Monopoly of news is legal?

One of most ridiculous petitions before the high court of Chennai is by VOICE consumer care council asking to stop unregulated cable TV. The motive does not seem to be customer care and if a ruling is given in favor of the petitioner it is bound to favor the rich biggie Television channels and in no way it benefits the customer. Probably VOICE council has been asked by a friendly party to take the cudgels on their behalf. Such channels exist all over India and Voice council also exist all over India. If this case is in front of TN High court it further substantiates my point that it is a motivated case. Here most channels are run by political heavy weights who loose advertisement revenue because of these unregulated channels, so they feel.

But even that is a misconception. In print media there are all India newspapers like TOI, Hindu, Express etc and also local editions like Newstoday, mid day, etc and vernacular editions. Each has a market. Above all this there are also free papers like Mamabalam times, Nungampakkam times etc which are area specific and carry area specific ad’s. They also carry area specific news. In fact in more detail than in any other bigger edition, for the biggies cannot afford so much space for our neighbourhood. So many read these editions and many like advertising in them for they are cheaper and effective too. For example a rent a car local company cannot afford a advertisement in the Hindu or Dinakaran but can afford in Mambalam Times and also if he is in Mambalam or T nager it is more effective advertisement. so It is not an advertisement which was taken away from the biggies but an entirely different market. In case of print media anyone can print anything and distribute and investment is not any criteria. Only for accreditation there are rules that too any newspaper can get Government accreditation if its circulation is more than a mere 10000. But in case of Tv an investment of 15 lakhs and revenue of 15 lakhs from news clips is mandatory for accreditation. Why this disparity. It is a prohibitive inclusion policy against consumer interest.

If tomorrow all newspapers give it free of cost any one will like to have all of them in their houses and may then pick and choose as per their interest for the moment. Any event that happens belong to all and thus a news about it cannot have a copyright. But an analysis of it may be from an individual mind and hence a copyright for it is ok. So why should Monopoly be given a chance by prohibiting participation by asking for huge amount of money as deposit etc? While the license raj is slowly going away in other sectors why enhance it in the Television industry.

If I need to start a news channel I need a business house to support me for I need to deposit 1.5 crores as deposit to the government and 1 crore for any additional channel every year. This is a ridiculous policy. Of course it is for down linking and registration of channels. But is there a law which prohibits telecast of unregistered channel? While having such rules for foreign broadcasters sounds valid why should it be so for sub regional broadcasters.Any broadcaster having a pan India presence should have large amounts of money to start a channel and hence has to recover investment and hence has to compromise on quality. Is it what the Government wants.

Policies are not some religious text and hence should constantly change as per the requirement of the time. If some change suits customer or citizen interest then it should be done. Is it not the essence of Democracy? In fact all developed countries regulate their media but mainly to curb monopoly and they encourage pluralism in media. They have taken steps to introduce cap on ownership[ some countries do not allow more than 30% ownership in any area] and also have reduced rates of entry. Here the policy is encouraging monopoly that too by big large business houses.

Access to news where ever it be is a constitutional right of every citizen and to provide them is the duty of government. But today we do not receive news as it is but as Rajdeep or Pranab roy or Arnab Goswami perceive it to be. The importance of any news is not left to you to decide but they decide it and mould you to think it to be as. Today in India though the number of channels is very large there are only four English 24*7 news channels and they do not give importance to regional news mainly because they are not TRP earners pan India and also because of time constraints.

The moot point is- is there space for a sub regional news in Television?. The answer is Yes. A small town resident will like to know the weather, traffic and important happenings in his area. These news is not available to him today because of government prohibition to register a news channel with small investment. Is it not infringement on your right?

The government should realize the need for a sub regional TV media and announce policy, guidelines and rules to regulate them. Like Mobile services etc there should be separate license fees for them. Today News gathering is not expensive but distribution is. Government should allow small entrepreneurs also to have a chance in advertisement and thus promotion of their business and livelihood. And that is possible only if a sub regional media thrives.

It is in the consumer’s interest to allow news in sub regions too. If the entry is expensive as it is now, the Government should step in and make amends to reduce them. They can promulgate rules and take steps for content evaluation and monitoring, but to allow their existence is their duty, not a favour done.

And if a consumer council is against this, it shows their real face and their intentions are not good for you and me. Well they may be legally correct but that is our misfortune.

Well do you know there is a loop hole. An MSO can rely a channel if it does not carry news even though if it is not registered. May be the local channels should disguise their news in some program format and find a livelihood?

