I&B ministry seeks industry opinion for incentives to improve cinema infrastructure

Ministry also planning to work with state governments across India to help improve infrastructure for film views

The union ministry for Information & Broadcasting has sought industry inputs on providing incentives to increase the number of cinema screens across the country.

 

The ministry is also planning to work with state governments across the country to help improve the infrastructure for film viewers, Manish Tewari, Minister for I&B said.

 

Tewari was speaking at the 2nd CII Big Picture Summit in New Delhi. 

 

The ministry is also looking to overhaul the cinematograph act of 1952 and is expecting recommendations from a panel by october.

 

"There is a lack of cineme screens in India and we believe that the industry can provide us with inputs and work with state governments and provide incentives to improve infrastructure", Tewari said.

 

Meanwhile, Uday Shankar, CEO of Star India, also pointed out that the indian media & entertainment will take another 15 years to become a $100 billion if the industry grows at only 15%.

 

"It is unacceptable and we cannot allow that. The collective impact of regulation and tyranny of minority which opposes content has affected innovation and we need ensure that we are not held back", he said.

 

CII also published their report on the growth of the growth of the industry which said that the media and entertainment industry in india is expected to touch Rs 2.44 lakh crore by 2017.

 

Ronnie Screwvala meanwhile said that the industry's ambition to grow by 18% is ambitious and that the industry has made a fair amount of progress and that there is a large opportunity to take it to the next level. 

 

"One of the biggest challenge that faces the industry is attracting talent. We should also, as an industry take a pause and plan on how to go ahead in the future. If we can take a year to plan out our future for the next two years, it will have a great impact", Screwvala said.