NEW DELHI: The Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002, has been listed for re-introduction in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) today.
It was to be tabled yesterday but could not be taken up as the Rajya Sabha was adjourned because of the presidential elections.

If yesterday‘s listing is taken into account, this will be the third time information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj is attempting to get the bill through the Upper House. The bill failed to clear the Rajya Sabha in the last session of Parliament (17 May) due to lack of time.

As per the revised schedule, Swaraj will be introducing the bill as the fourth item of today‘s listed business and will also move that the bill be passed.

The amendments to the Act were passed in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) on 15 May through a voice vote.

The sources however, said the CAS issue will continue to be listed every day till it is passed. "The okay may come through sometime this week," a senior I&B ministry official told indiantelevision on Tuesday in the forenoon, adding, "Unless some members (of the Rajya Sabha) insist on a lengthy debate on the issue."

Television Eighteen India‘s (TV18) board is scheduled to meet on 22 July 22 to consider the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 30 June, and audited financial results for the year ended 31 March, reports bseindia.com.
The board will also consider the introduction and implementation of employees stock option plan 2002 as well as fix up record date for the AGM as well as book closure dates for the AGM.

The arrival of the Big Mouse in India may be delayed but it is setting up shop in other parts of the region. AsiaNet-ABC Cable Networks Group today announced plans to launch the Disney Channel in Indonesia beginning this month. The channel will launch on cable via PT Broadband Multimedia‘s Kabelvision and on DTH through PT Matahari Lintas Cakrawala‘s Indovision Digital. The announcement was made by David Hulbert, president of Walt Disney Television International.

"Asia is an important region for the growth of Disney Channels throughout the world," an official release quoted Hulbert as saying. "Launching the channel into Indonesia is another major step in expanding our presence throughout the region," he added.

The agreements were signed in Jakarta in June and the channel will be made available this month on the basic tier of both platforms.

"With this launch, our Disney Channel Asia feed has expanded into six countries in just over two years," says Jon Niermann, managing director for branded television - Asia Pacific for Walt Disney Television International. "After launching in South Korea in April, we‘re very pleased to bring the magic of Disney into more homes in the region with the addition of Indonesia."

Disney Channel Asia is headed by managing director Raymund Miranda and is now available in Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. Launched in January 2000, it is a multi-language feed with both dubbing and subtitling in Mandarin, a Korean feed with subtitling, and a main feed in English. The Indonesian feed will launch in English with plans to dub into Bahasa Indonesia in the future. From launch, Disney Channel will reach 70 per cent of Pay TV households throughout Indonesia, the release says.

The Disney Channel is currently available on pay TV in eight Asia-Pacific markets: Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Disney branded programs are broadcast on local free-to-air networks in 12 countries around the region, reaching a total audience of 300 million in Asia-Pacific, the release says.