143 TV channels want to enter Indian market

August 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry is considering to permit the private FM radio channels to broadcast the news sourced from the news agencies. Private FM radio broadcasters have been demanding for the permission to air the news bulletins from ling time.

August 18th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Ireland is "the safest gateway" for Indian corporates to enter the European market and is ready to provide "any kind of help" to Indian investors, a diplomat from that country said here Tuesday. "Ireland offers a congenial environment for Indian businesses to thrive by providing the safest gateway to enter European market," Ireland's Ambassador to India Kenneth Thompson said.

August 18th, 2009 News Corp reorganizes Asia broadcast businessNEW YORK — News Corp., the global media empire run by Rupert Murdoch, said Tuesday it was restructuring its broadcast business in Asia and that Paul Aiello, the chief executive of its STAR channels, is stepping down. News will group its Asian broadcast business into STAR India, STAR Greater China and Fox International Channels.

August 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil will address the nation today on the eve of the 63rd Independence Day. The address will be telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by English from 7:00 p.m.

August 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Devisingh Patil will address the nation on Friday, on the eve of the 63rd Independence Day. The President's address will be telecasted over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by English from 7 P.M.

June 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - As many as 22 new TV channels are set to spice up the menu of couch potatoes in India, with Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni clearing all pending proposals Friday. Soni has granted clearance to all pending proposals which were received before she took charge, the information and broadcasting ministry said here.

June 11th, 2009 Ikea snubs Indian market after spat with gov'tSTOCKHOLM — Swedish furniture retailer Ikea Thursday said it has postponed plans to enter the Indian market after talks with the Indian government broke down. According to Indian regulations, foreign companies aren't allowed 100 percent ownership of retail outlets in the country, but can enter the market by forming joint ventures with local owners.

April 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian Army and the Indian Navy have been placed on high alert along the country's southern coast to prevent any infiltration bid by Tamil tiger cadres fleeing the military offensive against them in Sri Lanka, a top commander said Wednesday. 'There is a high alert in the southern command,' Indian Army vice chief Lt.

April 20th, 2009 Calcutta prisoners demand to see IPL telecastsCALCUTTA, India — Prisoners in Calcutta's main prison went on a brief hunger strike in an effort to force authorities to allow them to watch a telecast of the Indian Premier League. Kumaresh Roy, superintendent of the Alipore Central Jail, said Monday nearly 500 out of the jail's 2,000 prisoners skipped lunch and dinner on Sunday demanding to see the IPL matches.

April 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Friday restrained two private television news channels from telecasting 'entertainment' footage like cheer girls in action while showing clips of the Indian Premier League (IPL) that begins in South Africa Saturday. Justice S.N.

April 9th, 2009 CHENNAI - With its 24-hour Tamil kids channel Chutti TV becoming popular, Sun TV Network has decided to launch similar channels in Telugu and Kannada languages. In a statutory filing with the stock exchanges Thursday, the broadcaster said the new channels - Kushi TV (Telugu) and Chintu TV (Kannada) - would go on air April 12.

March 27th, 2009 CHENNAI - Sistema Corp, a diversified Russian industrial group with interests ranging from telecom and real estate to pharmaceutical and defence equipment, will enter the Indian electronics market through its subsidiary JSC Sitronics, a senior company official has said. 'Sitronics is looking to participate in the Indian market.

February 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The economic downturn doesn't seem to have dampened the enthusiasm of India's media entrepreneurs as applications of 97 private satellite TV news channels are being scrutinised by the information and broadcasting industry. 'As on date, applications of 97 private satellite news and current affairs TV channels and 85 private satellite non news and current affairs TV channels are at various stages of scrutiny,' Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anand Sharma told the Rajya Sabha Thursday.

February 22nd, 2009 CHENNAI - The Rs.586-million (Rs.58.6-crore) Raj Television Network - the second largest Tamil satellite television company - is foraying into the Kannada language market with a music and a news channel. The company is going slow on its plans to start a Telugu news channel, while the group company's general entertainment channel in the same language is set for a makeover.

December 22nd, 2008 NEW DELHI - UTV Software Communications Tuesday temporarily deferred all deals with Pakistan in an endeavour to support the Indian government in demanding stricter action against terrorism emanating from across the border. The UTV has decided not to release any of its forthcoming films in the neighbouring market until the issue was satisfactorily resolved.