Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Attention Sri Lankans : CBNSat being threatened by Defense Officials

Please copy the email given below and forward it to everyone you know.

In the aftermath of approval by the Supreme Court allowing CBNsat to recommence transmissions and also the Share Purchase agreement which will make CBNsat a fully owned subsidiary of Dialog Telekom. The people who were originally behind the shutdown of CBNsat are frantically pulling all strings to keep the broadcaster closed. They have gone to the extent of issuing threats to CBNsat and also trying to force the police to start another investigation into CBNsat.

The only thing that is preventing them is the supreme court ruling which prevents anyone from interfering with CBNsat operations.

These people behind all these threats are top officials in the Defense circles who are making use of their positions to gain a business advantage and have no regard for the National Security of this country.

These people should be immediately removed from their posts since they are a bigger threat to the national security of this nation.

By this we understand that all the allegations brought against CBNsat were false and it was these corrupt individuals who made this all up to keep a business venture shut.

An article related to this has appeared in the Daily Mirror dated 29th Nov 2006.

Please forward this email to all your friends and relatives so that they may be aware of these corrupt individuals and know that the real truth behind the CBNsat shutdown.

We appeal to Your Excellency President Mahinda Rajapakse to sack these corrupt individuals immediately.

CBNsat Customers

Breaking News : Top Defense Official trying to mess with CBNsat

We are getting reports tallying with a report in the Daily Mirror about a high official in defense circles who is preventing the reopening of CBNsat. Please click link below for more in this story.

Top Defense Official trying to mess with CBNsat

Channel One MTV to operate on new frequencies

From December 4th @ 6PM Channel One MTV will be moving to their new frequencies UHF 58 from Colombo and UHF 51 from Kandy.

This means that Channel One which was restricted because of Shakthi Tv and started broadcasting only after 9:00PM and for one hour in the morning will have more freedom and will be able to entertain us more.

We are not sure whether Channel One MTV will be a 24 hour TV channel but they are telecasting programming from Voice of America TV during late hours, so keeping that in mind we can safely make the assumption that VOA TV will also be broadcasting on Channel One MTV during off peak viewing hours.

The finals of Yes FM Music Megastar is slated to be shown live on the new test frequencies.

This will be the third dedicated TV channel for English TV programming and will have to compete with channels such as ETV & Art TV. This will indeed be a treat for viewers of English Language TV programming in Sri Lanka.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

BREAKING NEWS : Death Threats to CBNsat CEO

We are receiving unconfirmed reports that the CBNsat CEO is receiving death threats. Please refer link "Death Threats" on the CBNsat forum for more on this breaking news story.

Monday, November 27, 2006

CBNSat BREAKING NEWS :

CBNSAT HAVE WON THE 6-MONTH LONG COURT BATTLE !!!!!!!!

Please click here for more on this topic

Developments on Sirasa

There are unconfirmed reports coming in that MBC is to be investigated by the CID.

This is actually a very disturbing report since it is seen as an attempt by the GOSL to stifle media freedom in Sri Lanka and limit the entertainment choices that people have. The allegations are that a certain percentage of the income generated is being channeled to the LTTE and TRO.

We have been very vocal against MBC on most occasions but accusing a channel and trying to ban it is not at all good for the country. It is believed that this is being spearheaded by certain extremist forces in the country.

MBC Networks is one of the most popular and very vocal media organizations in the country and does well to counter some of the propaganda of the extremist forces in Sri Lanka.

One has to understand that just because the station is owned and operated by Tamils, assuming that they have links with the LTTE and TRO is being very narrow minded and will result in damaging Sri Lanka's image as a free nation.

The Maharaja organisation has been in business for several years and if there is any suspicion let the CID investigate them in a fair and transparent manner. We hope that this will not lead to the banning of another channel and depriving the already deprived public of entertainment.

We should not expect every station in Sri Lanka to give the point of view shared by the Sri Lankan Government. We should understand that there will be certain stations which will clearly give a different point of view and if the Sri Lankan government is clean then it does not have to fear this adverse publicity.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Allegations of Lip Synching by Yes FM Megastars

We have got information from one of our readers alleging that the Yes FM Megastars are lip synching the songs that they are singing. We have been getting information earlier from others that the Sirasa Superstars are lip synching the songs that they sing at times and their stage performances specially at the finals are all lip synched. We also found this interesting post called "Lip Synching by Yes FM Megastars" on a blog called True Sri Lankan listed on Kottu.

So we decided to check this out yesterday and we found that the lip synching is actually taking place and you have to look carefully to notice it.

We believe this is an act of misleading the general public and the sponsors of the show should immediately withdraw their sponsorship. Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation should explain to the general public and apologize for misleading the public on this and several previous occasions. We are also told that the winners of all their Superstar and Megastar shows are decided before hand and they have been taking everyone for a ride.

