Digitalisation By 2013 Tough: I&b Ministry

Publication: Business Line
Provider: Kasturi & Sons Ltd.

December 10, 2010

en

New Delhi, Dec. 9

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry feels complete migration of broadcasting services from analog to digital by 2013, as recommended by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, may not be feasible.

Huge investment Such an exercise entails huge investment in infrastructure and creating massive awareness among consumers.

?Complete migration will be a complex exercise. It requires huge investments from various stake holders. All their needs must be protected," said Mr Raghu Menon, Secretary, I&B Ministry on Thursday.

Based on the Ministry's reactions with the industry, complete switchover from analog to digital by 2013 may not be feasible. The switch-over should be aligned with the Ministry's road-map for which target is 2017, Mr Menon said.

He was speaking at ?Addressable India 2020', an industry event organised by the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia and eight other industry associations.

Stating that consumers have to be educated about the benefits of digitisation, Mr Menon said manufacturing of set-top boxes and other infrastructure equipment need to be taken up on a huge scale. Prasar Bharati, the national broadcaster, is on the path of digitisation and the Government is spending Rs 1,562 crore in the first phase by 2013.

Despite global recession, the Indian television industry grew at 8.5 per cent in 2009 to Rs 26,500 crore, Mr Menon said. Further, the industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13 per cent for 2009-14.

Stating that it was time for the industry to tap the regional market, Mr Menon said opportunities were immense. The direct-to-home (DTH) industry, which is on a high growth path, has been a key driver for the growth of digitalisation in the country, Mr Menon. About 23 million of the 230 million homes in India are being serviced by DTH, he added.

Prasar Bharati will continue to get govt fund

Publication: Financial Express
Provider: The Indian Express Online Media Ltd
December 13, 2010

Making a U-turn from its earlier resolve, the government has again made a case for continued financial support to Prasar Bharati, the public broadcaster, in order to make it financially viable. Six months ago, a group of ministers (GoM) on Prasar Bharati had recommended a 50% cut in the non-plan outlay component given to Prasar Bharati from the budgetary allocations of the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry. However, the GoM decision never got a formal Cabinet approval. Now, sources said, the government has given several assurances to the agitating employees of Prasar Bharati including retaining both assets and employees of Prasar Bharati under its umbrella, comprehensive amendments of the Prasar Bharati Act, and continued financial support among others. It is after these assurances that the 38,000 employees of Doordarshan and All India Radio decided to indefinitely defer their call for 72-hours strike from Monday. Of course, all such assurance will require the nod of the GoM and Cabinet.
"Prasar Bharati can not become financially viable if it earns four rupees and spends six rupees. After continued efforts, now the government has seen our financial and understands that without support Prasar Bharati is not viable," a senior official in Doordarshan said. In the hectic discussions between the I&B ministry officials and the representatives of the employees union last week, the National Federation of AIR and Doordarshan Employees (NFADE) gave it in writing that the employees will not go on mass causal leave for 72-hours and beyond starting from Monday. In return, the government has agreed for an active involvement of NFADE in any recommendations that goes before the GoM on Prasar Bharati. Also, NFDAE and top officials in Prasar Bharati will form a committee that will suggest a roadmap for the comprehensive amendments to be included in the Prasar Bharati Act. The government is also said to have assured the AIR and Doordarshan employees that their salaries will be paid on time.
According to sources, the I&B ministry officials told the NFADE representatives that while the assets of Prasar Bharati like buildings, lands, equipments of AIR and DD stand transferred to Prasar Bharati as per the act, technically, there has not been any such transfers. Also, Prasar Bharati can not sell, mortgage or dispose off these assets without prior approval of the government. Also, all employees of Prasar Bharati who joined before October 2007 will continue to be treated as government employees on "deemed deputation".
The government assurances came after sustained efforts from the 38,000 employees of Prasar Bharati who went on two-day mass casual leave in November which virtually brought the functioning of AIR and Doordarshan to halt. Again, from Monday, the employees had given the notice to go on an indefinite strike if their various demands were not met including repealing of the Prasar Bharati Act.
Recently, the I&B minister Ambika Soni had said that repeal of the Prasar Bharati Act was "out of question". "Prasar Bharati is an autonomous body made under an act of Parliament. The government cannot simply end its autonomy and turn in back into a government-controlled body," Soni said on Friday.
"A committee is already constituted within Prasar Bharati to make active suggestion to the I&B ministry for comprehensive amendments required in the Prasar Bharati Act. Apart from member personal, the committee will have five members of NFADE, DG Doordarshan, DG AIR and any other officials," Kulbhushan Bhatia, secretary general, NFADE told FE. 

