95.35.1069809366.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Indian entertainment sector could generate business worth $350 billion in the next ten years and develop into a backoffice for the global entertainment industry, experts opined at the India Economy Summit here today. Speaking at the session on entertainment at the India Economic Summit organised by the World Economic Forum and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), noted film director, Shekhar Kapoor said, ?The global entertainment industry will be of the size of about $3 trillion in the next 10 years and about 70 per cent of this revenue will come from Asia. Even if we manage to corner 50 per cent of it, we can have an entertainment industry of $350 billion.? ?India?s opportunity is not just in the film sector. It can also become the back office of global entertainment sector,? said Star India chief executive Peter Mukherjea. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=28265 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Nov 25 20:20:54 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: 'Independent media prerequisite for law and order' Message-ID: <57992.202.62.95.35.1069809654.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Of course the media need to be free from political, commercial and other pressures to carry out their responsibilities without fear or favour. Freedom of information and freedom of speech are the guarantors of good governance. There is vast body of evidence and analysis - with examples drawn from across the political spectrum- to show that the suppression or denial of these two basic freedoms can reverse gains made in social, economic or cultural terms, Sir Clarke said. The 1959-61 Great Famine of China is one extreme example. It killed upto 40 million people. yet, while starvation and death stalked the land, information about it was completely suppressed. Instead, manipulated harvest figures were given out to mislead the Chinese people and the rest of the world. The true extent of that horror only emerged in dribs and drabs decades later, he said. In his lengthy evidence Sir Clarke said that Indian economist Amartya Sen, winner of the 1998 Noble Prize for economics, was the first to argue in the early 1980s that the tragedy was exacerbated by the suppression of information. Censorship contributes to famine, he wrote, concluding that it is much more difficult for famines to occur in countries with a free press. The creation of Good Society requires not only media freedom but also media responsibility. Many years ago, a British Prime Minister accused newspaper magnates of enjoying the privilege of the harlot throughout the ages - power without responsibility. Today the TV screen is more powerful than newsprint and whatever the bean- counters might say, responsibility should always be the bottomline, he added. Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/11/25/new25.html From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 09:18:57 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Building a multi-media empire Message-ID: <1444.202.62.95.35.1069859937.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> "It was a big moment for publishing giant Aroon Purie. Back in 1998 Purie's Living Media teamed up with Doordarshan to produce a marathon three-day election programme that analysed poll results as they came in from around the country. The 100-strong team worked frantically to stay on air round the clock and Purie was jubilant at the end of it. 'We have marked our entry in the television broadcasting industry. We have shown that even we can do live 24-hour broadcasting,' he said triumphantly. Cut to 2003: Purie's broadcasting business has come an awfully long way since then. His Hindi news channel Aaj Tak has emerged as the high-profile market leader in its segment. For the week ending September 27 it had around a 41 per cent share of the viewership for Hindi news. Off screen, TV Today, the company that runs Aaj Tak, is putting all the figures together as it readies for an initial public offer (IPO). " Source: http://www.business-standard.com/weekend/story.asp?Menu=15&story=28051 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 09:19:51 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Adoor calls for making film study compulsory Message-ID: <1447.202.62.95.35.1069859991.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> "FILMMAKER Adoor Gopalkrishnan today called for making study of classics compulsory during graduation so that people developed an understanding of cinema. A course where students see and study at least 10 classics is the need of the hour, said Gopalkrishnan who was in the city for the convocation ceremony of International School of Business and Media (ISBM). The Malayalam director who has a number of masterpieces like Swayamvaram, Kodiyettam, Mukha Mukhamto his credit says, Every film I make is for the masses. But it's like a book where appreciation of the art differs from person to person. Gopalkrishnan, who feels it's time for language films to come to the fore, has made his latest film Nizhalkuttu (Shadow Kill) with French collaboration. International co-productions is a new trend. Here, they are commercially released abroad. These methods can help offbeat cinema survive. You get a larger audience and can also recover finances if you haven't already in the country. However, he is one director who takes long gaps between films. I need time to wean away from its influence and detach myself. Once I complete a movie, I feel very empty. I attend film festivals or I'm fielding questions from people about my film, he smiles, adding, Ideas keep coming but my rate of rejection is very high and I'm particular that I don't repeat myself. " Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=68859 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 09:21:09 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Two new TV channels on the anvil Message-ID: <1449.202.62.95.35.1069860069.