See Tamil Nadu told to dispose PIL on unregulated cable TV

Also see Who is a Journalist? and Cost of Visibility

A Catty rival

The trial run of a new channel named CAT[ Cable Art Television] is on Hathway and may also find place in Arasu. This is started by a group of cable operators who are in ire with the Sun group.

CAT is attempting to take on Sun DTH with a veritable mix of film songs and scenes but don’t carry an extra USP.

There are many local channels all over Tamilnadu as in other states and almost all of them do not have proper license. It is however not illegal for an MSO to transmit them who get good carriage fees. In fact most of these channels exhibit new films obviously under copyright violation. So may be it will not be ethical for an Government run MSO to carry them. May be CAT is an attempt to regularize and a conglomerate of all local channels which is not a bad idea. But when they get license they cannot violate rules and hence will have to compete against the giants.Will local news be enough to get them the TRP?

According to Kayal Ilavarasu, president, Tamizhaga Cable TV Urimaiyalargal Sangam, ‘at a time when we are fighting for our survival from the onslaught of DTH, we needed a cogent and cohesive arm to take on the rivals’.

‘CAT is an attempt to interact with our customers directly and educate them on TV Network. It ate away the local channels run by us. They threatened to cut signals if we continued to run the channels. However things have changed drastically and today we have regained our self-esteem thanks to the operator-friendly State government’.

Some cable operators expressed their displeasures at these developments. They feel that they are unnecessarily being made pawns in the on-going war between the Marans (owners of Sun TV Network) and the family of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

According to Newstoday, A prominent cable operator, on condition of anonymity, said, `With technological developments, no doubt there would threat for any business. But venturing to fight giants like Sun TV Network is no good.’

As per Newstoday, Rumours are agog that a prominent State Minister is instrumental in the floating of the local cable channel predominantly against the launch of Sun DTH facilities. A few operators allege his hand in the entire episode cannot be denied.

One more indication that may be Tamilnadu will become the first state to have a Minister for Television, soon.

No Sun for Arasu!

Sun TV, Star TV and Sony network received notices from TDSAT yesterday and are given Three weeks to reply. The hearing is on 24Th October 2008. So till then Arasu cable will not have Sun in its menu. Even on 24Th October, if TDSAT ruling for RCV is any indication it might convene a meeting between the warring parties at a later date and ask them to resolve matters amicably. Zee is giving feed only in Thanjavur and not in Coimbatore and Trichi. All these Four are very popular among masses and it is obvious that they hear to their business logic. But Arasu cable has mentioned in its petition that this is their greatest sin. Against Sun they have noted that “It appears, on the face of it, that the recalcitrant and difficult attitude of the respondent is because of the popularity of the TV programme of the respondent in Tamil Nadu. The respondent is exploiting that popularity to the extent that statutory provisions for grant of signal are being violated, and is being unreasonable and discriminatory in denying the signals. There is a strong belief that the delay in processing the request of signals by the respondent is with a Mala fide intention to promote its DTH business”

It is no secret that both the private RCV and the Government run Arasu cable are started only to damage the Sun network’s interest and hence to blame them for non cooperation is laughable. Both RCV and ACTVC are only indulging in Monopoly shift and are in no way erasing Monopoly which is the main plank for the origin of a government run MSO.

RCV had filed a similar petition against Channel plus the distributor of Sun network in July which was settled after a meeting convened by TDSAT on 31st July. But on 15Th August RCV again approached TDSAT ,this time crying that Sun is not giving feed for suburbs of Madurai. Sun’s contention is that this will mean additional subscribers and hence additional fee. After two hearings this is again listed for 25Th September.

SO IF ARASU GOES AHEAD WITH ITS PLANNED SEPTEMBER 15Th START OF SERVICES IN CHENNAI, MADURAI AND TIRUNELVELI AND AGAIN AS IN OTHER PLACES MANAGES POLITICALLY TO ROPE IN CABLE OPERATORS THESE CITIES MAY NOT SEE SUN FOR ATLEAST TWO MONTHS. IF POPULAR OPINION IS ANY CONCERN FOR THIS PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT THEN IT SHOULD DEFER LAUNCH OF SERVICE TILL THIS MATTER IS SETTLED OTHERWISE IT WILL MEAN ACTING AGAINST THE WILL OF PEOPLE at least that will be the accusation of all opposition parties and why not.

RCV has claimed that more than 90% of the cable operators in Madurai are with them. Whether they came on there own or by intimidation is another issue but the fact is a new monopoly has emerged here. And more in other areas are also in the anvil. So it will be interesting to see what is Arasu’s strategy in Madurai. Will it rope in Cable operators with the same vigour which it exhibited in other areas where the ‘son’ is absent or will it allow the absence of sun to favour the son.

