11 Annual Report

11thANNUAL REPORT 2 017 -18 News Broadcasters Association Board of Directors Rajat Sharma M.V. Shreyams Kumar Anurradha Prasad President Vice President Honorary Treasurer M.K. Anand Rahul Joshi Avinash Pandey I. Venkat Kalli Purie Bhandal Sonia Singh Ashok Venkatramani News Broadcasters Association Board of Directors Mr. Rajat Sharma President Independent News Service Pvt. Ltd. Mr. M.V. Shreyams Kumar Vice President Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd. Mrs. Anurradha Prasad Honorary Treasurer News24 Broadcast India Ltd. Mr. M.K. Anand Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Mr. Rahul Joshi TV18 Broadcast Ltd. Mr. Avinash Pandey ABP News Network Pvt. Ltd. Mr. I. Venkat Eenadu Television Pvt. Ltd. Ms. Kalli Purie Bhandal TV Today Network Ltd. Ms. Sonia Singh New Delhi Television Ltd. Mr. Ashok Venkatramani Zee Media Corporation Ltd. Secretary General Mrs. Annie Joseph Auditors S.S. Kothari Mehta & Co Chartered Accountants Bankers Bank of India Bank of Baroda Registered Office Juris House, Ground Floor, 22, Inder Enclave, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi – 110087 Corporate Office Mantec House, 2nd Floor, C- 56/5 Sector 62, Noida – 201301 CIN: U22211DL2007NPL165480 01 Message from President, NBA August 30, 2018 t is my privilege to present the Eleventh Annual Report of the News Broadcasters Association. During Ithe year there have been several consultations on industry issues from different government agencies. NBA has responded and submitted its views on critical issues of concern to the news broadcasters. The Management Report gives the details on all the issues and the activities that we have undertaken during the year. I am not delving into those issues. It is with a deep sadness that I write of the loss during the year of our colleague and friend of the industry, Mr. K. V. L. Narayan Rao, on 20.11.2017, after a prolonged illness. He was a founder Member, Director and President of NBA from 21.12.2010 to 24.9.2014, the formative and critical years of NBA. His unstinted support and guidance in steering NBA on various industry issues was remarkable. His ability to make time to address the concerns of the industry and to be available on all occasions for NBA will always be cherished. He would support industry issues even if it went against the interest of his Company because he believed that the larger interest mattered more. He was an exceptional leader with impeccable integrity and a human touch. We all miss him immensely. May his soul rest in peace. The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) will be completing ten years on October 2nd 2018. When we look back at these ten years, more than anything, it is the commitment of the news broadcasters to the “self-regulatory system” and not to impose upon itself government regulations, that made it such an excellent model. The commitment by members to accept an entirely voluntary system has enabled the NBSA to deal effectively with all content related issues. It has ensured that the system works. At the end of the tenth year, we must reflect on how NBSA has become a known entity. NBSA has handled over 2777 complaints and rendered several decisions/ orders, all of which are available on the website of NBA. Self- regulatory bodies often are an easy target by cynics. However, we know that the NBSA can firmly proclaim that it has fulfilled its obligations to its members and to the public. The success of this initiative has been due to the untiring efforts put in by late Justice (Retd) J. S. Verma, the first Chairperson of NBSA and the present Chairperson Justice (Retd) R.V. Raveendran. Both these eminent jurists have during the last decade, along with the independent members and the editor members ensured that violations are effectively dealt with, while upholding the freedom of expression of the media. I hope the Government would now after seeing how effectively self-regulation has worked in the last decade accept the long standing demand of NBA to recognize the Code of Ethics and the Redressal Regulations of NBA and make it part of the Programme Code under the Cable TV Rules. In an industry such as broadcasting, which is facing tremendous changes, a strong and effective voice is critical. Being a unified voice of the news broadcasters, NBA is heard at the highest levels in the Government 03 11th Annual Report 2017-18 on issues concerning the news genre. Submissions/ views given by NBA are given due consideration while formulating polices /recommendations by the Government, TRAI and other bodies. I would like to mention the unstinting support we have received during the year from the PMO in finding solutions to critical industry issues. The intervention by the PMO has been invaluable. It is unfortunate that for more than a year the news broadcasters have stopped accepting DAVP advertisements as the rates offered are unviable. In view of the huge viewership/ reach that the news genre commands, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should address this issue urgently to facilitate the widest possible coverage for the advertisements relating to the achievements and policies of the Government. Digitisation of cable TV