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> "Indian television viewers will see the launch of two new channels. National Geographic Channel Network (India) announced the launch of `The History Channel in India to be broadcast from November 30. Turner International also announced the launch of its first kids channel POGO, which goes beyond animation and cartoon programmes. While the History channel will be a part of the Star bouquet, POGO will be part of the Zee bouquet. National Geographic has also decided to defocus from its AdventureOne channel, which is now reduced to just a couple of hours of programming per day. " Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=28335 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Nov 26 09:22:30 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: BROADCASTING NEEDS REGULATOR: PRASAD Message-ID: <1452.202.62.95.35.1069860150.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> The Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that there is a definite need for a separate regulatory body for electronic media. Speaking on the occasion of the National Press Day celebrations, the Minister indicated that the Press Council of India???commendations on the need to have a mechanism aimed at regulating the fast growing television network, was under active consideration. He said the content and advertisement on televisions need to be codified and he proposes to put the issue on national debate before arriving at an applicable conclusion. Prasad said empowerment of Press Council was desirable but not at the cost of impinging on the freedom of press." The Minister said media has a vital role to play in strengthening the democracy and thus acquires natural right to inform without fear. A free press can exist in a vibrant democracy therefore it is imperative on the part of press to strengthen democracy. It needs to keep in mind the grass-root realities and report without any biases. The right to inform has to be the integral role of media it should also shun pessimism and notice positive developments of the society, he added. Prasad said that the media in India is undergoing a total metamorphosis and its institutional role was being threatened by corporate commerce. The traditional role of media has come under question because of immense competition and cross-media ownership. He said the institutional role of media needs prominence and the Government on its part has no intention to intervene. He said that the same time media also needs to be careful and a responsible pillar of the society. Source: http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/rnov2003/16112003/r161120033.html From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 27 10:37:46 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: Speeding news past the paper Message-ID: <1063.202.62.95.35.1069951066.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> Timeliness marks the sharpest contrast between writing for print and online. This is according to Laurie Busby, a print editor at the Orange County Register's Web site, who has written for both mediums. ?Sometimes it?s very hard for reporters to get the story and the photos in on time, especially if they are working on three stories in one day,? Busby said. ?If something happened at 7:00 a.m. it may not get printed until 5:00 p.m.? She said when a reporter writes online; he or she can get the story to the reader much faster.The story can also be updated throughout the day, which does not happen in print. Busby said that most of ocRegister.com readers are ?work users,? in that they read the news online while at work and usually possess a shorter tension span than those who read the paper. In Busby's opinion, online readerstend to make the assumption that what they read online is a condensed version of what is in the paper, regardless of whether this is the case or not. ?When writing online you need to appeal to a niche,? she said. Online readers have come to expect continuous daily updates of a story and they want the ability to link to additional sources. Source: http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/homepage.do From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Nov 27 11:00:14 2003 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:55 2005 Subject: How can you sell your film abroad Message-ID: <1178.202.62.95.35.1069952414.squirrel@mail.newstabs.com> At the recent Cinemint conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), which looked to explore marketing Indian films globally, Kapur said, "The entry of corporates in the industry is the best thing to happen. Finance has always been the biggest problem in our film industry. Producers shoot films only after raising money. So corporates will help the industry grow. We will benefit if more organised people enter Bollywood. "Small budget films are good for the Indian film industry. New directors are now getting the opportunity to make it big. You never know, we may see some genius." Recalling his own experience when he shot his debut film, Masoom (Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah) in 1983, Kapur said, "When I made the film, people wondered how I could make a film within Rs 17 lakh. But I did. And Masoom was appreciated." He was critical of filmmakers who concentrate on urban multiplex audiences and forget the rural audiences: "We must realise the urban audience is not loyal to the film industry. The core audience of Bollywood is not from the main centres. Besides making films for multiplex audiences who pay Rs 100 per ticket, we should also think about Bollywood's core audience. If we forget them, our foundation will be shaken." Shekhar KapurKapur also said, "We are very good at marketing films. But we need to come together and take the industry ahead, like the IT businesses has done. They started small. Now, they are global giants. We too have to find a common purpose to grow large." About Western producers and artistes, Kapur said, "Western audiences are thrilled to have songs and dance in our films. They like the drama we present in our films. We tried to replicate that culture in our stage drama, Bombay Dreams [Kapur co-produced it with Andrew Llyod Webber], and it worked well. Today, it is one of the biggest hits on [London's] West End." Source: http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/27kapur.htm