The suspension of Prasar Bharti CEO B S Lalli and the controversial outsourcing of Commonwealth Games coverage to a private firm capped the events in the Information and Broadcasting sector in 2010.
Things also did not move much on Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni's pet projects -- FM 3 radio and digitalisation of Doordarshan.
The ministry announced the National Film Awards for 2009. The prominent winners included D Ramanaidu (Dada Sahab Phalke Award), Rituparna Ghosh (Best Direction for the Bengali film "Abohoman"), Amitabh Bachchan (Best Actor for "Paa") and Farooque Sheikh (Best Supporting Actor for "Lahore").
In December, the Bombay High Court directed the ministry to give a fresh show-cause notice, and a hearing to Colors channel which airs reality show "Big Boss".
The earlier stay to the ministry's directive - that the reality show be aired after 11 PM - will continue till the ministry passes a new order.
The channel dragged the ministry to the court after it directed it to change the time slot of broadcast, from prime time to beyond 11 PM, on the ground that the show had objectionable content, unfit for children.
The ministry issued another show-cause notice to Colors for its serial "Rishton Se Badi Pratha", saying it portrayed "excessive violence" and "cruelty".
But it was matters related to Prasar Bharti that grabbed headlines. The deal with UK-based SIS Live was flagged by the Income Tax department which claimed that the company did not have enough immovable properties in India to get a such a contract.
Rejecting any allegation of impropriety, Lalli said whatever payment was made was according to schedule which was approved at the highest level -- the Information and Broadcasting Minister.
A total of six companies were shortlisted, of which only two -- Nimbus and SIS Live -- made bids. As the Nimbus consortium broke up, only SIS Live was left and the contract was awarded to it.
Clarifying his position on the issue of alleged service tax and income tax evasion by SIS Live, Lalli said that due payment of service tax is the legal responsibility of the entity and not of Prasar Bharti. However, the company has intimated that they have paid the due tax in accordance with the regulations.
According to Doordarshan DG Aruna Sharma, 60 per cent of the contract value had been paid so far to the company in accordance with the payment schedule. In addition to the 40 per cent payment yet to be made, there was a 10 per cent performance guarantee that has been furnished by SIS Live.
