However, there are new directors in IBF now. The new directors who have been inducted into the IBF board are Mr Peter Mukerjea, CEO, News Television; Mr RK Singh, head, corporate services, Zee Network; Mr I Venkat, head of Enadu TV; Mr Markand Adhikari, Head of Sabe TV; Mr Mahesh Prasad, president, Sahara TV; Mr Sharad Kumar, director, Sun TV; Mr Pratik Basu, head, Buena Vista Television India.

The existing directors, who have been retained on the IBF board, include Mr Mark Young, MD, BBC; Mr Manu Sawhney, MD, ESPN Software; Mr Harish Thawani, Head, Nimbus; Mr Ronnie Screwvala, Head, UTV; and Mr G Krishnan, Executive Director, TV Today.

According to Mr Bhuvan Lal, executive director, IBF, the board has a total of 29 broadcasters now. Sun TV has joined the IBF board for the first time this year.

The first agenda of the newly constituted IBF board is negotiating with the government to do away with the 20 per cent sectoral cap in forming a DTH platform. According to Mr Lal, the IBF recommendation on the same is being formally prepared, which will then be forwarded to the government shortly.Another IBF recommendation that the government will have to take a decision on is the revenue sharing issue. While according to the DTH guidelines, broadcasters are required to give 10 per cent share of their revenues annually to the government from the time of setting up their DTH business, IBF members have sought a relief on that count. Said Mr Lal: ``IBF members want the revenue sharing arrangement with the government to begin five to ten years after the DTH platform has been set up.'' Only after the DTH projects become commercially viable, broadcasters should be required to share their revenues with the government, he said.

On whether IBF is hopeful on its recommendations being accepted by the government, Mr Lal replied in the affirmative.