Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has invited proposals from experienced producers and production houses for event-based television shows that will be made exclusively for Doordarshan‘s National Channel.

The shows will feature big names from the entertainment industry like film stars and playback singers and will be performed in front of an audience. The shows come under the sponsored category.

The proposals should contain the concerned party‘s name and address, what experience they have in managing and producing events, what their past performances have been like. They must also submit a concept regarding the theme of the proposed shows, have an outline on who is participating and what they will be doing and who will host the show.

The last date for submission is 14 September 2001. No proposal will be accepted after this date. Interested producers have to submit the proposals with all the relevant details along with a non refundable processing fee of Rs 25,000 through a crossed demand draft in favour of Prasar Bharati: BCI, payable at New Delhi. In addition, they will have to submit a VHS copy of a show-reel of events that they have produced to the Facilitation Counter of Directorate General, Doordarshan, Doordarshan Bhavan, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi -110001.

Sony Entertainment Television is on the move. It was on 4 August that the channel started beaming in Australia on the South Asia Television platform along with Zee TV and two other channels off the Optus B3 satellite.

Before the end of the month, Sony will also be available in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives, says Shantonu Aditya, senior V-P, franchise channels & distribution.

In Pakistan, Sony is being distributed by Leo Communications, in Bangladesh, through Nationwide Communications and in Maldives it is JSat Communications.

The channel is being beamed off the PAS 10 satellite as is the case in India.

Communications minister Ram Vilas Paswan finally did it. After a lot of hectic activity behind the scenes which saw the printing of copies of The Communication Convergence Bill, 2001 (CCB 2001) over the past two days, Paswan introduced the long-in-gestation bill in Parliament on the last day of the monsoon session.

Communications minister Ram Vilas Paswan finally did it. After a lot of hectic activity behind the scenes which saw the printing of copies of The Communication Convergence Bill, 2001 (CCB 2001) over the past two days, Paswan introduced the long-in-gestation bill in Parliament on the last day of the monsoon session.

To resolve any civil liability action suits amongst service providers, the Commission will appoint one of its officers as an Adjudicating Officer to investigate whether one of them has contravened any rules or orders which could have led to civil liability.

The Communications Commission of India will license:

2) Network Services: These include bandwidth services, fixed links and mobile links.

5) Value Added Network Application Services: Internet services and unified messaging services.

Observers say the wait could be as little as three months to as much as a year. Or even longer. Remember the Broadcasting Bill of 1997?