If Arasu ropes in considerable operators in the metropolis and if Sun is absent for a longer period then this might also result in more churning and many may shift to DTH. Sun DTH is offering a new comedy service and it is also facing big competition from Big TV. Tata Sky has announced a new offer.

May be soon we will have a Minister for Television in Tamilnadu.

Smart Sun Laughs 24 hours

A new Channel Comedy Thirai was launched today exclusive for Sun DTH customers. It is available in channel 105 and is only for sun DTH customers. No other DTH or cable TV can have access to it. This was started from today 12 am.

Kalaignar TV had announced last month end that it will soon come with three more channels exclusively for News[ seithikal], Comedy[sirupuoli] and kids[chithirai-cartoon].The Network has also chalked out aggressive plans to ramp up capacity and expand its presence across the globe, especially in the US, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia.

A very swift response from Sun network and it has superseded Kalignar in being the first to introduce an exclusive comedy channel. But when Kalaignar Tv starts its comedy channnel and if it is a FTA channel it may not have competition in Cable network and other DTH. In fact Tatasky and Dish may also take it without any carriage fees as it will be essential for them to outwit this new sun dth weapon. As for whether sun can deny permission for other MSO’s and DTH, TRAI should answer and it will only when someone raises an objection. DTH operators can offer service on demand and they all do so . May be Sun will take this route for a satisfactory answer to TRAI. SEE THE ABOVE ADVERTISEMENT, IT MENTIONS 24 HOURS COMEDY SEVAI[SERVICE] AND NOT COMEDY CHANNEL. It is also mentioned in very minute letters in the bottom that it is a video on demand and is free for three months.

However Business sense suggests that just before Kalignar makes a formal announcement of their channel, Sun may give feed to Cable and other DTH also and till then only Sun DTH customers will be privileged.

Saravana fire and the Tamil apathy

Ranganathan Street, T nager and Saravana stores have been more or less synonymous for long now. Saravana Stores the pioneer in retail stores of Chennai or perhaps India, created a revolution of sorts in the eighties. A shop frequented by the middle class of not only Chennai but almost whole of south India. Anything and everything from mobiles to hairpin was available. Then they ventured in to Textiles, Jewelery, Optical etc. Everything was cheap and crowds pull and push you to buy something or the other. There are cheap eateries and sweets also available making it feasible to continue long hours of shopping, ideal for outstation crowd. This was all not based on any existing model but a very innovative and indianized retail model copied by giants later on.

Kishore Bayani, the founder of Big Bazaar confesses in his book Its Happening in India that his panthaloon chain was based on Saravana Model. In fact he has, and made mandatory for all his top management to visit saravana stores many times, make notes and etc before contemplating and executing his now successful retail chain.

Saravana’s existence obviously is not good for the giants like Big Bazzar and Reliance and wall marts. Also after the death of its pioneer selvarathinam in 2003 the family is a divided house. Infact the pioneer died as an unhappy man. Though he was the founder he was evicted from the main business by his brothers Rajarathinam and Yogarathinam and was given just a jewellery, sweet and fast food shops to manage.The main shop in Ranganathan street was gobbled by the brothers. It was the same year when customers complained of rude staff and in fact a customer also committed suicide by jumping from the top floor of the shop. Then it all became quiet till the fire finished the five floors of this retail giant.

Was the fire an accident or was it a sabotage. We will never know. The festive season is about to commence and the fire happened in early hours when customers are not around , very similar to most dubious and suspicious fires of chennai like the moore market fire or the early Spencers fire or the frequent riche street fires. Was it for insurance or was it a sabotage by competitors. Many in the retail industry believe that most of saravana employees were already bought by the new competitors and so a insider job cannot be ruled out. But surely this case will be shut as an accidental fire caused perhaps by Short circuit or a gas cylinder burst which may also be true.

Unlike the other giant stores in T nager, this Saravana Stores had no visible political link and that is why harassment of their present owners cannot be ruled out. Already the Police is taking of negligence of the owners to keep fire standards as required. In fact the safety supervisor of the area should be the first person to be arrested if it is so. Every day lakhs of customers visit this shop and to claim that the authorities were not aware that the precautions were not in place here is itself a great administrative lapse. Now to dig out old rules and to say compliance was not followed may be face saving for the authorities but it amounts to diversion of the real issue.

