Punjab demands cess on Ad revenue earned by private TV channels

New Delhi, Sep 19 (UNI) Punjab today urged the Union government to levy cess on advertisement revenue earned by private television channels and give 70 per cent of it to states to enable them to fund their welfare communication programme.

Except the television channels in the Prasar Bharati basket, advetisement revenue earned by all private channels should be taxed and 70 per cent of it devolved to the States in the ratio of the number of Television sets sold in each State, Punjab Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said while addressing the 26th Conference of Ministers of Information and Cinematography of State Governments and Union Territory Administrations at Vigyan Bhawan here.'' Calling for a re-look at the denial of legitimate share in such revenue to the States, the Punjab Minister also urged the Union Government to work out a revenue-sharing formula of license fee collected by it from platforms such as direct-to-home (DTH), FM Radio and down-linking of signals and distribution of 70 per cent of such revenue to the States in the ratio of TV and Radio sets sold in each State.

Speaking for cable operators and lakhs of workers associated with them across the country, Mr Majithia said while introducing Conditional Access System (CAS) in states, cable operators should be given preference in issuing CAS lincenses to mitigate adverse impact on their employment.

The Punjab Minister demanded national channel Doordarshan and Radio to start national bulletin of news in Punjab for the benefit of the community living outside the State.

He sought 100 per cent broadband connectivity for the villages in Punjab that have 100 per cent road and power connectivity and also added that initiative be taken in Badal, the native village of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Seeking liberalising of the policy for community radio license, Mr Majithia sought such licenses for all universities, colleges and schools in the state.

The Minister urged the Union Government to draft a strong policy framework and code of conduct for the visual media to ensure that issues like the Gujjar agitation, Dera Sacha Sauda and fake sting operation on Delhi school teacher Uma Khurana are not blown out of proportion.

He assured Punjab government's full support to curb menace of piracy.

He requested the Union Governemnt to make arrangements for live telecast of the Birth Centenary celebration of national martyr Bhagat Singh and his associates Rajguru and Sukhdev being held at Amritsar on September 27 to 28 by Doordarshan and All India Radio.

UNI