services, which began from 2012, has been completed as on 31.3.2017. The benefits of digitisation is yet to be seen by the news broadcasters. We continue to be burdened with huge carriage fees, placement fees and other fees, which is impacting our finances and survival. Implementation of the regulations is key to the success of digitisation. We hope that the TRAI would do what is necessary in this regard. Another issue of concern is the unwillingness of news broadcasters particularly the regional broadcasters from becoming members of NBA. It is disheartening to report that despite our best efforts, we have not succeeded much in strengthening our membership. It has only had a trickle effect. We have 29 broadcasters representing 71 channels in the membership of NBA. We hope broadcasters will see value in being members of NBA and we look forward to welcoming them. Every news broadcaster should voluntarily join the NBA to make it a unified voice of the news genre. NBA Board during the year under report decided to grant Associate membership to digital broadcasters and we hope digital broadcasters in the news genre will join the NBA. On behalf of the Board and Members of the NBA, our sincere gratitude to the Chairperson and Independent and Editor Members of the NBSA for their support and invaluable time. I am deeply grateful to the Board and Members of the NBA for their constant support. Their steadfast contribution has helped consolidate and strengthen the NBA. Finally, I would like to thank Mrs Annie Joseph, Secretary General, NBA for working tirelessly towards achieving the goals of NBA. I am sure she will continue to contribute wholeheartedly for the betterment of NBA. I would like to thank the staff of the NBA Secretariat, Conveners of various Sub Committees, Legal Counsel, Financial and Corporate Consultants as well as the Auditors of NBA and Bankers for their time and cooperation. Best wishes, Rajat Sharma 04 Notice OTICE is hereby given that the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Members of News Broadcasters NAssociation will be held on Thursday, the 20th September, 2018 at 12.00 noon at Multipurpose Hall, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Centre, 40, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi – 110 003, to transact the following business: J Ordinary Business 1. To receive, consider and adopt the Audited Financial Statement of the Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2018 together with Auditor’s Report and Director’s Report thereon and for the purpose, to pass with or without modification(s) the following resolution as an Ordinary Resolution: “RESOLVED THAT the Audited Financial Statement of the Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2018, together with Auditor’s Report and Director’s Report thereon, be and are hereby considered and adopted.” J Special Business 2. To consider and if thought fit, to pass with or without modification(s) the following resolution as an Ordinary Resolution: “RESOLVED THAT Ms. Kalli Purie Bhandal who was appointed as a Permanent Director of the Association by the Board of Directors on January 5, 2018 subject to approval of General Body Meeting and who holds office up to the date of this Annual General Meeting and in respect of whom the Association has received a notice in writing from a Member proposing her candidature for the office of Directorship duly seconded by another Member, be and is hereby appointed as a Permanent Director of the Association, not liable to retire by rotation, in terms of the provisions of Article 17 of the Articles of Association.” 3. To consider and if thought fit, to pass with or without modification(s) the following resolution as an Ordinary Resolution: “RESOLVED THAT Ms. Sonia Singh who was appointed as a Permanent Director of the Association by the Board of Directors on January 5, 2018 subject to approval of General Body Meeting and who holds office up to the date of this Annual General Meeting and in respect of whom the Association has received a notice in writing from a Member proposing her candidature for the office of Directorship duly seconded by another Member, be and is hereby appointed as a Permanent Director of the Association, not liable to retire by rotation, in terms of the provisions of Article 17 of the Articles of Association.” 05 11th Annual Report 2017-18 4. To consider and if thought fit, to pass with or without modification(s) the following resolution as an Ordinary Resolution: “RESOLVED THAT Mrs. Anurradha Prasad who was appointed as an Additional Director on February 1, 2012 by the Board of Directors in terms of Articles 16 and 22 of the Articles of Association liable to retire at every Ordinary General Body Meeting and who holds office up to the date of this Annual General Meeting and in respect of whom the Association has received a notice in writing from a Member proposing her candidature for the office of Directorship duly seconded by another Member, be and is hereby appointed as Director of the Association, liable to retire at the next Ordinary General Body Meeting, in terms of the provisions of Articles 16 and 22 of the Articles of Association.” 5.

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