One more seed of suspicion in the timing of the fire is it happened after the opening of the Flyover. The flyover is causing lots of inconvenience to public and the shop owners and many do not see business growth in the years to come in this area as most shops now loose easy accessibility. So there is a need of remodelling or redesigning of the area. So may be this will act as a pretext to enable so. One hopes this pretext was not a cause for the fire. Already Ranganathan street is a narrow lane and now the flyover has further curtailed its entrance by two narrow service roads. God only knows how the firemen reached this place in record time. It is said they reached there with in ten minutes of the reporting and they have done a fairly good job. And thank god the fire did not happen in working hours and if it had thousands would have died. The flyover also goes side of tall and very rich shops on both sides with alarming proximity and I hope the authorities are aware of the terrorist dangers it involves if not properly monitored.

The Americans are the most patriotic and the most well looked after citizens. See the recent case of Kenneth Haywood who left India in suspicious circumstances probably with state support. There are many instances when even drug peddlers escape gulf if they are Americans. Their embassies are so strong that they pull out any citizen of theirs whenever they are in danger or even if they have erred. The Gujaraties are also akin and their government supports their cause tooth and nail under what ever circumstances. Recently Mulayam met Mayawathi when one of the top business house close to him was under fire from authorities and helped ease matters in Uttar pradesh. The narayana moorties and premjis of Karnataka may not be close to the Gowdas but they had their say and way even when they were in power. Such kind of state help is unfortunately lacking in Tamilnadu for the native businessmen. Only open political patronage or linkage or partnership seem to ease matters else they are intimidated, probed excessively hampering their growth. This is true for all the parties here and hence this is not an accusation against the present administration. The Tamil pride is only confined to literature and some ancient texts and may be to some sculptures or statues which are even relocated to the same place as if that is the most important sign of growth. But what about real growth?

The Saravanas has been the source of bread butter and mobiles for countless tamilians world over and everyone is mourning. The need of the hour is hence the state should go out of the way to help their promoters quickly gather what ever remains and to start afresh in some near by locality and avoid this pride of us fall by side. This is the only business in which a tamil nadar is ruling inspite of northern attack in the state and to lose it will be of yet another stab on the tamil’s real cause.

What has happened has happened and cannot be rewritten. The larger needs of the hour should eclipse the other issues even it be legal and this great house of trade should be let to stand erect again.

It is perhaps an irony that the other famous Saravana chain of hotels owner was also persecuted for some murder case for years and all credits to him for keeping his growth uninhibited even in those hours of crisis. If only the state had been sympathetic and pragmatic in their approach towards him then, may be he would have risen as big as Kentucky’s or McDonald’s. But his bad luck he was born a Tamilian.

The other big concern is we never learn. Inspite of the great fires of Kumbakonam school which was a world issue then, Inspite of a tsunami which again was all round calamity, we do not have the safety measures in place anywhere. In fact the only safe places in Chennai continues to be the political houses and their buildings.

Two boys have died in the fire and our sympathies should flow to their family. But again like those who lost their life in SUN TV madurai incident they will be forgotten soon. That is how we are. But hope we do not forget the great Saravana which has given something or the other in everyone of our houses.

Chennai diesel bandh

Nothing has improved and diesel is selling at 63 rs in black in Chennai. Petrol pumps in Chennai and Bangalore were mostly selling only premium petrol and diesel for the past two weeks and some pumps were even as per sources selling ordinary petrol and claiming it to be premium. All pumps or most of them were selling clandestine way at high rates and some claim they have petrol but are advised to ration. As per Times of India no ship is berthing for this week even though BPCL claims one is today. So this situation may remain or worsen by weekend. The ship from Lebanon is expected only by July 7Th.

Even an illiterate auto driver knows well that he has to put petrol/diesel when it is reserve stage. All the oil company offices in Chennai do only logistics work and if they fail in it and that too so miserably they do not deserve their huge packets.

Why only Chennai? infact even though oil goes to karnatak from here only Chennai 9is feeling the pinch. How come they did not anticipate this shortage. It is pure maths and common sense as to how much is required for the region and how to meet it. If some ship is getting delayed surely these officials must have had 15 days advance notice. And even the government must have been informed. Why no crisis management was adopted. Is it because we chennaites are gullible and sober?

Vans and school, buses are off road and all parents are forced to redesign their day to drop and pickup their wards. Chennai roads are half empty and petrol pumps have crowds. Buses and trains are crowded. Shame on us all.

