केरल व कर्नाटक के महिला सरपंचों के एक संगठन द्वारा कराए गए सर्वेक्षण में कुछ रोचक तथ्य सामने आए हैं. कुछ लोगों का यह विचार था कि महिला सरपंचों का नजरिया भ्रष्टाचार के विरुद्ध है तथा वे सरकार के कार्यक्रमों को पूरी तरह से लागू करती हैं. सर्वेक्षण में यह बात गलत साबित हुई तथा यह तथ्य सामने आया है कि महिलाएं भी धनलोलुप हैं. यदि हम इन सर्वेक्षणों को किनारे रख दें तो भी हम पाएंगे कि महिला और पुरुष सरपंचों में कोई खास अंतर नहीं है.

Media company UTV‘s Singapore subisdiary is in talks with state-owned broadcaster DD to promote its online initiative, ddindia.com in Singapore. UTV Chairman Ronnie Screwvala says that revenue sharing discussions are on to launch ddindia.com on the UTV-owned sharkstream.com, its streaming video portal. Screwvala refused to divulge any further details on what the revenue share is likely to be as nothing had been finalised as yet.
He, however, pointed out that sharkstream.com has a subscriber base of 90,000 subscribers in Singapore courtesy its linkup with the local broadband initiative there, Singapore One. UTV receives a part of the Sing$ 3 to $9 per month that Singapore One collects from each of its subs. "The arrangement is under review," points out Screwvala.

Currently, sharkstream.com webcasts 17 video channels and 70 audio channels. 180 hours of programming are available for pay per view access to subscribers. sharkstream.com has also recently launched via MSO GigaMedia in Taiwan, and plans an Indian launch this month.

Screwvala added that the UTV board had recently approved the prospectus for its proposed public issue, and expects to place it with Sebi withn three weeks. UTV hopes to launch the US$ 40 million (Rs 1,859 million) public issue in early January 2001, to fund its expansion plans.

Some 90 percent of the issue will be sold via the book building route, with 10 percent being offered to retail investors. The funds are slated to be utilised to add content at both UTV and its animation offshoot UTV Tons, the company‘s broadband projects and finally to reduce the its present debt.

The UTV IPO has been one of the most awaited in recent times. Announced about a year ago, it has yet to make its debut. Screwvala and his team have been threatening to unravel it almost every two months. But they have decided against it time and again thanks either to the Nasdaq downturn, or the fizzling of new economy stocks. Hopefully, UTV means business this time.

Zee Telefilms Ltd‘s organic channel, in planning for the past couple of years, has finally been given a name-Chakra and is being readied for a lauch.

The niche, "alternative lifestyle" channel‘s concept stems from the wealth of knowledge available in India of the country‘s past - scriptures, herbal medicine, organic farming, spiritualism, etc. Because of the increasing demand in the Western markets for ancient Indian values and products, the channel will initially target the US and UK markets. But very little film or TV content on ancient Indian knowledge is available. "Freshly produced programming in English" is being specially commissioned for the channel, says the head of Chakra, Alok Dutta.

The proposed channel will launch with a four hour band, after acquiring a three month bank of programming. Depending on the success of the English programming , and the demand, the programs could be dubbed in European and other languages. Although Dutta refused committing a firm launch date, because of competitive reasons, he hopes to launch soon. However, ZTL had committed at it‘s Annual General Meeting to launch at the end third quarter-early fourth quarter 2000.

As part of the business plan, the channel will transcend from sampling visual " knowledge to experience", by marketing a range of Ayurvedic, herbal and other products via e-commerce and alliances. Chakra is open to all kinds of alliances - content, carriage, distribution, sourcing and marketing. Dutta expects the channel to be "unique and sustainable."

Chakra‘s business model is pay subscription revenues from the UK and US markets , and e-commerce from products, and consultancy. Dutta said that ZTL will invest Rs 2000 million over three years and expects break even in five years.

CNN International‘s prime time news programmes Biz Asia and Asia Tonight and Asia Tonight will have new anchors as of 23 October. Dalton Tanonaka will anchor the network‘s financial news programme Biz Asia. Karuna Shinsho will anchor the evening news shows Asia Tongith and Asian Edition.
"CNN is committed to excellence in journalism and the highest standards of presentation. Dalton and Karuna represent experience, credibility and professionalism. They are unquestionably the strongest evening anchor lineup in Asia," says Bill Baggitt, vice president and managing editor for CNN International Asia Pacific.

When ZTL chairman Subhash Chandra brought in R.K. Singh as chief executive and created a caucus of senior executives like Deepak Shourie, Dev Naganand, Uma Ganesh, everyone said that managing director Vijay Jindal had fallen out of favour with the mediapreneur and his days were numbered with ZTL. However, Jindal stayed put and the wags stopped wagging their tongues.Today, it become clear that it was only a matter of time. The company sent out a press release saying that "it has now been decided between the Company and Mr.Vijay Jindal that in order to harness his entrepreneurial capabilities the Company will support him to set up his own media investment company."

Jindal is slated to hold 60 per cent of the Rs 100 million equity capital of the new company with 40 per cent being held by ZTL. The press release additionally states that "following this Mr.Vijay Jindal will be relieved from the executive responsibilities of the company and would be Advisor to the promoter shareholder for a period of next three years."

The release quotes Chandra as saying "that the Group encouraged executives to graduate and become entrepreneurs. We are with them in their pursuit to realise their dreams."

The press release quotes Jindal as saying that he was "looking forward to getting into film production and various media related activities which will not be in conflict with the business interest of ZTL."

The decision was taken at the board meeting held yesterday to decide on the company‘s Q2 results. Following the acceptance of the new order, the board abolised the post of managing director with Deepak Shourie, R.K.Singh and Dev Naganand being appointed as wholetime Directors.

The government is likely to take a positive view on the recommendations of the Fali Nariman committee on convergence. Thus spoke communications minister Ram Vilas Paswan at a seminar on convergence organised by Assocham.

Telecom secretary Shyamal Ghosh said that licensing powers will be with the super regulator, with even spectrum management issues being under its wing in consultation with the Wirless advisor.