Despite filing an urgent application before the Bombay High Court, InCable lawyers today requested for the postponement of the hearing of the case, an ESPN Software spokesperson said today.

An urgent petition was filed by InCable Network on 8 January, 2002 in the Bombay High Court for restoration of ESPN and Star Sports signals which were switched off by ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd. following the expiry of the period of the service contract on December 31, 2001. ?It appears that InCable is not keen on pursuing its application and instead, is using the pendency of the matter before the Honourable High Court to confuse and mislead its sub-operators and customers into believing that the ESPN and Star Sports signals will be restored shortly. InCable Network also continues to hold its own customers to ransom by charging them the usual subscription fees without showing them ESPN India and Star Sports India signals,? the spokesperson said.

Even though ESPN Software lawyers were present in court and ready to argue the case, InCable lawyers chose not to argue and instead requested for the postponement of the matter. Due to such a request, the Honourable High Court directed the matter to be taken up in the regular course and no date as such has been fixed for the next hearing.

Meanwhile, most cable networks affiliated to MSOs Hathway, Siticable and Wincable in Mumbai, as well as over 60 independent cable operators in and around Mumbai city, have signed the new service contracts for ESPN and Star Sports. Only the cable networks affiliated to InCable (that includes Seven Star which has a major presence in the western suburbs of Andheri-Juhu-Vile Parle) are yet to sign the new contracts.

?Regretfully it has also come to our notice that some cable networks affiliated to InCable are stealing the ESPN and Star Sports signals. This is a criminal offence under the Copyrights Act and the Indian Penal Code. We will initiate appropriate action against those cable network indulging in piracy of ESPN and Star Sports signals,? the spokesperson added.

When contacted, Ashok Mansukhani, executive V-P, corporate services, Hinduja Group said as the matter was sub judice he would not like to comment on this at this stage. X

It‘s got the look. A peek at the new face that Max, the digital movies and events channel from the Sony Entertainment stable, will be presenting to the world at 7 am on Republic Day (26 January) certainly corroborates that.
Speaking to the media during what could be called a coming out party, Rajat Jain, executive vice-president and business head, MAX, said there would be a renewed focus on building the Max brand as a separate entity rather than as an adjunct of SET. The restructuring process that was undertaken last year had split SET and Max into two business units to give each channel the requisite focus, Jain said.

The aim is to build up Max for the future for which there will be adequate investment pumped in, Jain said, adding that once the new look channel went on air there would be some changes in the MAX logo and elements for all promotables like Maha Movie and Mera Movie, for instance, plus elements like promo end pages, menu pages, lower thirds, new packaging audio, etcetera.

Jain added that his team was working on a programming schedule that would be clued in to the needs of both the advertiser and the viewer which would be ready by March.

More than two years after promising to open the floodgates to private TV channels, General Musharraf this week approved an ordinance that allows private sector television in Pakistan.
The PEMRA Ordinance 2002 allows the establishment of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority that will issue licenses to broadcast media operaters. The move is meant to bring in the element of ‘transparency and an invisible system of accountability through media available at local community, provincial, national, and international levels.‘ This spells competition not only for the three state controlled channels in the country, but also to those from across the border that beam their programmes into Pakistan, and have a loyal following.

The Cable TV network, earlier supervised by the IT and T Division, has been brought into the fold of this law and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will continue to guide and support its technical side. The PEMRA rules include a Code of Conduct for media broadcasters and CTV operators to ensure decency and responsibility, and a clause stipulating that programming content of broadcasts are to be strictly and regularly monitored. A council of complaints has also been provided in the law to respond to people‘s complaints, and recommendations for disciplinary action against broadcasters violating the code of ethics and other provisions of the law have also been provided.

Foreign television channels however will not be allowed entry, nor will licenses be granted to promoters who are not citizens or residents of Pakistan. Among others excluded from setting up shop in Pakistan are foreign companies established under the laws of any foreign government, companies the majority of whose shares are owned or controlled by foreign nationals or companies whose management or control is vested in foreign national or companies.

While the behemoth PTV and its sister channels will perforce have to shape up to match rivals from the private sector, channels like Prime Entertainment Channel (PEC), Indus Vision and ARY Gold targeting the Urdu population, have already built up a reputation in the country.

UAE based satellite channel ARY Gold‘s strengths, say reports, lies in its current affairs programmes, while the Prime Entertainment Channel has an interesting line up of shows and soaps. Set up recently,

The PEC is reported to be the only entertainment based channel completely dependent on foreign investment.