Venezuela’s cable television chamber says government plans to impose new regulations

October 14th, 2009 Business group mounts blitz for 20 million jobsWASHINGTON — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a multimillion dollar advertising campaign Wednesday to promote job growth and call attention to what it sees as the dangers of government meddling in the private marketplace.

October 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With reports of some cable operators showing illegal channels, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni Friday said she has written to Home Minister P. Chidambaram and the chief ministers to take requisite action in this regard.

October 9th, 2009 Obama steps up push for consumer protection agencyWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama fought to keep his proposed banking overhaul on track Friday, casting the political struggle ahead as one between big financial interests and average Americans victimized by complex or unscrupulous financial transactions. The president illustrated his call for a consumer finance agency by showcasing five unwitting borrowers and bank customers whose troubles ranged from massive overdraft fees to unwanted interest-only mortgages.

September 24th, 2009 Venezuela to fine networks that air 'Family Guy'CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan authorities plan to impose fines on cable television companies that refuse to stop airing the animated television series "Family Guy." Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami says the program should be pulled from the airwaves because it promotes the use of marijuana. El Aissami was outraged by a recent episode in which the show's characters started a campaign to legalize marijuana.

August 18th, 2009 Venezuela arrests suspect in attack on journalistsCARACAS, Venezuela — Reporters Without Borders has praised Venezuelan authorities for arresting a man suspected of participating in an attack on journalists. The international media watchdog group released a statement Monday applauding the "rapid progress" made in the investigation into last week's beating of a group of journalists as they handed out flyers protesting new media regulations.

July 13th, 2009 CHENNAI - The Tamil Nadu government Monday said Arasu Cable Corp, the multi-system operator (MSO) that it has promoted, has begun setting up cable television infrastructure in the districts. According to the information technology (IT) department's policy note submitted to the state assembly, the company has set up digital headends at Thanjavur, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Vellore.

July 10th, 2009 Venezuela announces new rules affecting cable TVCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez's government is imposing new regulations on cable television while revoking the licenses of more than 200 radio stations, the top telecommunications official said Thursday. The new regulations will soon require cable TV companies that use largely locally-produced content to comply with Venezuelan laws governing broadcasters, said Diosdado Cabello, who heads the telecommunications agency.

June 21st, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh and Myanmar could share each other's under sea cable system, used for running the internet, whenever their own cable connectivity breaks down, according to a proposal put forward by Yangon. Bangladesh is examining the proposal received from Myanmar, New Age newspaper said Sunday quoting an official.

June 19th, 2009 Cable venture suspends first advertising productPHILADELPHIA — A joint venture formed by the nation's six largest cable operators is suspending trials of its first advertising product before it even gets off the ground. Canoe Ventures said Friday that it will discontinue plans for now to launch "community addressable messaging," which sends ads that vary by household depending on factors such as income and age.

June 12th, 2009 Chavez: Gov't may shutter critical TV channelCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez threatened to close down an opposition-sided news network, saying the defiant Globovision channel's days on the airwaves will be numbered if its directors don't stand down. Chavez on Thursday urged executives at Globovision "to reflect" upon the TV channel's tough anti-government stance — or else the station "won't be on the airwaves much longer." The socialist leader has threatened Globovision before, demanding sanctions against the channel for its alleged violation of broadcast regulations.

June 3rd, 2009 Chavez threatens private banks with sanctionsCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday threatened to sanction private banks that fail to collaborate with his government's regulations as it moves toward a socialist economy. Chavez says that banks are designed to intervene in the financial system and provide credit to people buying houses or producing food, rather than generating massive earnings for their owners.

April 27th, 2009 TV ownership no bar to welfare, says MalaysiaKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — An official says Malaysia will scrap a rule that denies government welfare to poor people if they own a television set or cable connection at home. Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil says the Welfare Department would introduce a "more effective and realistic" system for providing aid.

April 23rd, 2009 Congress concerned about privacy over cable adsCongress is giving cable operators early notice that the industry's plan to roll out targeted advertising to viewers will be scrutinized for privacy implications. Lawmakers are questioning whether cable companies will monitor what consumers are watching to target advertising to them.

March 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's telecom watchdog Tuesday revised the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection Regulation, 2004, making it mandatory for all broadcasters to have reference interconnect offers (RIOs) for their addressable systems. The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Fifth Amendment) Regulations, 2009, released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), covers regulatory provisions on issues relating to inter-connection for addressable platforms and registration of inter-connection agreements.

February 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The telecom watchdog Tuesday introduced regulations that seek to improve the quality of service provided by cable TV operators in areas where set-top boxes are not mandatory. The regulations will come into effect April 1.