Exnora 88888

The Chennai Lights out scheduled for May 1st for Global warming awareness is off. The actual plan was to gather as much population of Chennai to switch off lights in Chennai between 7-8 pm on May 1st. In fact a over optimistic Nirmal of Exnora had promised in Late January that they will reach 99 plus percent of Chennai population before May 1st. But now he concedes that they could not reach more than 1% of the population. They did organize some road shows etc plus schools campaign, but now that the exams are over and most children on vacation They feared the worst response. The call by sify for switching off lights on Earth hour between 8-9 on March 29Th was an eye opener for them. 99% of Chennai did not even know that there was something like that. The remaining 1% was also lukewarm in response. Infact I remember TN Seshan had very clearly objected the choice of date. But the rest in Exnora were very hopeful and believed in their organisational skills.

Well the plan is not completely off though. A very diluted version is being planned for August 8Th. 8 minutes starting from 8 pm on 8.8.08 is what they will request the public to switch off. They plan to reach most of Chennai before August 8Th.

“Awareness about global warming is very low in the city… we have only been able to reach one per cent of the people of Chennai so far,” said Exnora chairman M.B. Nirmal last Thursday, explaining why the Chennai Lights Out campaign is being postponed from May 1 to August 8 and reduced from one hour to eight minutes

“Many people aren’t ready to switch off their ACs for one hour in the hottest part of the year,” said campaign coordinator Miriam Chacko, explaining why the voluntary switch-off period is being reduced.

Exnora kicked off the new ‘88888’ campaign with 33 visiting Swedish students riding through the Koyambedu market on a bullock cart.

There was some confusion on what this was supposed to symbolise, with organisers saying it was meant to promote the concept of transport simplicity — reduce greenhouse gas emissions by walking, cycling or using public transport. Several speakers, however, used the slow procession as a cautionary tale — if the world runs out of fossil fuels, we could end up returning to the bullock cart.

Exnora hopes to rope in government support and the endorsement of the film community for its campaign. On April 29, an awareness meeting for film artists will be addressed by Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin, according to Mr. Nirmal.

Nehru back to form in Kathipara

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is about to fulfill a promise it made about three years ago: re-installation of a Jawaharlal Nehru statue at the centre of the Kathipara junction.

The statue will be back at its original site near the recently erected high-mass lights within a week, according to sources. At present, it stands on the Inner Ring Road, close to its former site.

The statue was shifted in mid-2005 to make way for the grade separator at the junction. The move annoyed locals and politicians, following which TR Baalu, the Union Minister in charge of National Highways and the local MP, promised that it would be restored to its original location after construction was over.
– Source: New Indian Express

Kathipara- 29/2/2008

The following is a photo taken by ira_senthilkumar and posted in Flickr. Go to kathipara bridge for seeing photo of it posted on February 29Th.

Go to Ira’s photo’s for viewing his collection.

Women’s Day TV special

Vijay TV has already announced a bouquet of programs for the Women’s day 8.3.2008 special.

Raj TV is also having a series of programs lined up for the day. A special episode of ‘PENN’ and a 3 hour variety entertainment program, to felicitate women achiever’s form various fields, shown ‘LIVE’ on Raj TV!.

At 8.30 am there is a program about World Carrom Champion Illavalagi [ Chennaiate]. The live program is a honarary function for eminent women where prizes are given by our Chief minister. Kanimozhi, Kala Master, Sripriya, Priyamani, Saroja Devi, priya selvaraj, akila srinivasan, elma issac, bhavadharani and singer Chitra are some who recieve prizes.

SS music is also giving a series of programs on th wome’s day.
‘Women Speak,’ March 8, 21.30, features six accomplished women-
Poet and politician Thamizhachi, actor and social activist Revathi, psychiatrist Dr. Shalini, filmmaker Leena Manimegalai, advocate Arul Mozhi and journalist Kavita, who discuss issues that affect women. It ranges from the kind of clothes women wear and the consequences thereof, whether the caveman sentiment still exists in men to how women are portrayed in cinema.
Join VJ Craig as he talks to these fiery women in this segment. The programme encores the next day at 12 Noon.‘In the Director’s Chair,’ March 8, 18.00, profiles the women who are wielding the megaphone and gets them to talk about their movies which are being scheduled to participate in the First Women’s Film Festival being held from March 1 to 8.
Join VJ Paloma as she chats with all these women directors on the show. The re-run will be at 16.30 on March 9.
Stay on for a lively chat with actor Nandita Das in ‘Voyage of Discovery,’ March 8, 19.45. [The Hindu]

Makkal Tv is also having special programs.At 8.30 am in penn 2008, female poets discuss by poems on various pertinent issues faced by women like dowry etc. At 12.00 noon, in unnal mudium pennae, women in army is highlighted. At 12.30 in Magalier arangam, College girls and women discuss about reservation for women in parliament. In the evening at 6.30 pm, female achievers are celebrated in sadhanai penngal.