The government has permitted 13 companies to set up 14 uplinking hubs and teleports in the country. It has liberalised the uplinking policy to permit private companies incorporated in India with permissible foreign/NRI/OCB equity to set up uplinking hubs for leasing or hiring out their facilities to the broadcasters, the United News of India has reported.
All television channels, irrespective of their ownership, including equity structure or management control, have been permitted to uplink from India provided they undertake to comply with the broadcasting (programme and advertising) codes laid down by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

The thirteen companies permitted to set up uplinking hubs in the country are Essel Shyam, Sun TV, Television Eighteen, TV Today Network, Jain Studio, Raj TV Network, Entertainment TV Network, Hyderabad based Ushodaya Enterprises, Bangalore based Technology Media Group, Intelvision, Asianet Communications, Digital Broadcast India and Sahara Sanchar.

The move follows finance minister Yashwant Sinha‘s budget announcement that customs duties on earth stations has been reduced from 35 per cent to 25 per cent. Specifically referring to the duty reduction on earth stations, Sinha in his budget speech had said this was keeping in mind India‘s potential to become the uplinking hub for South Asian countries.

Numero uno Hindi entertainment channel Star Plus has claimed an all time high prime time channel share of 24, as per market research agency AC Nielsen‘s latest TAM data.
Leading the way is Star Plus‘ newly reworked top soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, whose 20-year leap has successfully raked in ratings, from 10.5 (before relaunch) to 13.1 (week 88), a channel release claims.

The growth registered citywise is Mumbai (22%), Kolkata (18%) & Delhi (14%) over the previous week.

The week day prime time (Mon-Fri, 8-10 pm) zooms to 71 per cent riding on the strong performances of the 9 pm shows, the release states.

The release further says that rival Sony Entertainment Television‘s top shows Kkusum and Kutumb have registered a 13 per cent drop in TRP by 13% in the week. Zee shows, does not figure in the top 50 at all.

The data is for the week 3-9 March and covered nine cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kochi.

Ageless rockers Aerosmith will be the next honoree at MTV‘s second annual music tribute event, mtvICON. The inaugural mtvICON celebrated the career of Janet Jackson in March 200 I. mtvICON honors one band or recording artist a year for their contributions to music, music video, and pop culture.
MtvICON: Aerosmith will tape in Los Angeles on 14 April, 2002 and air on MTV 17 April from 9-10:30 pm (ET/PT). The special program will feature performances and testimonials fi.om artists and celebrities who have been influenced by the band, their music, and their videos. Kid Rock, Pink, and others are scheduled to honor Aerosmith, with their musical interpretations of signature Aerosmith songs before a packed house. In addition, last year‘s honoree Janet Jackson will take the stage to open this year‘s show with a testimonial. For the finale, Aerosmith will take the stage.

Aerosmith has made 32 music videos throughout their career, including the seminal Walk This Way, Dude Looks Like a Lady, Crazy, Janie‘s Got A Gun, Jaded and many more. The band has been honored with 37 MTV Video Music Awards nominations, winning 10 times, including a moon-man for their video "Cryin‘," which was voted the "#1 All Time Favorite Video" by MTV viewers in 1994.

"Aerosmith is one of those very few bands whose influence pre-dates and spans the entire history of MTV," commented Brian Graden, president of entertainment, MTV, MTV2 and MTV.com. "They have become a fixture at the network, and we are thrilled to be able to honor them in this fashion for their continuing contributions to music and music video."

"Aerosmith is one of those very few bands whose influence pre-dates and spans the entire history of MTV," commented Brian Graden, president of entertainment, MTV, MTV2 and MTV.com. "They have become a fixture at the network, and we are thrilled to be able to honor them in this fashion for their continuing contributions to music and music video."