MUMBAI: Production company Participant Media revealed its plans to start its own cable channel by combining the assets of two channels, The Documentary Channel and Halogen TV.

Participant Media is a production house that has churned out films like ?An Inconvenient Truth,? ?Food, Inc.? and ?Waiting for ?Superman?.

The company said it was aiming to start the yet-to-be-named channel in the summer of 2013. The channel reins will be handled by Evan Shapiro who was earlier president at IFC and the Sundance Channel. He joined Participant Media last spring.

On launching, the new channel will reach 40 million homes owing to its recent channel acquisitions. The company said on Monday that it had completed a deal to acquire The Documentary Channel, which is available in about 25 million homes, and was working on a deal to take over Halogen TV?s channel position in about 15 million homes.

Participant Media founder Jeff Skoll was quoted in the New York Times, ?The goal of Participant is to tell stories that serve as catalysts for social change. With our television channel, we can bring those stories into the homes of our viewers every day.?

The content of the channel could include documentary films made by Participant Media and other producers. The company also revealed that the channel will have original programming.

Shapiro informed that the channel will target viewers under the age of 35 that cable and satellite distributors are ?most at risk of losing.? Participant Media might try to get the channel picked up by pitching it as a way for distributors to retain young subscribers.

NEW DELHI: In a move that is bound to raise hackles of the television and ad fraternity, the government Thursday decided to broaden the scope of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 to cover satellite broadcasters and internet medium.

The amendment approved by the government seeks to ensure that more effective protection is provided against indecent representation of women by covering newer forms of communication including internet, multimedia messaging beyond the print and audio-visual media.

This, the government feels, will aid in addressing the problem of increased objectification of women, thereby ensuring dignity of women.

"The existing Act covers print media in its present form however over the year‘s technological revolution has resulted in the development of newer forms of mediums such as internet and satellite based communication, multi-media messaging, and cable television among others," the government said.

"It has, therefore, become imperative to widen the scope of the law so as to cover such forms of media, on one hand, and to strengthen the existing safeguards to prevent indecent representation of women through any such form," it added.

According to the amended act, penalties are to be enhanced to a maximum of three years of imprisonment and fine of between Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 for first conviction, and imprisonment of not less than two years, but which may extend to seven years, and a fine between Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000 for second conviction.

Police officers of the rank of inspectors will be authorized to carry out search and seizure, in addition to state and central government officers authorized by the respective government.

The IRWA Act focuses on indecent representation of women and brings under its ambit references that are derogatory to the dignity of women. The IRWA 1986 was enacted with the specific objective of prohibiting the indecent representation of women through advertisement, publication, writing, and painting or in any other manner.

MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu-based New Generation Media has elevated its director operations RBU Shyam Kumar to the post of Group CEO. Kumar assumed charge last week.

The main focus of Kumar?s responsibilities as CEO will be to expand the reach of the group?s flagship news channel Puthiya Thalamurai over the state. He will report to group president RP Sathyanarayanan.

Kumar will also be responsible for the launch of the group?s new channels - a Tamil GEC and an English news channel in 2013.

Talking to indiantelevision.com, Kumar said, "Our Tamil news channel Puthiya Thalamurai which launched in August last year is doing very well in the state. The goal will be to make sure that the channel increases its reach in the regions of Chennai where it is lagging a tad."

Kumar started his career is 1995 with Times of India where he worked for 14 years. He held the post of city sales head at the publication when he quit. He joined New Generation Media in 2009 as director - operations.