NEW DELHI: There are as many as 14 television channels from Pakistan out of a list of 25 channels which security agencies in the Government have identified as illegal.

The agencies have said that the content of some of these channels is not conducive to the security environment in the country and is a potential security hazard.

Parliament was informed that out of the other 11, there are two from Nepal (one identified as Nepal, and the other as Kantipur), and one channel each from Bangladesh (NTV Bangladesh), Maldives (TV Maldives), Bhutan (Bhutan Broadcasting Service), and there is a UK-based channel, Ahmedia Channel.

Other channels from Arab countries are Peace TV from Dubai, Saudi TV, and Al Jazeera News.

The Pakistani channels are PTV, PTV Home, PTV World, Geo TV, Dawn, Express, Waqat, Q TV, Madni TV, Noor TV, Hadi TV, Aaj, Filmax and STV.

The nationality of two channels has not been disclosed: ARY TV and XYZ TV.

According to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting C M Jatua, amendments have been made in the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 to tackle illegal channels, making their transmission a cognizable offence. Another amendment to the same bill in this regard had been introduced in the Lok Sabha in December and is awaiting approval of Parliament.

Authorised officers have been appointed in all states to deal with complaints against cable operators carrying these channels, Jatua said.

NEW DELHI: The Bill to amend and consolidate the laws relating to press and registration of books and publications which would make entry of foreign magazines into the country "hassle free" has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology.

The Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16 December, was referred to the Committee early this year.

The Press and Registration of Books Bill 2011 seeks to convert into law various executive orders that have followed as a result of the review of the Print Media Policy of 1955 to keep pace with the phenomenal growth and changes in the media sector.

The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 had been amended several times since its inception to 1983, but the existing provisions were still not adequate to cater to the fast changes in the media scene.

The Government said the Print Media Policy of 1955 had undergone many changes after liberalisation of the country. For example, this policy earlier prohibited bringing out of foreign publications in India, but today the print media was attracting foreign direct investment and there was wide availability of foreign scientific and technical magazines in the country.

Therefore, the policy had been reviewed from time to time and the issues of FDI, facsimile editions, Indian editions of foreign newspapers and syndication were now being regulated through executive orders which need to be supported with statutory provisions "to elicit optimum results and hassle free entry of foreign publications," according to the ?Statement of Objects and Reasons? appended to the Bill.

MUMBAI: The phenomenon of Social TV is surfacing in India as single screens and consumers are turning to multiple platforms.

Tata Sky MD Harit Nagpal said that about 31 million Indians were now regularly viewing TV and as such TV is not an idiot box any longer. ?There are also a large number of Indians watching programmes through digital platforms. There are over 750 channels catering to diverse tastes. TV broadcast is merged with broadband,? he said.

What?s on India CEO Atul Phadnis said that TV viewers were indeed doing multi-tasking. About 75 per cent of TV viewers were simultaneously using other technology platforms.

The theme of Fusion 2012 was ?Content, Creation, Consumption and Audience involvement?.

Tam India CEO LV Krishnan said that today?s children between age of 4 and 12 were tech-savvy, and would engender a revolution in the coming years in TV world. ?You will see a sea change in the next eight years in people?s attitude towards viewing programs on TV and digital platforms. As the size of TV viewers enlarge, all stakeholders will stand to gain,? he said.

Meanwhile in the opening session Union minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Maken blamed the sports federations for obstructing growth of sports in India. ?The federations have been playing a negative role,? he said.

Sports was a healthy form of entertainment, popularised through mass media. ?Unfortunately, the growth of sports in India was being stunted due to monopoly of sports federations, which have become fiefdom of powerful vested interests. For breaking their stranglehold, it is necessary to promote sports leagues and other platforms, so that Indian youth would be able to avail wider opportunities for nurturing their skills?, he said.

?Sports is a State government?s subject, and the central government has no direct control on its administration and development. Yet I have taken initiative to promote sports by offering liberal grants for creating infrastructure and for setting up training academies,? Maken added.

Explaining further, he said that India had 92 sports academics, catering to the needs of about 15,000 youths. ?My ministry has sanctioned grants totalling Rs 2.60 million for promoting non-cricketing sports by hiring the services of 29 foreign coaches, all in preparation for London Olympics,? he said.

He would be moving a Bill in the Lok Sabha for bringing all sports organisations under the ambit of ?Right to information? for ensuring transparency and ending vested interests.

?Once this Bill is passed, you will see revolutionary changes in the world of sports in the country. We want to set up a sports university and also an academy of sports sciences on the model of China. I will get the Cabinet?s okay for this Bill before 31 March 2012?, Maken said.

NEW DELHI: The Government has today introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend and consolidate the laws relating to press and registration of books and publications, which would make entry of foreign magazines into the country "hassle free".

The Press and Registration of Books Bill 2011 seeks to convert into law various executive orders that have followed as a result of the review of the Print Media Policy of 1955 to keep pace with the phenomenal growth and changes in the media sector.

The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 has been amended several times since its inception to 1983, but the existing provisions are still not adequate to cater to the fast changes in the media scene.

The Government said the Print Media Policy of 1955 has undergone many changes after liberalisation of the country. For example, this policy earlier prohibited bringing out of foreign publications in India, but today the print media is attracting foreign direct investment and there is wide availability of foreign scientific and technical magazines in the country.

Therefore, the policy has been reviewed from time to time and the issues of FDI, facsimile editions, Indian editions of foreign newspapers, syndication are now being regulated through executive orders which need to be supported with statutory provisions "to elicit optimum results and hassle free entry of foreign publications," according to the ‘Statement of Objects and Reasons‘ appended to the Bill.