KU-band DTH service may be cleared October 16
New Delhi: In a far reaching move, the group of ministers, which has been deliberating for the past few months on the issue of KU-band direct-to-home broadcasting, is likely to take a final view on the issue and clear it.

According to government sources near unanimity has emerged on most issues. At present, dealing in, maintaining or selling equipment capable of receiving TV signals over 4800 Mhz (KU-band signals) is banned in India.

What may be the hurdle is the issue of set-top boxes/decoders that the consumers will require. While a majority of the ministers in the group are in favour of an "open" box system which will be capable of accessing any KU-band DTH service in India (in case of a multiple service scenario), the broadcasting industry may not support it.

The industry feels that if the government insists on an "open" system, as prevalent in some affluent countries like Japan, then running a KU-band DTH service and related infrastructure may not be a good commercial proposition.
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Domestic auto companies B2B portal losing steam
Chennai: Announced with much fanfare, the auto B2B portal being planned by eight automobile majors, on the lines of a similar one launched abroad by leading auto companies, is fast losing steam. Already, one of the eight, TVS Suzuki, has withdrawn citing internal reasons for its inability to participate in the portal.

Apparently, it is still not clear what tangible benefits the portal would bring in to the participating companies. These include, Tata Engineering, Bajaj Auto, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Hero Group, Hindustan Motors and Maruti Udyog.

Among other problems facing the proposed portal, are issues on a common governance model, contract laws, payment gateways and tangible benefits to be derived.

Industry experts also opine that, with most companies already having their own systems, to evolve a common platform across various parameters is very difficult. Further, there is no significant e-commerce in the country.
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SBI cautions banks on IMD
Mumbai: Having learnt from its costly and bitter experience of marketing the Resurgent India bonds, the State Bank of India is now treading very gingerly with the India Millennium Deposits program, primarily to ensure that it does not run into any legal hurdles.

While SBI has made it very clear that it is not offering the deposits to investors or non-residents in the US, it is busy plugging loopholes to avoid court battles with aggrieved non-resident Indian investors.

It has categorically instructed its collecting banks, that while marketing the issue, they should make it abundantly clear that deposits are not being solicited from NRIs in the United States.

Meanwhile, the collecting banks have sought the State Bank of India’s clarification on whether they could market the issue on their Websites.

The India Millennium Deposits issue is slated to open for subscription on October 21 and will close on October 31 which, incidentally, coincides with the last working day of SBI chairman G G Vaidya.
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Hindujas said to be bidding for UK newspaper group
London: In what might make them Britain’s first Asian press barons, the Hinduja brothers are said to be seriously considering a bid for Britain's Express newspaper group, which includes The Daily and Sunday Express and The Daily Star.

The Hinduja brothers are said to be considering offering up to GBP 100 million to buy the newspapers and a stake in an associated printing plant. The details of the bid for the Express group are believed to have been outlined to Dresdner Kleinworth Benson, the bankers for Express newspapers proprietor Lord Hollick.

However, with their involvement in the Bofors case, it is believed that their move to acquire a newspaper will be controversial
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