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Tag: Prasar Bharti

  • All private FM radio players have written to the Union minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar

    FM players reach out to govt for bailout

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Association of Radio Operators (AROI), the apex body of radio broadcasters in the countyr, has reached out to the Government of India seeking a bailout package in view of the severe impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on the industry.

     

    All private FM radio players have written to the Union minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar about industry going through a tough phase with advertising revenues shrinking over the past year, coupled with a steep fall in government ads, and hoped the government will consider its requests for certain concessions it had sought in December 2019. The impact had worsened with the sudden outbreak of pandemic Covid-19 globally leading to services sectors and brands cutting back on advertising spends.

     

    The industry has collectively asked for a three-pronged bailout package till the economy stabilises. This included a one-year moratorium on all licence fees and charges by the government and Prasar Bharti, and restoration of government advertising on radio, besides clearing the long-pending payments from the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity.

     

     

  • Approved, then disapproved: Amitabh Bachchan's ad firm on DD Kisan's endorsement fee

    The Curious Case of Amitabh’s Kisan Channel endorsement fee

    By Vasudha Venugopal

     

    Ad agency Lowe Lintas on Tuesday said that it had been authorized by the DD Kisan channel to negotiate with Amitabh Bachchan for endorsing the channel and the actor’s office had originally approved the fee.

     

    Meanwhile, senior officials at the I&B ministry and Prasar Bharti said they had no knowledge about the contract between DD Kisan with Bachchan and that it was not approved by the the Prasar Bharti board. “DD Kisan had formally authorised us on 31.03.15 to negotiate on their behalf with Bachchan’s office. After much negotiation, Bachchan’s office on 12.05.15, sent communication to Lintas on the fee approval. Post receipt of this communication from-Bachchan’s office, we sent the necessary paperwork to DD Kisan who then went ahead with the processing and release of the payment to Lintas,” a Lintas spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

     

    The spokesperson said on July 20, the agency was informed by Bachchan’s office that after reviewing the ‘work-in-progress contract’, the actor had taken a decision that he would not charge any fee on issues involving social and those in the best interest of the nation. “ … In light of yesterday’s development, we have initiated the process of refund ( which will be concluded today ) to our client, DD Kisan,” said the spokesperson., adding that payment was pending to Bachchan.

     

    The proposed Rs 6.89 crore payment to Bachchan for appearing in a promotional campaign for the DD Kisan channel, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi two months ago to mark the first anniversary of his government had become controversial with the I&B ministry issuing a probe into the matter and the PMO also making enquiries. I&B officials and the Prasar Bharti board said the Bachchan deal was not approved by the board.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

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