Over to the Managing Director of MBC Networks.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Thaalam FM : International Radio

Sri Lanka is getting it's first truly International Tamil Radio Station in the form of Thaalam FM which is presently testing on FM 93.6 from 22:00 hours onwards daily.

According to information that has been sent to us by Media Asia, Thaalam started as an Internet Radio Station called World Tamilar Radio and then started broadcasting to UK, Europe and Middle East via Hotbird satellite in 2005 and changed the name to Thaalam FM.

It is said to be a 24 Hour Tamil Station broadcasting news, current affairs, quiz shows, etc.

The company behind Thaalam FM is called

Yellowwin Media (Pvt) Ltd.,
21, T.B. Jayah Mawatha,
Colombo 10
Telephone : 2674390
Fax : 2673803
EMail : lanka@yellowwin.com

For more information please refer Thaalam FM web site on www.thaalam.fm

We like to thank Media Asia for providing us with the above details.

Thaalam FM on FM 93.6

Looks like we are getting another radio station. We are getting reports that a Tamil Radio Station called "Thaalam FM" is testing on FM 93.6 from 22:00 hours onwards.

We would like our fellow readers to update us if you know any news about this radio station like the type of programming expected as well as the ownership and reception in your area.

We have many Sinhala and a few Tamil Radio Stations (post has been corrected), isn't it about time that someone started a few more Tamil & English Language Radio Station's.


Friday, November 17, 2006

Art Tv Christmas movie line up

With Christmas just around the corner. Looks like Art Tv has decided to give us a head start this year by launching their Christmas movies from today onwards. Art Tv will be telecasting a Christmas movie every friday at 8:30pm.

The lineup is as follows.

Nov 17th @ 8:30pm - Elf who didn't believe
Nov 24th @ 8:30pm - A Chance of Snow
Dec 1st @ 8:30pm - A Different kind of Christmas
Dec 8th @ 8:30pm - Angel in the Family
Dec 15th @ 8:30pm - Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus
Dec 22nd @ 8:30pm - A Boyfriend for Christmas

Usually Art Tv has Christmas movie everyday for the two weeks leading up to Christmas but this time they are doing it on a weekly basis. Wonder what the other stations have lined up for its viewers during the festive month.

So here is an early Ho, Ho, Ho for all of you.

Check out FM 107.6

Looks like another new radio station is popping up on FM 107.6 and there are posters in Fort saying that they are carrying out a test transmission or something like that. We got the information from the posters while traveling. We could not read exactly what was on the poster.

We would like your feedback on this radio station and it clarity. We would also like you to update us on information such as who owns this radio station.


Thursday, November 16, 2006

MGMR & Ten Sports telecast deal under threat?

The MGMR Tv station which will be launched soon as Max Tv is in agreement with Ten Sports to broadcast the Ten Sports programming. However due to some recent developments we feel that this deal will now be reviewed by Ten Sports.

A few days ago Zee Television the operator of Zee Sports and the other Zee Tv channels has acquired a 50% controlling stake in Taj Television who is the operator of Ten Sports. This change in management is expected to bring about a change in the way Ten Sports functions.

Although it is highly unlikely that the agreement with MGMR will be scrapped, we sincerely hope that MGMR will continually telecast Ten Sports for the benefit of the sports starved public in Sri Lanka.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Media Ministry in courts

The list keeps on extending. First CBNsat takes them to courts, then LBN and now Raja takes them to courts according to a report on the Daily Mirror dated Wednesday 15th November 2006.

The case has now been postponed to November 28th since Raja had not tendered their broadcasting license in courts. They have cited the Media Minister and TRC Chairman as the respondents.

It seems that on Nov 9th Colombo Communications Limited has received a fax from the Media Ministry asking them to suspend the transmissions because of the controversial program. On November 10th, Colombo Communications Limited has received a fax from the TRC stating the immediate withdrawal of the frequencies allocated to Raja FM.

Raja FM has claimed that it has reliable information that several interested parties are taking steps to seek the reallocation of frequencies withdrawn by the TRC.

So after suspending the station they have also withdrawn the frequencies allocated to this station which has been allocated to CCL and can be used by any of their other radio stations.

So it looks like the conspirators are really moving fast to setup their own radio station. Our view is that the program should have been banned but not the station. Withdrawing the frequencies has brought out the real motive behind this. The suspension was not done for the love of the country rather for the love of money.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Conspiracy behind Raja FM closure?

Raja FM a member of Colombo Communications Limited an EAP Group Company was banned yesterday and has now ceased operations. The allegations are that they have been broadcasting programmes that contain sexually explicit content. It is true that a radio station should know where to draw the line when broadcasting programmes that discuss sex.

However it should be noted that there are several procedures that has to be followed and banning the station is not one of them.

The Media Ministry could have given a warning through courts asking Raja FM to stop broadcasting the alleged programme but it was not to be so. They could have even banned the said programme.

