Pak asked to lift ban on Indian films

India has asked Pakistan to lift the ban on Indian films and TV channels, Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy told the Rajya Sabha today.

"Pakistan exercises a blanket ban on Indian films, and audio- visual and print media. The Indian government has asked Pakistan to remove the existing ban on Indian TV channels, permit exchange of newspapers, books and periodicals, and remove the ban on Indian films," he said in a written reply.

India, he said, followed an open sky and open door policy. "Any number of Pakistani films, music and videos can be bought in the Indian markets at any given point of time."

He also said four million receiving systems for Prasar Bharati's direct to home (DTH) service, DD Direct, had been sold since the launch of the service on December 15, 2004.

The government also proposes to set up new towers for common transmission infrastructure during phase-II of private FM radio broadcasting in nine cities, namely Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Surat.

Reddy also said the government had appointed a committee for suggesting a viable capital and financial structure for Prasar Bharati to strengthen its functioning.

While proposing such a model, the committee will take into account the role of Prasar Bharati as a public service broadcaster, and the need to maximise its revenue-earning potential through commercial operations.

The 10-member committee is headed by secretary (information and broadcasting), and has chief executive Prasar Bharati, director-general Doordarshan and All India Radio as its members.

The committee was asked to submit its report within a period of three months from the date when it was constituted.

The term has now been extended to September 30, 2005.

He also said the government has, so far, permitted 58 companies to uplink 161 private TV channels from India.

Seventeen companies allowed to uplink 68 TV channels have varying degrees of foreign equity. The remaining 41 companies permitted to uplink 93 TV channels have 100 per cent Indian equity.

Reddy also said the government was contemplating setting up of an autonomous body to regulate the content of television channels.

The government has also set up an inter-ministerial committee to look into violations of the programme and advertising code.