It's time to regulate

Publication: Pioneer
Provider: HT Media Ltd

December 14, 2010

en

India, Dec. 14 -- Star India is going to host a unique two day workshop on, Comparative Perspectives on Media Self-Regulation and Society' to be held on December 14 and December 15 in the Capital. Leading personalities from different walks of life will discuss the global and comparative perspectives on media regulation as it affects current debates and the future role of information in society, Star India said in a statement. In India, media has had a mixed experience with the opposing tendencies of the freedom to express itself freely on the one hand, and regulation of content and questions of the greater good of society, on the other. Speakers at the workshop would include Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, Ex-Chief Justice of India Justice J S Verma, Anupam Kher, Anuradha Prasad (Chairperson BAG Films and President, Association of Radio Operators of India) and Star India COO Sanjay Gupta among others. Leading international researchers in media regulation, Professor Monroe E Price from the University of Pennsylvania; Jonathan Blake of Covington and Burling and Professor Wolfgang Shulz from the Hans Bredow Institute will be a part of this Seminar. Published by HT Syndication with permission from Pioneer. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

Japan Not To Establish Broadcasting Regulator, For Now

Publication: Asia Pulse
Provider: Asia Pulse Pty Ltd

December 15, 2010

en

TOKYO, Dec 15 Asia Pulse - A Japanese Ministry of Communications discussion group on protecting freedom of expression decided Tuesday not to propose establishment of an independent agency regulating broadcasting.

In compiling a report at its final meeting, the group failed to include specific conclusions on broadcasting regulation.

The discussion body was formed last December after the Democratic Party of Japan pledged to shift the responsibility of regulating communications and broadcasting from the Communications Ministry to an independent entity similar to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

Tuesday's report stated that "the issue would not be solved by formation of an organization alone" and that "independent efforts by concerned parties" are essential in protecting freedom of speech.

Google Instant by Martin Vinter

INSTANT RESULTS WITH EVERY KEY STROKE

After running "instant" in beta for almost 6 months, Google officially launched their latest marvel in 7 major markets including UK, US, France, Spain and Germany on the 8th September.

Google's quest to help consumers find things faster and serve them relevant information has stepped up a gear with the introduction of "Google Instant". In their own words they have managed to shave off an average of 2.5 seconds per search. By changing the search results page per key stroke a user types, Google are now serving their users highly relevant results at an even quicker pace. They use their vast amounts of historical and real time search behaviour data to predict what users are searching for and couple this with users' own search history where relevant to give highly accurate results.

In a nutshell Google Instant is the product of shifting through masses of search data in real time while users type to:

1. Predict what users are searching for – before they finish their sentence. An improvement on Google suggest or auto complete launched in 2006.
2. 2. Serve users natural listings and paid ads as they search. This means the page changes per keystroke based on what Google thinks you are searching for. With Google Instant users are served results without having to finish the full intended query.

For example: 
If a user who is looking for London Hotels pauses for a split second in typing in the search query, Google will serve natural and paid listings based on the query so far. As seen below typing in the letter "London h"

Google will always suggest what the system deems to be the most relevant results based on historical search data the user personal searches.

POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR ADVERTISERS AND BRAND OWNERS

Although Google Instant is the biggest change in the search landscape since universal search in 2008 it will not be available to users who are not signed into Google when searching. Searchers who do not sign in will see the Google results page in its current static form – with the auto complete dropdown but without the changes in results as you search. This means that the majority of Google users will not be using Google Instant when searching. Furthermore, when signed in users can toggle the functionality on and off.

Calculation of Technical Analysis Indicators

SIMPLE MOVING AVERAGE

A simple moving average is derived by calculating the average (mean) price of a security over a specified number of periods. Simple Moving Averages can be calculated by considering either the open, high, low or close data points for the security in question. But the predominant method is to compute considering the close data point or the closing price. For example: a 7-day simple moving average is calculated by adding the closing prices for the last 7 days and dividing the total by 7.

For eg. 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 +12 +13 + 14 = 77

Divide this by 7 will give the SMA = 77 / 7 = 11 for the 7 data points.

The calculation is repeated for each price bar on the technical charts. The averages derived then joined to form a smooth curving line which is called the moving average line. In the above example, if the next closing price in the average is 15, then this new period would be added and the oldest day, ie. The first one which is 8, would be dropped. The new 7-day simple moving average would now be calculated as follows:

9 + 10 + 11 +12 +13 + 14 + 15 = 84

Divide this by 7 will give the SMA = 84 / 7 = 12 for the 7 data points.