To add to this it has to be noted that we are getting reports of a conspiracy involving government stooges, some who have recently opened up radio station's and a few more who are planning to open up in the very near future. They wanted some breathing space for their stations and therefore decided to clear out some competition.

The authorities were able to ban CBNsat, LBN overnight and now we see the same with Raja FM, the big question now is WHO IS NEXT.

We urge the authorities to allow Raja to resume transmissions without the disputed programme.

Raja FM Suspended - Daily News Nov 10th 2006

FM Radio Banned without prior warning - Free Media Movement

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

SLT to buy stake in Grant Communications (Pvt) Ltd

Sri Lanka Telecom is carrying out a due diligence study on cable television operator Grant Communications (Pvt) Ltd.,

SLT which has applied for the "non-voice" license from the TRC announced earlier in the week that they will be launching a tv station once the license is received.

We are however not able to confirm whether Grant is a local cable tv operator or an International operator.

In what areas does "Grant" have operations?

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Cricket Fiesta on MGMR

The soon to be launched Max tv station now being tested as MGMR will be bringing some prelaunch special live broadcasts via Ten Sports.

The Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes (11th and 12th November) as well as the West Indies tour of Pakistan (commencing on 11th November) will be shown live on this tv station.


Monday, November 06, 2006

SLT to launch Tv channel

Hot on the heels of the decision by Dialog to launch a pay tv channel. Sri Lanka telecom announced that they will also be making plans to launch their own tv channel once they receive the license. Accordingly it looks like SLT will also be launching pay tv services and no further information is available on the technology that they will be using. SLT seems to be targeting Mobile tv too.

We welcome the move by these institutions to move into pay television and it is the viewers who will benefit from this move. However before licensing new operators the authorities should look into solving the problems of the existing operators.

CBNsat & LBN closure instigator in trouble

B.A.C Abeywardena the chairman of TV Lanka who is one of the main forces behind the closure of CBNsat & LBN is now in trouble over certain incidents that too place at the Tea Board. He is supposed to have fired an honest individual and now has been asked to resign by the Presidents office and he is refusing to do so. He has been offered a post as coordinating secretary to the President as his new post but he is refusing to accept this post too. This guy should be sacked and not be given any post in the government. He also has the nerve to go against an Presidential order.

Well what you do to others come back to you Abey and be rest assured that this is just the beginning of your downfall. You might have to pack up Tv Lanka and flee and seek refugee status in another country one of these days.

B.A.C Abeywardena Chairman TV Lanka and Tea Board, Lakshman Hullugalla Chairman SATnet and Head of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) are widely believed to be the individuals who caused the downfall of CBNsat & LBN by using certain politicians in the government.

We hope that the President will sack these pocket filling corrupt individuals from his government. Please refer the the CBNsat and LBN blogs for the latest on their court cases. CBNsat will be having a Supreme Court hearing today (Nov 6th).

Local Radio Stations available on satellite

We are getting reports that some of our local radio channels are now available via satellite. It seems that Siyatha FM, Hiru FM, Shakthi FM and another Tamil FM service are available on NSS6 satellite. Does anyone know what the unnamed tamil fm station is?

However we are receiving reports that Siyatha FM is available on Yamal satellite. Please update us on whether Siyatha is available on Yamal or NSS6 Satellite's.

The details are given below

Satellite : NSS6 (95E)

Frequency : 11132
Pol : Horizontal
Symbol Rate : 4500
FEC : 3/4

Friday, November 03, 2006

Srilakvahini test transmissions from today

Srilakvahini operated by Future Satcom will commence test transmissions from today (Nov 3rd). They will be broadcasting using the "Yamal" satellite and details about how to receive this channel are available on their website. This channel will be broadcasting Sinhala/Tamil/English programmes.

It seems that Srilakvahini have been issued the license for operating a satellite tv station.

We would like to wish the management of Future Satcom in all their future endeavours.

Siyatha FM now on air

Sri Lanka's newest radio station went on air just a few days ago. Siyatha broadcasts on 98.6 FM. We would like to know from our fellow bloggers more about their views on this new radio station as well as on the clarity of the reception in different areas.

The website says that the radio station is currently running test transmissions but we are getting reports that the station has already been launched.

All the best to the management of Siyatha.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

FILEnetworks – TV & Radio Sri Lanka form partnership

We are very happy to announce that TV Radio Sri Lanka Group of Blogs and the FILEnetworks blog have formed a partnership in order to bring you the latest news and updates on TV-Radio industry and software related issues.

FILEnetworks will be bringing you the latest cracks and hacks that are available in the market place.

TV Radio Sri Lanka Group of Blogs consisting of TV Radio Sri Lanka Blog, CBNsat Blog, LBN Cable TV blog, Comet Cable Blog will be bringing you the latest in TV & Radio industry in Sri Lanka.

We hope to pass the benefits of this partnership down to our fellow bloggers.