From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 1 16:19:51 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 21:49:51 +0530 Subject: BBC Teams Up With Indian Media To Cover Elections Message-ID: The BBC has signed a deal with India's leading newspapers, Prabhat Khabar and Dainik Bhaskar, to provide content on India's national elections from bbchindi.com. Prabhat Khabar and all 22 editions of Dainik Bhaskar, and their respective websites prabhatkhabar.com and bhaskar.com, will carry bbchindi.com content. The deal includes a weekly column by former Prime Minister IK Gujaral and in-depth reports on the elections. It also includes background information on political parties, tables mapping the party positions and charts and the impact of elections on the various states of India. Source: http://www.asiansinmedia.org/news/article.php/publishing/351 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 1 16:19:49 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 21:49:49 +0530 Subject: Us Cannot Be The Policeman Of The E-World Message-ID: The internet is now managed by a non-profit American company ICANN which was established by the US department of commerce in 1998 to assign names to internet users. This was a spontaneous consequence of the fact that the internet was invented in America, partly with funding from the American government. Initially the use of internet was limited to that country, hence there was no difficulty in the American government regulating it. But now the internet has got a global reach. Yet ICANN continues to be accountable only to the US government. Thus South African President Thabo Mbeki said that the world community should discuss ICANN's powers, "otherwise the world continues to be governed by California law". The US government acquires immense powers from its control of the internet. It can block selected e-mail id or websites. It is also possible for the US government to track the information being exchanged through the internet. The US government can overhear the messages just as the postal departments used to open mail to trap spies during the Second World War. The internet can also be used for commercial espionage. The US, however, is reluctant to hand over control of the internet to any multilateral organisation - even one that may be established under the United Nations. It would be futile to ask the United States to give up its control of the internet. Power is taken, not given. The only way is for the countries like India to be one-up on the US by excelling the US in future developments of the internet. Source: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=3&theme=&usrsess=1&id=39589 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 1 16:19:51 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 21:49:51 +0530 Subject: Times Group To Launch Three TV Channels Message-ID: Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd, publishers of The Times of India, is planning to enter the television business with a bouquet of three channels, including an entertainment channel, a spiritual channel and a business news channel. The entertainment channel will be the first to go on air. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=37618 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 1 16:40:02 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 22:10:02 +0530 Subject: Bollywood And Politics: Marriage Or An Affair? Message-ID: They are an unlikely collection of retired stars, out-of-work actors, and some former beauty queens-turned struggling performers. In an election bereft of substantive issues rousing the voters or polarising the parties, Bollywood stars are expected to draw crowds and generate some excitement. Many of the stars who have joined parties seem to be ignorant about important events in Indian history, or even their party's political allies. "In the south, cinema is entertainment and a political movement. In fact, the political movement takes precedence. A Bollywood star joining politics is more of a spectacle around a charismatic personality. He or she is not a catalyst of change," says Shiv Vishwanathan. Analysts like Mr Vishwanathan have no doubt that the majority of these stars will vanish "into thin air" once the elections are over. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3583255.stm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 06:31:04 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2004 11:01:04 +0530 Subject: Cashing In On Communication Message-ID: Going by the proliferation of mass communication and journalism schools, it seems that news gathering has become a lucrative profession. According to Imran Zahir, director of Delhi-based mass communication institute, Media Active, there are roughly 50 schools that teach journalism and related subjects in the capital alone. And more are coming up. What's fuelling the boom in media institutes is the likelihood of a few more television news (as well as business) channels starting their operations soon. According to veteran journalist B G Verghese: "The whole media scene has changed. It's no more limited to print and broadcast journalism." He believes that professionals are needed to handle web pages, corporate newsletters and house journals. "The demand for trained writers and editors will only increase," he adds. What media school promoters are probably banking on are the estimates that suggest that the total turnover of India's ICE (information, communications and entertainment) sector will increase from Rs 84,000 crore in 2000 to Rs 2,00,000 crore in 2005 resulting in 5 lakh jobs. And that means pots of money in the training ground. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=98&story=37641 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 06:31:03 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2004 11:01:03 +0530 Subject: Star, Zee Must Pay Service Tax Message-ID: In a high-profile case which was meticulously argued by the ministry of finance departmental representative against a battery of lawyers, Star TV and Zee Telefilms have finally lost the battle at the Central Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi. Both media companies were held liable to pay service tax vide the orders passed by the Commissioner of Central Excise (Appeals) Mumbai, dated November 18, 2002 who rejected their appeals against the orders of adjudication. Both contended that their activities cannot be termed as 'taxable service' as defined under section 65(72), as it stood during the relevant period. According to them they were not providing any service to a client as a broadcasting agency or organization in relation to broadcasting in India. Source: http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2004/mar/31tax1.htm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 06:31:03 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2004 11:01:03 +0530 Subject: Crackdown On Indian Political Ads Message-ID: India's Supreme Court has banned the televising of political advertisements which offend the moral or religious sensibilities of viewers. In recent weeks, a series of advertisements have been aired on Indian television channels, targeting Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and opposition leader Sonia Gandhi. The advertisements were described as "public service announcements" credited to non-government trusts which are believed to be acting on behalf of major political parties. Both leading national parties, the governing BJP and the opposition Congress, have been running a hi-tech campaign on television, mobile telephones and on the internet. Congress is hoping to oust the BJP and correspondents believe the campaign is likely to get very dirty. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3593735.stm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 06:31:03 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2004 11:01:03 +0530 Subject: Google To Unveil Free E-Mail Message-ID: Google said it plans to offer a free Web-based e-mail service with 1 GB of storage space, far more than rival services by Yahoo and Hotmail. It's another sign Google, traditionally known as a pure search engine, intends to compete more directly with general-purpose portals like Yahoo and Microsoft's MSN. In addition to the huge storage capacity, Google plans to highlight its search capabilities, which would make it easier for users to search for specific information through thousands of e-mails. The service will automatically index keywords in e-mails to reduce the time it takes to search through them for information. Source: http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,62897,00.html From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 06:30:58 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2004 11:00:58 +0530 Subject: News Channels Queue Up To Get Govt. Nod Message-ID: The government is saddled with uplinking applications from more than 10 television news channels, including Zee, Asianet, Independent News, Sahara, Jain, Maa, Sab TV, CNBC-TV 18, TV Today and NDTV. The government had revised the norms for uplinking from India last March, and channels were told to comply within a year. News channels must reduce their foreign direct investment (FDI) to 26 per cent by March 26 to uplink from India, as per the revised guidelines. While some of the broadcasting companies waiting for the government nod on uplinking are restructuring the foreign equity, others have filed applications for launching news channels. Meanwhile, it is learnt that Zee has asked the government for a three-month extension of deadline, as the FDI policy had been changed further in July 2003 following the Star News uplink controversy. Source: http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=7719 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 5 17:45:11 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 22:15:11 +0530 Subject: Indian Celebrities Take Part In Political Campaigns Message-ID: However, past campaigns have involved only a tiny sprinkling of movie stars. This time, the celebrity line-up for both the main parties is huge. It includes a mix of retired film stars, popular TV soap opera heroines, and even a well-known cricket commentator. The BJP set the pace, recruiting more than a dozen celebrities to campaign for it. The Congress Party quickly caught up, displaying its own formidable cast of stars. The move has amused some, but also invited criticism that the campaign has been turned into a spectacle. Many political commentators say more film stars are being put on the campaign trail this time to pep up an election devoid of excitement or serious debate. They say the glamorous line-up also helps political parties deflect attention from problems such as unemployment, and lack of water and electricity. Hiranmay Karlekar, editor with the Pioneer newspaper, says political parties are in a race to win endorsements from the celluloid world because they do not have a serious message to deliver. Source: http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=3A228212-8ABB-4F2F-8D95F17A108C1 47E From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 5 17:44:31 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 22:14:31 +0530 Subject: Media Stocks M-Cap Up 96 Per Cent In 2003-04 Message-ID: Companies in this sector have outperformed the Sensex by posting a 96 per cent increase in market capitalisation over the last fiscal. In contrast, the aggregate M-Cap of the Sensex rose by 90.5 per cent during 2003-04. Amongst the 24 listed media companies, 18 have reported significant increases in share prices during the period under review. The industry acknowledges this optimism that has taken the market in stride. The biggest media gainers in terms of prices are Television 18 International (342%), Pritish Nandy Communications (183.30%), Adlabs (180%), Zee Telefilms (114.70%), Crest Communication (68.16%) and Balaji Telefilms (53.41%). A study titled The Indian Entertainment Industry: Emerging Trends and Opportunities made by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry its entertainment committee in collaboration with Ernst And Young speaks of a 15 per cent growth in the entertainment industry. The growth is estimated at Rs 19,200 crore during the year 2003. The report further anticipates a compounded annual growth rate of 17 per cent to Rs 42,300 crore from the entertainment industry by the end of financial year 2008. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=56326 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 5 17:49:02 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 22:19:02 +0530 Subject: Broadcasters Turn To Mobile Tech Message-ID: A convergence of sorts is expected to happen with television channels planning to use mobile technology to shore up the revenues. Broadcasters such as Star India and Sony Entertainment Television (SET) are in the process of tying up with various telecom service providers to generate additional revenues using wireless technology such as SMS and phone votes. And this initiative is expected to take off with the launch of two reality shows - The Indian Superstar on Star Plus and Pop Idols on Sony - later this year. According to sources in Star India, revenues from interactivity using mobile phones would be the third income component to the broadcasting business, apart from subscription and advertising earnings. Internationally, viewers who wished to place a vote for any of the interactive shows on television could do so via telephone or web by paying as little as a few pence. In the UK, Pop Idols received 32 million phone votes throughout the series - ranging between 0.5 million and nearly 9 million for the final show. In the US, a record was set for mobile-orientated messages with American Idols receiving 7.5 million messages during the series and as many as 2.5 million on the last night. Source: http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13447223 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Apr 6 18:02:10 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2004 22:32:10 +0530 Subject: Concern Over India Opinion Polls Message-ID: India's political parties have called for a ban on opinion polls ahead of general elections. In a meeting with the Election Commission they also asked for exit polls to be conducted only after the last phase of voting. India's polls are spread over five days of voting beginning on 20 April and ending on 10 May. Meeting the Election Commission, representatives of India's main political parties argued that exit and opinion polls influenced the electorate in favour of particular parties. But analysts say the commission may find it difficult to ban the polls legally. In 1999 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of an Indian newspaper which challenged a similar order. The court declared the order had been "devoid of merit" and said the commission had no powers to issue such orders. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3603741.stm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 7 18:19:10 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 22:49:10 +0530 Subject: Army, Media Need Better Coordination Message-ID: Mutual 'Knowledge' of the functional structures is a must. Secondly, 'national interest' must not be used as a smokescreen to compromise society's 'right to know' versus information given on a 'need-to-know basis'. Today there are 53 news channels and 2,200 dailies and exclusivity of news is a norm. "Hence, a joint press conference treating the media as a monolith is not adequate. 