MUMBAI: It may primarily be a music channel but MTV is getting serious about its social image as well.
On Thursday, MTV declared 1 August as Asian Youth Day, an initiative between the channel, UNICEF and Levis that evolved from the Speak Your Mind campaign. The campaign, held recently, drew more than 22,000 entries from the region and encouraged youth to voice their concerns on issues affecting society and how they could improve the state of the world.

On the heels of the presentation of the Asian Youth Charter to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York, the plaque journeyed with the agenda of the youth to Singapore where 16 year old Natalya Ann Twohill presented the Charter to President SR Nathan. Thailand‘s representative Ingrid Tharasook also presented the charter to a government official, according to an official release. After interactions with Colin Powell and the recently held Forum on HIV with former US president Bill Clinton participating, this is MTV‘s latest initiative to involve youth with the day‘s pressing issues.

" Programming on MTV Asia took on a new facet on Thursday as the camera turned on youths on the streets. Young people spotted by MTV‘s camera crew introduced music videos that reflect the youth day theme. Viewers got to watch Speak Your Mind documentaries featuring Ronan Keating in Thailand, Wang Lee Hom and Manisha Koirala in Nepal and Regine Valesquez in the Philippines. These reality-based documentaries focus on issues raised by youths - HIV/Aids; child prostitution; education and poverty. The New York special featuring the 12 Speak Your Mind winners presenting the Asian Youth Charter to United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan was also aired during the day.

NEW DELHI: The Cable TV Amendment Bill 2002 has been listed for business on the agenda of the Rajya Sabha (RS - the Upper House) for 5 August.
 three hour time period has been allowed for debate on the contentious issue of conditional access systems (CAS) in India when it comes up in the RS on Monday. Government sources say the business advisory panel of the Indian Parliament has agreed to the re-listing of the Bill seeking to amend the cable TV regulation act of 1995 on the RS‘ agenda.

The Bill‘s passage through the Lok Sabha and subsequent delay in being introduced, let alone be cleared, in the RS has caused a lot of angst amongs the CATV community and opposition members. It even resulted in blackouts by cable ops in Delhi and Mumbai over the past two weeks. However, information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj‘s assurance that the bill would get the importance it deserves no matter what the opposition, pacified the CATV trade.

The cable industry has been vociferous in its protest that the government has been giving into various pulls and pressures and hence delaying the passage of the CAS amendment to the CATV act.

MUMBAI: CMM Broadcasting Network, the company that runs the CMM music channel and faith channel Aastha, has declared a net profit of Rs 2,97,000 for the JQ 2002-3, up a whopping 37 per cent from the figure of Rs 2,17,000 for the corresponding period last year.

Net sales from operations have increased 8 per cent to Rs 12.57 million up from Rs 11.58 million, total income has gone up marginally by 1 per cent from Rs 18.07 million to Rs 17.88 million. The company‘s staff costs have risen considerably, from Rs 4,62,000 last year to Rs 7,73,000 in the quarter just ended. But tight control over other expenditure has enabled it to show a rise in its net.

CMM, the company‘s digital free to air music channel and Aastha have recently shifted to PAS 10, says the company. Earlier available in 156 countries globally, Aastha and CMM are now available in an additional four countries, the important addition being UK, home probably the largest Indian diaspora.

PanAmSat‘s fleet of spacecraft will also enable Aastha reach viewers in the USA too shortly, says the channel.