Digitisation is big challenge: IBF

The Indian Broadcasting Forum (IBF) considers the process of digitisation the biggest challenge facing the broadcasting industry, but its timely and phased implementation is a prime concern, a top official said here Saturday.

The new IBF president Man Jit Singh said: "With very little time left for implementation, the IBF must take the lead on the issue."

Digitisation is scheduled to come into effect Oct 31 in the four metros: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.

Chalking a new road map for IBF, the new president urged the industry body to "become a more robust and representative forum where every broadcaster is encouraged to come up with innovative ideas to drive the industry forward."

The outgoing president, Uday Shankar, who handed over the baton to Singh at the IBF annual general meeting Saturday, said that the past couple of years have been very important for the broadcasting industry.

"New changes and technology, be it DAS or institutionalising the self-regulating mechanism in the form of Broadcasting Content Complaints Council, are being ushered in. I witnessed this moment of change," Shankar said.

The outgoing IBF chief advised its members to remain "well-prepared for the implementation of digitisation and plugging the loopholes before the deadline."

The IBF board elected Man Jit Singh of MSM as president. Sunil Lulla of Times TV Network, Rajat Sharma of India TV and Punit Goenka of Zee News were elected vice presidents, while Rahul Johri of Discovery was elected treasurer.

For the first time, the IBF Board will have three vice-presidents. Since its inception in 1999, it has so far had only one vice president.

The three vice presidents are expected to better deal with the growing challenges confronting the industry, and better coordinate across different industry initiatives, be it digitisation, regulatory, fiscal and content-related issues, or matters pertaining to the industry as a whole.

The IBF Board members now include: Man Jit Singh (MSM), Rajat Sharma (India TV), Punit Goenka (Zee News), Sunil Lulla (Times TV Network), Uday Shankar (Star India Pvt Ltd), Sudhanshu Vats (Viacom 18), N.P. Singh (Bangla Entertainment), K. Madhavan (Asianet Communications), I. Venkat (ETV), Jawahar Goel (Zee Network), K.V.L. Narayan Rao (NDTV) and Siddharth Jain (Turner India International).

The IBF Board also co-opted as directors media personalities Tripurari Sharan (Doordarshan), Ronnie Screwvala (UTV) and Markand Adhikari (Sri Adhikari Bros).