'Information' has to be fed through new channels to the scoop-hungry media. For greater 'transparency', the Army needs to introspect on issues of human rights violations by their personnel particularly in counter-insurgency operations, and not overreact on negative reportage. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/604030.cms From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 7 18:19:03 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 22:49:03 +0530 Subject: POLITICAL Ads On TV: It's Like A One-day Sale Message-ID: The span of political advertising on TV has shrunk considerably for the first phase of election, as policy-makers woke up late to address some key issues. But, short is sweet, and effective too, media pundits believe. Compare this with the scenario in a country like the US, where political ads start beaming on television almost a year ahead of elections. "It's far-fetched to compare India with the US," as an official of a leading broadcasting company put it. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=56353 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 12 18:25:56 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 22:55:56 +0530 Subject: Bollywood Calls For The Means To A Fund Message-ID: The `fantastic new opportunity', as Media Moguls reports in www.nachnach.com, "the UK's number one Asian magazine", is from the Bollywood Media and Entertainment Fund. It is offering potential investors "the chance to place their money in the Indian film industry as it continues to expand." The doors to Bollywood are now open to experienced investors for `the opportunity to invest in film production in India'. The USPs of the Indian media and entertainment industry, apart from being "one of the biggest and fastest growing business sectors in the world", are: lavish production sets, masala music, dance sequences and the iconic status of stars. From the current $335 million, Bollywood estimates its exports to touch $3.3 billion by 2005, notes the report. Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/10/stories/2004041001340600.htm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 12 18:25:55 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 22:55:55 +0530 Subject: Commercialisation Has Edged Literature Out Message-ID: The electronic and print media in the country, governed by commercial considerations, have hardly any place for literature, lamented Prof Gopi Chand Narang, president of Sahitya Akademi. When asked whether the onslaught of cable TV has marginalised literature, Prof Narang, noted Urdu critic and writer in his own right, said, "The IT boom has affected everything, including literature. But the problem is with the media. A culture that ignores its own roots of creativity works against itself. I do not agree with those who think this way. It is for the TV channels and media houses to reconsider their priorities and take note happening s in the bhashas (languages)." "Sahitya Akademi works more for bhashas and for their inter-connectivity. We publish more than 300 books in the Indian languages annually and organise a literary programme in different parts of India every 36 hours. This is a unique situation that the present blossoming of Indian talent in bhashas is hardly noticed by the overriding commercial considerations of the media," he said. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/611433.cms From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 19 16:13:35 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 20:43:35 +0530 Subject: Bridging digital divides Message-ID: <4083EC9F.3020002@indiatimes.com> VIP convoys criss-cross the country on highways but not everybody is able to see their favourite leaders. Likewise information technology has been proclaimed as the icon of the current age, but it doesn't touch everybody's lives. "Despite all utopian drams, the Information Age has so far touched only a tiny majority of the world's population," write Kenneth Keniston and Deepak Kumar in /IT Experience in India/, published by Sage (www.indiasage.com ) . "If we define household access to the World Wide Web as a criterion for joining the Information Age, less than 5 per cent of the world's population of 6 billion had gained access by the year 2002." Therefore, we need to bridge the divide. But there are "four digital divides", not just one: "The first is internal - between the digitally-empowered rich and the poor. The second is a linguistic-cultural gap between English and other languages and between `Anglo-Saxon culture' and other world cultures. The next gap is underscored by disparities in access to information technology and between rich and poor nations. Finally, there is the phenomenon of the `digerati'. This is an affluent elite possessing the appropriate skills and means to take advantage of the ICTs." There are daunting statistics: That only 1 per cent of the country's population have home access to computers; of that, only a half has Net facility; more than 40 per cent of the one billion are illiterate; one in two newborns is below ideal birth weight; and only around 3 per cent can afford a telephone. Priorities could be different: With 60 million Indian children not in school, "for the cost of a computer, you can have a school." Yet there are bold initiatives. An example: Veerampattinam, a coastal village with 98 per cent of the families involved in fishing, receives information on wave heights in the next 24 hours, downloaded from a US Navy Web site. "The information requirements in that village are focussed on the safety of fishermen while at sea, on fish/shoal occurrence near shore, and on techniques for post-harvest processing." Reverting to the divides, how do we bridge them? By committing to that goal "the same intelligence and imagination that have gone into creating the technologies themselves." A simple reminder that nothing is impossible, nor any chasm that is uncrossable. Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ew/2004/04/14/stories/2004041400150200.htm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 15 17:49:50 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 22:19:50 +0530 Subject: TRAI Releases Paper On FM Radios Message-ID: The consultation paper has been prepared in the light of the recommendations of a committee headed by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Secretary General Amit Mitra. The committee has suggested revision of the licence fee structure and migration of the licence terms from fixed licence fee basis to a one-time entry fee and an annual revenue sharing arrangement. Since the licensing regime did not result in the proliferation of FM radio in the country, the government has decided to reformulate its policy to promote the growth of FM broadcasting for entertainment, education and information dissemination by commercial broadcasters. The government has auctioned 108 frequencies in the FM spectrum across 40 cities in the country through an open auction bidding process. However, services have started in only 14 cities. Of the 37 licences issued, only 24 are operational. Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/006200404141803.htm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 19 16:27:35 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 20:57:35 +0530 Subject: Indian Film Industry Draws Growing Investor Interest Message-ID: <4083EFE7.2020906@indiatimes.com> So far, the numbers are small -- a handful of investors in the valley are involved, and investments are relatively small, from $50,000 to the million-dollar range. The films are high-risk ventures, but that's no big concern for people who made their fortunes in the high-risk tech world. Interest in the multi-billion-dollar Indian film industry from tech types has picked up in the past year or two, said Kavi Raz, an independent Hollywood filmmaker who is making three Bollywood films for the U.S. market. Recent "crossover" movies, such as "Bend it Like Beckham" and "Monsoon Wedding," which grossed $32.5 million and $14 million, respectively, caught the eye of Indo-American investors, who hope to replicate such success and spotlight Indian culture in the United States. Americans in general appear to be more interested now in the culture of the world's largest democracy, from music to food to film -- a trend the investors hope to cash in on. The cost of producing Bollywood films is relatively low -- anywhere from $1 million to $4 million. In Hollywood, a $20 million film is considered low-budget.To be sure, it's a risky business. Outside of India, there are more than 400 theaters dedicated to Bollywood movies, from Australia to South Africa to the Bay Area. And then there is the mainstream U.S. market, which some investors hope to crack with crossover movies in the mode of "Monsoon Wedding." Source: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8461591.htm?1c From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 19 16:39:23 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 21:09:23 +0530 Subject: Initiative Combats Censorship Across The Globe Message-ID: <4083F2AB.1030308@vasnet.co.in> Researchers and students at the University of Toronto are teaming up to fight Internet censorship across the globe, according to BBC News. The project, OpenNet Intiative, is probing into the reasons that certain countries like Iran and China ban various types of Web material. The project's team then un-censors information and provides it to the citizens of these countries. While most findings show that governments are using sophisticated site blocking mechanisms to restrict access, OpenNet tries to go a step beyond and discover the inner workings of the systems and reasons for censorship. However, Ron Deibert, who runs the project, realizes that certain cultural norms are at the root of Web censorship, and he and his team respect that. "For us to start looking at ways to circumvent [censorship] is a difficult challenge for us," he said. "We do think that information should be free, but we do need to find a balance for respect for sovereign states to preserve their own culture." Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3632757.stm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 19 16:40:45 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 21:10:45 +0530 Subject: Experts Discuss Media's Influence On Public Mind Message-ID: <4083F2FD.2080708@vasnet.co.in> While violent acts in international television programmes average=20 between five and six, the figure lies between 22 and 24 when it comes to = Indian television programmes. Facts like this formed part of a panel=20 discussion on =91Mind Pollution (Media and its Impact on the Society)=92 = organised by Gunjan Foundation at India Habitat Centre. Maintaining that ABC and TRP ratings dictate the norms in print and=20 electronic media respectively, Singhvi said motivated reporting was=20 another reason for media not being objective, adding: =91=91But media can= not=20 be selected as an independent segment of reform and any reform in the=20 sector needs to come through self-regulation.=92=92 Defending the media, executive director, TVLIVE India Pvt Ltd, Nalini=20 Singh said, =91=91Commerce dictates the business in electronic media but = we=20 must keep an eye on gate-keepers. But the digital media is now=20 redefining society. Combining information and speed, cyberculture is=20 having a democratising influence and has a potential for dissemination=20 of information.=92=92 According to official figures, in 2003, the print media published=20 cigarette advertisements worth Rs 449.3 crore and the electronic media=20 Rs 36.7 crore. While print media published Rs 173.9 crore worth of=20 advertisements of pan masala, zarda and gutka the same year, the=20 electronic media spent Rs 196.4 crore on the same. Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=3D82130 From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 21 16:32:20 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 21:02:20 +0530 Subject: Internet Driving Hate Site Surge Message-ID: <40869404.1020904@vasnet.co.in> The net is being used by racist and extremist groups trying to recruit new members and spread their message. A report detailing 200 of the websites monitored by the Wiesenthal Center shows how sites have become key fund-raising and marketing outlets. Some sites feature games that let visitors "shoot" illegal immigrants, Jews and black people, said the report. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3641895.stm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 21 16:28:05 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 20:58:05 +0530 Subject: Index For Online Ads Efficacy In Pipeline Message-ID: <40869305.8080808@vasnet.co.in> THE online advertising bubble burst a few years ago but the market is "slowly starting to find its more natural level," says Dr Paul Prabhaker, Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Marketing at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Stuart Graduate School of Business, who visited Chennai recently. The fault with the initial overvaluation of Internet advertising, he believes, lay with the classification of the medium. Only now, people are starting to realise that the medium is a hybrid of broadcasting and print, says Dr Prabhaker. According to Dr Prabhaker, the industry is already realising the limitations of some its formats; for instance, pop-ups, which Internet surfers are increasingly getting irritated with. Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/20/stories/2004042000670600.htm From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 21 16:20:57 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 20:50:57 +0530 Subject: Kerala Film Industry In Soup Message-ID: <40869159.4010105@vasnet.co.in> From its heady days of super hits and critically acclaimed movies, Malayalam film industry has come a long way downhill, plagued by internal fights, mounting expenses and piracy. The plight of the industry is so bad that 2004 may see just about 25-30 films hitting the screen, says Mr Siyad Kokker, President of the Kerala Film Chamber. In 2003, the industry produced only 60 films, down from 120-odd films in 1999, he told /Business Line. / /Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/21/stories/2004042101111700.htm / From icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 21 16:17:23 2004 From: icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 20:47:23 +0530 Subject: Election Trail Prove An 'SMS-ing' Success Message-ID: <40869083.5050900@vasnet.co.in> What it does bring out loud and clear is just how ubiquitous the mobile has become as an effective tool to get the message across. And while it was the direct call that was used to get the prime Minister's message across the communications tool of choice for most marketers when we talk mobile is the short message service (SMS) technology. Contests, downloads, information, trivia... all at the press of a button. Mobile phones are becoming ever more pervasive as technology gets cheaper by the day! While the telecom companies may not be directly involved in doing PR for the PM, nevertheless their services are being used. To sum it up, political telemarketing with maximum use of technology and minimum manpower has been at its peak in elections 2004. Mobile technology has completely revolutionised how information is accessed, handled and viewed in our society. At some level, the quantum and quality of impact of this technology on the world, is as fundamental as the coming of the Internet. Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/vivacity1.asp?main_variable=MEDIA&file_name=med1%2Etxt&counter_img=1 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 1 21:49:51 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: BBC Teams Up With Indian Media To Cover Elections Message-ID: The BBC has signed a deal with India's leading newspapers, Prabhat Khabar and Dainik Bhaskar, to provide content on India's national elections from bbchindi.com. Prabhat Khabar and all 22 editions of Dainik Bhaskar, and their respective websites prabhatkhabar.com and bhaskar.com, will carry bbchindi.com content. The deal includes a weekly column by former Prime Minister IK Gujaral and in-depth reports on the elections. It also includes background information on political parties, tables mapping the party positions and charts and the impact of elections on the various states of India. Source: http://www.asiansinmedia.org/news/article.php/publishing/351 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 1 21:49:49 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Us Cannot Be The Policeman Of The E-World Message-ID: The internet is now managed by a non-profit American company ICANN which was established by the US department of commerce in 1998 to assign names to internet users. This was a spontaneous consequence of the fact that the internet was invented in America, partly with funding from the American government. Initially the use of internet was limited to that country, hence there was no difficulty in the American government regulating it. But now the internet has got a global reach. Yet ICANN continues to be accountable only to the US government. Thus South African President Thabo Mbeki said that the world community should discuss ICANN's powers, "otherwise the world continues to be governed by California law". The US government acquires immense powers from its control of the internet. It can block selected e-mail id or websites. It is also possible for the US government to track the information being exchanged through the internet. The US government can overhear the messages just as the postal departments used to open mail to trap spies during the Second World War. The internet can also be used for commercial espionage. The US, however, is reluctant to hand over control of the internet to any multilateral organisation - even one that may be established under the United Nations. It would be futile to ask the United States to give up its control of the internet. Power is taken, not given. The only way is for the countries like India to be one-up on the US by excelling the US in future developments of the internet. Source: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=3&theme=&usrsess=1&id=39589 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 1 21:49:51 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Times Group To Launch Three TV Channels Message-ID: Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd, publishers of The Times of India, is planning to enter the television business with a bouquet of three channels, including an entertainment channel, a spiritual channel and a business news channel. The entertainment channel will be the first to go on air. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=37618 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 1 22:10:02 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Bollywood And Politics: Marriage Or An Affair? Message-ID: They are an unlikely collection of retired stars, out-of-work actors, and some former beauty queens-turned struggling performers. In an election bereft of substantive issues rousing the voters or polarising the parties, Bollywood stars are expected to draw crowds and generate some excitement. Many of the stars who have joined parties seem to be ignorant about important events in Indian history, or even their party's political allies. "In the south, cinema is entertainment and a political movement. In fact, the political movement takes precedence. A Bollywood star joining politics is more of a spectacle around a charismatic personality. He or she is not a catalyst of change," says Shiv Vishwanathan. Analysts like Mr Vishwanathan have no doubt that the majority of these stars will vanish "into thin air" once the elections are over. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3583255.stm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 12:01:04 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Cashing In On Communication Message-ID: Going by the proliferation of mass communication and journalism schools, it seems that news gathering has become a lucrative profession. According to Imran Zahir, director of Delhi-based mass communication institute, Media Active, there are roughly 50 schools that teach journalism and related subjects in the capital alone. And more are coming up. What's fuelling the boom in media institutes is the likelihood of a few more television news (as well as business) channels starting their operations soon. According to veteran journalist B G Verghese: "The whole media scene has changed. It's no more limited to print and broadcast journalism." He believes that professionals are needed to handle web pages, corporate newsletters and house journals. "The demand for trained writers and editors will only increase," he adds. What media school promoters are probably banking on are the estimates that suggest that the total turnover of India's ICE (information, communications and entertainment) sector will increase from Rs 84,000 crore in 2000 to Rs 2,00,000 crore in 2005 resulting in 5 lakh jobs. And that means pots of money in the training ground. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=98&story=37641 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 12:01:03 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Star, Zee Must Pay Service Tax Message-ID: In a high-profile case which was meticulously argued by the ministry of finance departmental representative against a battery of lawyers, Star TV and Zee Telefilms have finally lost the battle at the Central Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi. Both media companies were held liable to pay service tax vide the orders passed by the Commissioner of Central Excise (Appeals) Mumbai, dated November 18, 2002 who rejected their appeals against the orders of adjudication. Both contended that their activities cannot be termed as 'taxable service' as defined under section 65(72), as it stood during the relevant period. According to them they were not providing any service to a client as a broadcasting agency or organization in relation to broadcasting in India. Source: http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2004/mar/31tax1.htm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 12:01:03 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Crackdown On Indian Political Ads Message-ID: India's Supreme Court has banned the televising of political advertisements which offend the moral or religious sensibilities of viewers. In recent weeks, a series of advertisements have been aired on Indian television channels, targeting Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and opposition leader Sonia Gandhi. The advertisements were described as "public service announcements" credited to non-government trusts which are believed to be acting on behalf of major political parties. Both leading national parties, the governing BJP and the opposition Congress, have been running a hi-tech campaign on television, mobile telephones and on the internet. Congress is hoping to oust the BJP and correspondents believe the campaign is likely to get very dirty. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3593735.stm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 12:01:03 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Google To Unveil Free E-Mail Message-ID: Google said it plans to offer a free Web-based e-mail service with 1 GB of storage space, far more than rival services by Yahoo and Hotmail. It's another sign Google, traditionally known as a pure search engine, intends to compete more directly with general-purpose portals like Yahoo and Microsoft's MSN. In addition to the huge storage capacity, Google plans to highlight its search capabilities, which would make it easier for users to search for specific information through thousands of e-mails. The service will automatically index keywords in e-mails to reduce the time it takes to search through them for information. Source: http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,62897,00.html From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Sun Apr 4 12:00:58 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: News Channels Queue Up To Get Govt. Nod Message-ID: The government is saddled with uplinking applications from more than 10 television news channels, including Zee, Asianet, Independent News, Sahara, Jain, Maa, Sab TV, CNBC-TV 18, TV Today and NDTV. The government had revised the norms for uplinking from India last March, and channels were told to comply within a year. News channels must reduce their foreign direct investment (FDI) to 26 per cent by March 26 to uplink from India, as per the revised guidelines. While some of the broadcasting companies waiting for the government nod on uplinking are restructuring the foreign equity, others have filed applications for launching news channels. Meanwhile, it is learnt that Zee has asked the government for a three-month extension of deadline, as the FDI policy had been changed further in July 2003 following the Star News uplink controversy. Source: http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=7719 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 5 23:15:11 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Indian Celebrities Take Part In Political Campaigns Message-ID: However, past campaigns have involved only a tiny sprinkling of movie stars. This time, the celebrity line-up for both the main parties is huge. It includes a mix of retired film stars, popular TV soap opera heroines, and even a well-known cricket commentator. The BJP set the pace, recruiting more than a dozen celebrities to campaign for it. The Congress Party quickly caught up, displaying its own formidable cast of stars. The move has amused some, but also invited criticism that the campaign has been turned into a spectacle. Many political commentators say more film stars are being put on the campaign trail this time to pep up an election devoid of excitement or serious debate. They say the glamorous line-up also helps political parties deflect attention from problems such as unemployment, and lack of water and electricity. Hiranmay Karlekar, editor with the Pioneer newspaper, says political parties are in a race to win endorsements from the celluloid world because they do not have a serious message to deliver. Source: http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=3A228212-8ABB-4F2F-8D95F17A108C1 47E From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 5 23:14:31 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Media Stocks M-Cap Up 96 Per Cent In 2003-04 Message-ID: Companies in this sector have outperformed the Sensex by posting a 96 per cent increase in market capitalisation over the last fiscal. In contrast, the aggregate M-Cap of the Sensex rose by 90.5 per cent during 2003-04. Amongst the 24 listed media companies, 18 have reported significant increases in share prices during the period under review. The industry acknowledges this optimism that has taken the market in stride. The biggest media gainers in terms of prices are Television 18 International (342%), Pritish Nandy Communications (183.30%), Adlabs (180%), Zee Telefilms (114.70%), Crest Communication (68.16%) and Balaji Telefilms (53.41%). A study titled The Indian Entertainment Industry: Emerging Trends and Opportunities made by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry its entertainment committee in collaboration with Ernst And Young speaks of a 15 per cent growth in the entertainment industry. The growth is estimated at Rs 19,200 crore during the year 2003. The report further anticipates a compounded annual growth rate of 17 per cent to Rs 42,300 crore from the entertainment industry by the end of financial year 2008. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=56326 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 5 23:19:02 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Broadcasters Turn To Mobile Tech Message-ID: A convergence of sorts is expected to happen with television channels planning to use mobile technology to shore up the revenues. Broadcasters such as Star India and Sony Entertainment Television (SET) are in the process of tying up with various telecom service providers to generate additional revenues using wireless technology such as SMS and phone votes. And this initiative is expected to take off with the launch of two reality shows - The Indian Superstar on Star Plus and Pop Idols on Sony - later this year. According to sources in Star India, revenues from interactivity using mobile phones would be the third income component to the broadcasting business, apart from subscription and advertising earnings. Internationally, viewers who wished to place a vote for any of the interactive shows on television could do so via telephone or web by paying as little as a few pence. In the UK, Pop Idols received 32 million phone votes throughout the series - ranging between 0.5 million and nearly 9 million for the final show. In the US, a record was set for mobile-orientated messages with American Idols receiving 7.5 million messages during the series and as many as 2.5 million on the last night. Source: http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13447223 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Tue Apr 6 23:32:10 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Concern Over India Opinion Polls Message-ID: India's political parties have called for a ban on opinion polls ahead of general elections. In a meeting with the Election Commission they also asked for exit polls to be conducted only after the last phase of voting. India's polls are spread over five days of voting beginning on 20 April and ending on 10 May. Meeting the Election Commission, representatives of India's main political parties argued that exit and opinion polls influenced the electorate in favour of particular parties. But analysts say the commission may find it difficult to ban the polls legally. In 1999 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of an Indian newspaper which challenged a similar order. The court declared the order had been "devoid of merit" and said the commission had no powers to issue such orders. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3603741.stm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 7 23:49:10 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Army, Media Need Better Coordination Message-ID: Mutual 'Knowledge' of the functional structures is a must. Secondly, 'national interest' must not be used as a smokescreen to compromise society's 'right to know' versus information given on a 'need-to-know basis'. Today there are 53 news channels and 2,200 dailies and exclusivity of news is a norm. "Hence, a joint press conference treating the media as a monolith is not adequate. 