Budget 2017: IBF seeks 'Infrastructure Status' for brodcasting industry
Ahead of the Union Budget 2017 , a top body of broadcasters has written to the government seeking "Infrastructure Status" for the broadcasting industry. According to sources, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation(IBF), a body which has leading broadcasters as its members, has in a representation to the Finance Ministry said the Indian broadcasting industry is a mass employment creator which as of date has employed nearly 10 million people across the value chain. Given its large size and revenue projections, the sector is expected to contribute Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore in the form of direct and indirect taxes by 2020. The broadcasters have argued that in the present era of convergence of telecommunication, information technology (IT) and broadcasting technology, the distinction between telecom services and broadcasting services has got blurred. They have also mentioned that by way of a notification January 9, 2004 issued by the Ministry of Communication an...