Digitisation of TV in metros leads quantum jump in enter tax

Preliminary data received from the entertainment tax authorities shows there has been a quantum jump in tax collection from cities where digitisation of TV has been implemented, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said today.
In a written reply to a members's question in the Lok Sabha, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said data from entertainment tax authorities of Phase I and II cities where digitisation has been implemented indicates that cable TV subscriber base reported to by cable operators has gone up substantially.
He said there is a quantum jump in entertainment tax collection by state governments.
In response to another question, he said the ministry has received requests from governments of West Bengal and Punjab for entering into broadcasting activities but they were not agreed to.

"An application from Tamil Nadu ARASU TV corporation ltd. A Government of Tamil Nadu Public Sector Undertaking, for grant of Multi System Operator (MSO) license to operate the Digital Addressable Systems (DAS) in Tamil Nadu is under examination in the light of the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), regarding entry of government entities in the broadcasting and distribution activities," he said.
In response to a question related to National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), he said cases had been filed by the Corporation for recovering outsatnding amounts from advertising agencies. He gave details of 17 such cases involving an amount of over Rs 24 crore.

Replying to a question related to complaints of irregularities in the Films Division, Javadekar gave details of eight instances of complaints.
As per details, two cases have been closed. In one case, the matter has been referred for a fact-finding inquiry while in another a fact-finding inquiry is being conducted. Appropriate proceedings were on in other cases.