New Delhi: In a judgement, the Competition Commission of India, has given the verdict under Section 26 (1) of the Competition Art 2002, against TAM Media Research Pvt. Ltd, sole and dominant television viewership measurement firm in India that it has abused its position of strength with respect to measurement of viewership in contravention of the provisions of section 4 of the Act. The total numbers of people meters installed by TAM were only 8000 and these meters were installed in urban areas i.e. cities. No meters were installed in rural areas. The taste of cultural programmes and other programmes differ in urban areas from rural areas. In rural areas viewers may like to watch folk dances etc in the local language. As such, installation of people meters only in urban areas cannot reflect viewers choice. The sample size represented a very minuscule & narrow statistical base, keeping in view 120 millions television households. The rural viewership was completely ignored and excluded from the TAM Services. TAM was not displaying the true picture regarding TVR/TRP of Doordarshan, which had large presence in all rural areas and was broadcasting programmes keeping in view, the taste of rural viewers.

In India, within the Television Industry, about 34% of revenue comes from advertisements. The rating generated had a great bearing on advertisement revenue of a channel. It also had adverse consequences for broadcasters besides affecting the interests of the consumers.

It was observed that the sample size of 8000 homes in a vast country like India, having population of more than 126 crores was also minuscule and misleading. In a country as vast as India with diverse culture, different languages, where the urban population was only 30% and rural population about 70%, not installing people meters in rural areas, prima facie, amounted to restricting use of technology of measuring viewer?s choice to the prejudice of customers (in this case Doordarshan). In order to have a PAN India viewership data, it was essential for the TAM to have larger sample size and to distribute this sample size in rural and urban population according to the ratio in which the population stands distributed in rural and urban areas. Because of this non-distribution of sample, the taste of rural viewers was being totally blacked out. People in rural areas might be interested in different kind of programmes might be viewing agricultural related, folk dances or local problems related programmes or the programmes more centred around rural culture. But viewership of this entire area of programmes was not being measured and was not reflected in the TRP/TRV. Doordarshan is the only channel which broadcasts many such programmes like Krishi Darshan, Gyan Darshan, Kalyani, etc.., which relate to the taste of rural areas.

It is the only channel which has extensive reach to the rural areas. Non-providing of people?s meter in rural areas amounted to discrimination to Doordarshan and other similar channels, if any, catering to the needs of the rural areas. Due to this discrimination between rural and urban viewers and basing TRP only on the basis of urban viewers, the TAM was prima facie indulging in practice of denial of advertisement market.

Resultantly, the Commission is of the opinion thatPrima Facie there was sufficient material to refer the case to the Director General (DG) to cause an investigation to be made into the matter under section 26(1) of the Act ?It is ordered accordingly?.

DG shall investigate the matter about violation of the provisions of the Competition Act. In case the DG finds TAM was in violation of the provision of Competition Act, it shall also investigate the role of the persons who at the time of such contravention were incharge of and responsible for the conduct of the business of the Company so as to fix responsibility of such persons under section 48 of the Competition Act.

Mumbai: In an exciting revival of the once-popular phenomenon of ?Sunday morning TV viewing for the entire family?, Zee TV launched the country?s most revered mythological series ?Ramayan? on Sunday, August 12 at 11 AM. Audiences have loved the show, with the very first episode opening up to a promising rating of 2.7 TVR. While the other characters were finalised well in advance, the quest for the perfect casting of Ram and Sita was on for months with several actors in the television fraternity auditioning for the lead roles.

After months of speculation about who will land the much-coveted roles, the channel has announced that actors Gagan Malik and Neha Sargam have been roped in to play Lord Ram and Sita respectively. Actor Neil Bhatt who shot to fame as Abhi in Zee TV?s 12/24 Karol Bagh will be playing Lakshman. They will make their first appearance on the show in this Sunday?s episode (August 26) at 11 AM.

Sukesh Motwani, Head- Fiction, Zee TV said, ?Ramayan is fundamental to the cultural fabric of India. Lord Ram and Sita are embodiments of the ideal son and the ideal wife. They have been enshrined over the centuries and worshipped in our country, making the casting of Ram and Sita an extremely critical choice. We wanted actors who looked and acted the part from the moment they entered the frame and with the casting of Gagan and Neha, I think we have the ideal Ram and Sita. They both have the grace, dignity and poise required to play the roles.?

The only team in India truly equipped to make ?Ramayan?, Moti Sagar Productions, is producing the show. Producer Moti Sagar said, ?It?s a pleasure to produce Zee TV?s ?Ramayan?. It?s a grand recreation of the original epic and our focus is on authenticity of representation. ?Ramayan? explores the subtleties of the delicate relationships within one?s family and shows viewers a way of life. The show has opened up to a very positive response. The music by ace composer Ravindra Jain has been widely appreciated. The make-up and costume teams have received rave reviews for recreating the looks of every mythological character with finesse and accuracy. Apt casting, authenticity of the sets, the first-rate cinematography and catchy visual effects only add sheen to our content.?