So at any point of time the 7 day SMA would reflect the average for the last 7 days only …as new days data gets added the oldest data gets dropped out and hence reflecting the last 7 days statistics for the 7 day SMA for the particular day.

Simple Moving averages are called as lagging indicators and hence work well only when the prices are trending. Otherwise they give misleading signals. The practice normally used by analysts and chartists is to follow the 10 day SMA to 30 day SMA for predicting the short term trend. The most reliable method often followed is whenever the current price of the stock crosses the 200 day SMA it is a strong buy signal and if the price of the stock drops below the 200 day SMA it is a strong sell signal.

EXPONENTIAL MOVING AVERAGE (EMA)

In order to reduce the lag in simple moving averages, analysts often use exponential moving averages (also called exponentially weighted moving averages) which puts more weight on the recent data or the recent prices as compared to the old data or prices. The specified period of the moving average decides the weightage applied to the most recent price. The more short the EMAs period and the more weight that will be applied to the most recent price. To make it simple and easy to understand considering a 10-period exponential moving average weighs the most recent price 18.18% while a 20-period EMA weighs the most recent price 9.52%. Calculation of EMA is a little complex compared to the SMA. The important thing to keep in mind is that the exponential moving average puts more weight on recent prices. Obviously, it will react quicker to recent price changes than a simple moving average. The formula is

EMA(current) = ( (Price(current) - EMA(prev) ) x Multiplier) + EMA(prev)

For a percentage-based EMA, "Multiplier" is equal to the EMA's specified percentage.

For a period-based EMA, "Multiplier" is equal to 2 / (1 + N) where N is the specified number of periods.

For example, a 10-period EMA's Multiplier is calculated like this:

This shows that a 10-period EMA is equivalent to an 18.18% EMA.

WHICH ONE TO USE SMA or EMA ?

EMA due to its more sensitivity to recent price movements is often preferred by most technical analysts for predicting short term trends. Similarly SMA is often preferred by most technical analysts for predicting medium to long term trends of a security.

Since sensitivity can bring in often false or misleading signals this subject has been debatable always. Since Moving Averages is a very helpful tool it should be used in conjunction with other indicators as well. The best strategy would be to use these averages and experiment by self on live data of the market and conclude which suits you the best.

Income Tax rule on

TYPES OF CAPITAL GAIN: Depending on how long you held the asset, the capital gain is classified either as short-term or long-term.

Short-term capital gain: If you sell the asset within 36 months from the date of purchase (12 months for shares or mutual funds)

Long-term capital gain: If you sell the asset after 36 months from the date of purchase (12 months for shares or mutual funds)

Section -1 Property and Others

Short-term capital gain: A short-term capital gain is added to your total income. Depending on which tax bracket you fall under, you will be taxed.

Long Term Capital Gain: Long-term capital gains are taxed at a flat rate of 20% irrespective of your income slab. Long-term capital gains is computed by deducting from the full value of the consideration, the expenditure incurred in connection with the transfer, the indexed cost of acquisition, and the indexed cost of improvement.

However, tax benefits are available under Section 54 of the IT Act. This tax can be avoided by re-investing the profits in a residential property if either of these conditions are satisfied - a fully constructed residential property is purchased within a period of one year before the sale or two years after the sale, or if you construct a residential property on your own within a period of three years after the sale.

Section-2 Shares and Mutual funds

CASE-1 Sale purchase through a Recognized stock exchange where STT is deducted:

Long Term Capital gain is exempt from tax and Short term Gain is taxed at a flat rate of 10%.

CASE-2 Sale purchase through a recognized/un-recognized exchange where STT is not deducted:

Short-term capital gain: A short-term capital gain is added to your total income. Depending on which tax bracket you fall under, you will be taxed.

Long-term capital gain taxed on shares and mutual funds: You can pay the tax on long term capital gains on shares and mutual funds either at the rate of 20% with indexation of the initial cost price or 10% without indexation which ever method the tax burden is less.

Capital loss: Sometimes, you do not make a profit. You sell at a lower rate than at what you bought. This is a capital loss. The tax in this case would be Nil but it can help reduce tax burden on other gains as you can set off capital loss as follows:

• Long-term capital loss can be set off only against a long-term capital gain.
• Short-term capital loss can be set off against any type of capital gain, long-term or short-term.

You need not incur the loss and gain in one single year. A long-term capital loss can be carried forward for eight years to be set off against a long-term capital gain. A short-term capital loss can be set off against any income under the head capital gains (whether short-term or long-term) and can also be carried forward for eight years. In both cases, these eight years start after the financial year when the loss is incurred.