Sun TV plans to invest Rs 300 cr current fiscal

Kalanithi Maran-run Sun Television Network (Sun TV) to invest over Rs 300 crore, including Sun Pictures investment of around Rs 80 crore, during the current fiscal.

Speaking at the sidelines of company's Annual General Meeting at Chennai on Monday C Unnikrishnan, chief financial officer, Sun TV said that the company has lined up around Rs 75-80 crore towards purchasing of equipment for Sun TV, another around Rs 80 crore to distribute movies, through Sun Pictures.

On the movie distribution, through company's arm Sun Pictures, the company said that before September it would release two movies and another 3 or 4 movies in the next nine months.

Another around Rs 150-160 crore will be invested towards acquisition of movie distribution rights.

Read more: Sun TV plans to invest Rs 300 cr current fiscal

Prasar Bharati to bid out DTH operations to private players

In what would be a first for a public service broadcaster anywhere in the world, Prasar Bharati is set to outsource the operational and technical management of its free-to-air direct-to-home (DTH) service DD Direct+ to private DTH operators like Dish TV, Tata Sky and others based on a tendering process.

Sources said Doordarshan will float a request for proposal (RFP) this week which will invite eligible private DTH and teleport operators to take over the operational command and control of DD Direct+ for the next five years for a fixed monthly fee.

The move, according to DD officials, is aimed at cutting costs and maximising the revenue of DD Direct+, especially when it is gearing up to boost its channel capacity from 59 to 200 and beyond in 6-8 months. "Why should government officials manage DTH services at a higher cost when private agencies can do it more efficiently," an official said, justifying the need to involve private agencies to run DD Direct+.

Read more: Prasar Bharati to bid out DTH operations to private players

Gemini TV to launch new daily from Balaji Telefilms starting 19 September

Sun Network's Telugu offering Gemini TV announced that it will be airing a new soap from the Balaji Telefilms stable

Read more: Gemini TV to launch new daily from Balaji Telefilms starting 19 September

Tamil Nadu to tax DTH, IPL

Direct-to-home (DTH) services will be charged 30 per cent entertainment tax in the state of Tamil Nadu, a step taken to support the state-floated Arasu Cable to counter Sun Network.

The state has also decided to impose a 25 per cent entertainment tax on Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket being played in Chennai.

The Tamil Nadu assembly today passed a Bill to impose entertainment tax on DTH and IPL.

The Bill in this regard was introduced in the state assembly today by state commercial taxes minister SS Krishnamurthy and passed unanimously later in the day.

According to the Bill, the DTH service providers, who transmit private satellite channels directly to consumers' house in the state, will be imposed 30 per cent as entertainment tax on overall price, excluding the service tax.

Read more: Tamil Nadu to tax DTH, IPL