The Union Cabinet has approved the guidelines for uplinking and downlinking television channels in India.
We have released the new guidelines after around 11 years. We’ve taken the approval of the Union Cabinet. As per the improvement we have considered over the years, we have made multiple improvements in terms of ease of doing business,” Secretary of I&B Ministry Apurva Chandra was quoted.
The guidelines have been issued with the objective of easing issues regarding permissions to the companies/ LLPs registered in India for uplinking and downlinking of TV Channels, setting up of Teleports/ Teleport Hubs, use of Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG)/ Satellite News Gathering (SNG)/ Electronic News Gathering (ENG) systems, uplinking by Indian news agencies and temporary uplinking of a live event.
“We have kept a provision that a 30-min slot should be given for things of national importance or national interest; 7-8 themes given for women empowerment, agriculture, teaching. We have tried to bring everyone on a level-playing field,” he added.
“The new guidelines have been amended after a gap of 11 years, and a number of steps have been taken to our for ease of doing business of the journals, because there are more than 870 channels which are now operating in the country. Based on our experience, these guidelines have been amended, totally important changes that now for the purpose of the live telecast, now the permission will not be required to any registration will be required for changes in a channel from SD to HD or more changes in language etc,” said Apurba Chandra.
Adding further, MIB Secretary said, “Also out now we have introduced a new provision that the channels will be required to broadcast a particular piece of content which will be of public interest. There are seven-eight themes are given in the guidelines for continuous themes of public interest, as the channels will be free to hear the content of their choice, which covers themes of public interest. So given the obligations to broadcast this, this is a new thing we will be consulting the channels will come out with more detailed guidelines.”