Doesn?t it seem a lot like deja vu? The Convergence Bill may finally not make its way to Parliament in the Winter session which is on currently. The group of ministers which is studying the Fali Nariman Committee recommendations and draft has not been able to decide on several issues. For starters, even on a meeting which needs attendance from all its members. Law minister Arun Jaitley, who has had a major say in a lot of policy making and is likely to continue to have a say, played truant earlier this week when he failed to turn up at one of the meetings.

The draft is additionally being reviewed by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci). Further the GOM?s members are also supposed to give their consent to the various clauses. Following which it will be presented to Parliament and then to a select committee for a further review.

But there are many unresolved issuess like who will blow the convergence bugle - the ministries of information technology, broadcasting or telecom? Which ministry will be the guide for convergence? Which body will be the regulator, the ombudsman or watchdog? What time frame will be set aside for setting up the Watch dog?

Three-four years ago, similar issues had stalled the Broadcasting Bill. Wonder whether the current government is seeeking a repeat act for Convergence.

The Kerry Packer HFCL joint venture Nine Broadcasting claims to have lifted the sagging fortunes of DD?s Metro channel as per recent TAM ratings. A news release issued by it says it has achieved consistent growth since its launch 60 days ago. From the launch week high of 5.2, the TRPs have reached a recent high of 9.6 during the 5 - 11 November week, claims the broadcaster.

Additionally, Nine Broadcasting claims that the recent surge in DD metro?s ratings has dampened the rapidly improving fortunes of Star Plus. The ratings which were already on the rise have supposed to have recieved a boost after the Helen concert on Nine Gold, thus grabbing a sizable cable and satellite audience. DD Metro, it says, has surged ahead of Star Plus to take the leadership position with a 70% increase in the average of the top 10 slots across this segment. (Refer to Graph 1) in the SEC AB segement. The figures for SEC A along are even more impresssive: the growth is 82 per cent since the launch (Refer Graph 2).

Across all SEC?s and all TV household?s, the average of the Top 10 DD Metro shows is more than double that of the other satellite channels, claims Nine Broadcasting. DD National follows in close second. (Refer Graph 3).

The channel claims that post-Helen the ratings had increased by one percent equivalent to an 108% increase. (Refer Table 2).

Programming such as Kundali, Dushman, Zindagi Milkar Bitayenge and Nargis amongst others, are claimed to be the reason behind the sucess of Nine Gold on DD Metro. This phenomena cuts across all SEC segments (Refer Graph 4).

ANNEXURE - SUPPORTING DATA
The Helen concert was introduced in the seventh week
Table 1

GRAPH 1

GRAPH 2

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GRAPH 3

TABLE 2

Graph 4