Gagan Malik is naturally excited about his upcoming role. He says ?I am only beginning to fathom the immense responsibility entrusted to me while being signed on for the role of Ram. I consider myself deeply fortunate to have been selected for this prestigious role and would like to thank Zee TV for this lifetime opportunity. Playing Ram, unlike any other character I have played so far, requires a great deal of preparation, be it in terms of reading up on the finer nuances of the Ramcharitamanas or studying and imbibing everything that Ram stood for. As an actor, it will be my endeavor to get the body language, the demeanour, the tonal quality of my voice and the diction right. I am really hoping that the viewers will appreciate my work!?

The show?s leading lady Neha Sargam was last seen in a cameo on Zee TV?s ?Punarvivaah?. Talking about her upcoming role as Sita, Neha says, ?As a little girl, I remember my grandmother telling us stories from the ?Ramayan?. She would tell us sisters about how each of us should strive to emulate Sita when we grow up. While I don?t know if I have been successful in emulating Sita?s virtues in my personal life, landing this role is the closest I will ever get to living out my granny?s dream for all of us. So I dedicate this role to my grandmother. I look forward to the day when my performance appeals so much to the audience that they only see me as Sita and shower me with love!?

In the two episodes of Ramayan that have gone on air, viewers have seen Dharti Mata approaching Lord Vishnu to put an end to Ravan?s terror in Manav Lok. Lord Vishnu assures her that he will soon assume a human form and relieve her from Ravan?s misdoings. In the meanwhile, Raja Dashrath (Saurabh Shukla) has won a war thanks to wife Kaikeyi (Shikha Swaroop). He thanks her from the bottom of his heart and grants her two wishes, which she humbly refuses. He announces that her wishes will be granted whenever she requests him in the future. A ?Putra Prapti Yagya? is organized whereby Vashishta feeds a special Kheer to Raja Dashrath?s three wives Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi who give birth to Lord Rama, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan. The second episode sees Ram and his siblings as 12 year olds. Kakbhushandi, the crow known to be the biggest devotee of Lord Vishnu, gets wind of the fact that Vishnu has assumed the form of young Ram and visits them in Ayodhya.

Seeing the young boy being scolded by mother Kaushalya, Kakbhushandi is convinced that Ram is not Lord Vishnu incarnate. As the crow snatches a roti from Ram?s hands and begins to fly away, Ram?s hands begin to extend and follow him through all the Loks. Kakbhushandi realizes that Ram is indeed Lord Vishnu incarnate and profusely apologizes to him. The third episode on Sunday, August 26 will see the four brothers go to Gurukul and learn the lessons life under the tutelage of Vashishta and Guruma. Having finished their education and turned into accomplished young men, Ram (Gagan Malik), Lakshman (Neil Bhatt), Bharat and Shatrughan will return to Ayodhya where their father Raja dashrath and their queen mothers eagerly await their return.

Watch the Ramayan, an eternal classic, every Sunday at 11 AM, only on Zee TV & Doordarshan.

New Delhi: Pop icon Remo Fernandez, satirist Jaspal Bhatti, actors A Gokul and H. Sarjubala and folk singer Malini are among the persons honoured by the Election Commission of India for their role as Brand Ambassadors.

These persons through appearances on the media and outside had encouraged voters? participation in the recent assembly Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

They were felicitated at a function held in Surajkund, Haryana, at the start of a national Conference of Chief Electoral Officers. They were presented with a Scroll of Honour and shawl each.

Organizations felicitated included Doordarshan and All India Radio. The brand ambassadors presented glimpses of their campaign for Voters? Participation in their respective States.

Besides these, persons from the world of arts who have worked to promote the importance of voting in state elections in 2010 and 2011 include famous folk singer Ms. Sharda Sinha in Bihar; singer Zubin Garg and actress Nishita Goswami in Assam; percussionist Bickram Ghosh in West Bengal; and Ms Suhasini Maniratnam.

NEW DELHI: Doordarshan Additional Director General Ashok Jailkhani, Jammu Station Director Sanjit Khajuria and Doordarshan Kendra/Radio Kashmir (Srinagar) Director News Bashir Malik have been presented state awards by the Jammu and Kashmir government on the 63rd Republic Day in recognition of their contribution.

Other awardees under the category of Outstanding Media Persons include ?Greater Kashmir? Senior Editor Javaid Malik, ?Kashmir Images? owner and publisher Bashir Manzar, Times of India Chief Copy Editor Sameer Arshad, Maneesh Chibber who is Assistant Editor in the Indian Express in New Delhi, Kashmir News Services, Mohinder Verma who is Special Correspondent of Daily Excelsior, and Aurangzeb Naqshbandi, Special Correspondent of the Hindustan Times in Delhi.

Deepali Wattal (Vocal) and Ghulam Nabi Bulbul (Sarangi) are the artistes who have been selected for award for Performing Arts.

All the awardees will be given cash awards of Rs 51,000, a medal and a citation each.