'Information' has to be fed through new channels to the scoop-hungry media. For greater 'transparency', the Army needs to introspect on issues of human rights violations by their personnel particularly in counter-insurgency operations, and not overreact on negative reportage. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/604030.cms From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 7 23:49:03 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: POLITICAL Ads On TV: It's Like A One-day Sale Message-ID: The span of political advertising on TV has shrunk considerably for the first phase of election, as policy-makers woke up late to address some key issues. But, short is sweet, and effective too, media pundits believe. Compare this with the scenario in a country like the US, where political ads start beaming on television almost a year ahead of elections. "It's far-fetched to compare India with the US," as an official of a leading broadcasting company put it. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=56353 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 12 23:55:56 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Bollywood Calls For The Means To A Fund Message-ID: The `fantastic new opportunity', as Media Moguls reports in www.nachnach.com, "the UK's number one Asian magazine", is from the Bollywood Media and Entertainment Fund. It is offering potential investors "the chance to place their money in the Indian film industry as it continues to expand." The doors to Bollywood are now open to experienced investors for `the opportunity to invest in film production in India'. The USPs of the Indian media and entertainment industry, apart from being "one of the biggest and fastest growing business sectors in the world", are: lavish production sets, masala music, dance sequences and the iconic status of stars. From the current $335 million, Bollywood estimates its exports to touch $3.3 billion by 2005, notes the report. Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/10/stories/2004041001340600.htm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 12 23:55:55 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Commercialisation Has Edged Literature Out Message-ID: The electronic and print media in the country, governed by commercial considerations, have hardly any place for literature, lamented Prof Gopi Chand Narang, president of Sahitya Akademi. When asked whether the onslaught of cable TV has marginalised literature, Prof Narang, noted Urdu critic and writer in his own right, said, "The IT boom has affected everything, including literature. But the problem is with the media. A culture that ignores its own roots of creativity works against itself. I do not agree with those who think this way. It is for the TV channels and media houses to reconsider their priorities and take note happening s in the bhashas (languages)." "Sahitya Akademi works more for bhashas and for their inter-connectivity. We publish more than 300 books in the Indian languages annually and organise a literary programme in different parts of India every 36 hours. This is a unique situation that the present blossoming of Indian talent in bhashas is hardly noticed by the overriding commercial considerations of the media," he said. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/611433.cms From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 19 21:43:35 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Bridging digital divides Message-ID: <4083EC9F.3020002@indiatimes.com> VIP convoys criss-cross the country on highways but not everybody is able to see their favourite leaders. Likewise information technology has been proclaimed as the icon of the current age, but it doesn't touch everybody's lives. "Despite all utopian drams, the Information Age has so far touched only a tiny majority of the world's population," write Kenneth Keniston and Deepak Kumar in /IT Experience in India/, published by Sage (www.indiasage.com ) . "If we define household access to the World Wide Web as a criterion for joining the Information Age, less than 5 per cent of the world's population of 6 billion had gained access by the year 2002." Therefore, we need to bridge the divide. But there are "four digital divides", not just one: "The first is internal - between the digitally-empowered rich and the poor. The second is a linguistic-cultural gap between English and other languages and between `Anglo-Saxon culture' and other world cultures. The next gap is underscored by disparities in access to information technology and between rich and poor nations. Finally, there is the phenomenon of the `digerati'. This is an affluent elite possessing the appropriate skills and means to take advantage of the ICTs." There are daunting statistics: That only 1 per cent of the country's population have home access to computers; of that, only a half has Net facility; more than 40 per cent of the one billion are illiterate; one in two newborns is below ideal birth weight; and only around 3 per cent can afford a telephone. Priorities could be different: With 60 million Indian children not in school, "for the cost of a computer, you can have a school." Yet there are bold initiatives. An example: Veerampattinam, a coastal village with 98 per cent of the families involved in fishing, receives information on wave heights in the next 24 hours, downloaded from a US Navy Web site. "The information requirements in that village are focussed on the safety of fishermen while at sea, on fish/shoal occurrence near shore, and on techniques for post-harvest processing." Reverting to the divides, how do we bridge them? By committing to that goal "the same intelligence and imagination that have gone into creating the technologies themselves." A simple reminder that nothing is impossible, nor any chasm that is uncrossable. Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ew/2004/04/14/stories/2004041400150200.htm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Thu Apr 15 23:19:50 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: TRAI Releases Paper On FM Radios Message-ID: The consultation paper has been prepared in the light of the recommendations of a committee headed by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Secretary General Amit Mitra. The committee has suggested revision of the licence fee structure and migration of the licence terms from fixed licence fee basis to a one-time entry fee and an annual revenue sharing arrangement. Since the licensing regime did not result in the proliferation of FM radio in the country, the government has decided to reformulate its policy to promote the growth of FM broadcasting for entertainment, education and information dissemination by commercial broadcasters. The government has auctioned 108 frequencies in the FM spectrum across 40 cities in the country through an open auction bidding process. However, services have started in only 14 cities. Of the 37 licences issued, only 24 are operational. Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/006200404141803.htm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 19 21:57:35 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Indian Film Industry Draws Growing Investor Interest Message-ID: <4083EFE7.2020906@indiatimes.com> So far, the numbers are small -- a handful of investors in the valley are involved, and investments are relatively small, from $50,000 to the million-dollar range. The films are high-risk ventures, but that's no big concern for people who made their fortunes in the high-risk tech world. Interest in the multi-billion-dollar Indian film industry from tech types has picked up in the past year or two, said Kavi Raz, an independent Hollywood filmmaker who is making three Bollywood films for the U.S. market. Recent "crossover" movies, such as "Bend it Like Beckham" and "Monsoon Wedding," which grossed $32.5 million and $14 million, respectively, caught the eye of Indo-American investors, who hope to replicate such success and spotlight Indian culture in the United States. Americans in general appear to be more interested now in the culture of the world's largest democracy, from music to food to film -- a trend the investors hope to cash in on. The cost of producing Bollywood films is relatively low -- anywhere from $1 million to $4 million. In Hollywood, a $20 million film is considered low-budget.To be sure, it's a risky business. Outside of India, there are more than 400 theaters dedicated to Bollywood movies, from Australia to South Africa to the Bay Area. And then there is the mainstream U.S. market, which some investors hope to crack with crossover movies in the mode of "Monsoon Wedding." Source: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8461591.htm?1c From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 19 22:09:23 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Initiative Combats Censorship Across The Globe Message-ID: <4083F2AB.1030308@vasnet.co.in> Researchers and students at the University of Toronto are teaming up to fight Internet censorship across the globe, according to BBC News. The project, OpenNet Intiative, is probing into the reasons that certain countries like Iran and China ban various types of Web material. The project's team then un-censors information and provides it to the citizens of these countries. While most findings show that governments are using sophisticated site blocking mechanisms to restrict access, OpenNet tries to go a step beyond and discover the inner workings of the systems and reasons for censorship. However, Ron Deibert, who runs the project, realizes that certain cultural norms are at the root of Web censorship, and he and his team respect that. "For us to start looking at ways to circumvent [censorship] is a difficult challenge for us," he said. "We do think that information should be free, but we do need to find a balance for respect for sovereign states to preserve their own culture." Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3632757.stm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Mon Apr 19 22:10:45 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Experts Discuss Media's Influence On Public Mind Message-ID: <4083F2FD.2080708@vasnet.co.in> While violent acts in international television programmes average between five and six, the figure lies between 22 and 24 when it comes to Indian television programmes. Facts like this formed part of a panel discussion on ?Mind Pollution (Media and its Impact on the Society)? organised by Gunjan Foundation at India Habitat Centre. Maintaining that ABC and TRP ratings dictate the norms in print and electronic media respectively, Singhvi said motivated reporting was another reason for media not being objective, adding: ??But media cannot be selected as an independent segment of reform and any reform in the sector needs to come through self-regulation.?? Defending the media, executive director, TVLIVE India Pvt Ltd, Nalini Singh said, ??Commerce dictates the business in electronic media but we must keep an eye on gate-keepers. But the digital media is now redefining society. Combining information and speed, cyberculture is having a democratising influence and has a potential for dissemination of information.?? According to official figures, in 2003, the print media published cigarette advertisements worth Rs 449.3 crore and the electronic media Rs 36.7 crore. While print media published Rs 173.9 crore worth of advertisements of pan masala, zarda and gutka the same year, the electronic media spent Rs 196.4 crore on the same. Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=82130 From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 21 22:02:20 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Internet Driving Hate Site Surge Message-ID: <40869404.1020904@vasnet.co.in> The net is being used by racist and extremist groups trying to recruit new members and spread their message. A report detailing 200 of the websites monitored by the Wiesenthal Center shows how sites have become key fund-raising and marketing outlets. Some sites feature games that let visitors "shoot" illegal immigrants, Jews and black people, said the report. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3641895.stm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 21 21:58:05 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Index For Online Ads Efficacy In Pipeline Message-ID: <40869305.8080808@vasnet.co.in> THE online advertising bubble burst a few years ago but the market is "slowly starting to find its more natural level," says Dr Paul Prabhaker, Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Marketing at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Stuart Graduate School of Business, who visited Chennai recently. The fault with the initial overvaluation of Internet advertising, he believes, lay with the classification of the medium. Only now, people are starting to realise that the medium is a hybrid of broadcasting and print, says Dr Prabhaker. According to Dr Prabhaker, the industry is already realising the limitations of some its formats; for instance, pop-ups, which Internet surfers are increasingly getting irritated with. Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/20/stories/2004042000670600.htm From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 21 21:50:57 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Kerala Film Industry In Soup Message-ID: <40869159.4010105@vasnet.co.in> From its heady days of super hits and critically acclaimed movies, Malayalam film industry has come a long way downhill, plagued by internal fights, mounting expenses and piracy. The plight of the industry is so bad that 2004 may see just about 25-30 films hitting the screen, says Mr Siyad Kokker, President of the Kerala Film Chamber. In 2003, the industry produced only 60 films, down from 120-odd films in 1999, he told /Business Line. / /Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/21/stories/2004042101111700.htm / From icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu Wed Apr 21 21:47:23 2004 From: icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu (icernet-admin@listserv.cddc.vt.edu) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:58 2005 Subject: Election Trail Prove An 'SMS-ing' Success Message-ID: <40869083.5050900@vasnet.co.in> What it does bring out loud and clear is just how ubiquitous the mobile has become as an effective tool to get the message across. And while it was the direct call that was used to get the prime Minister's message across the communications tool of choice for most marketers when we talk mobile is the short message service (SMS) technology. Contests, downloads, information, trivia... all at the press of a button. Mobile phones are becoming ever more pervasive as technology gets cheaper by the day! While the telecom companies may not be directly involved in doing PR for the PM, nevertheless their services are being used. To sum it up, political telemarketing with maximum use of technology and minimum manpower has been at its peak in elections 2004. Mobile technology has completely revolutionised how information is accessed, handled and viewed in our society. At some level, the quantum and quality of impact of this technology on the world, is as fundamental as the coming of the Internet. Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/vivacity1.asp?main_variable=MEDIA&file_name=med1%2Etxt&counter_img=1