India’s Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry has suspended its receipt of applications for new satellite TV channels to operate in the country.
According to a statement on the ministry’s website, it will not process applications for channels that…
India’s Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry has suspended its receipt of applications for new satellite TV channels to operate in the country.
According to a statement on the ministry’s website, it will not process applications for channels that uplink or downlink from inside India until further notice.
The ministry said that it was taking this step due to concerns over a lack of available spectrum with which new channels would broadcast. Its statement read: “It has been observed that although improved technologies have resulted in better utilization of the available spectrum and transponder capacities, the spectrum and transponder capacities for satellite TV channels are not unlimited.
“A need is felt to revisit the present policy for uplinking and downlinking with respect to the approach towards grant of permission including the eligibility criteria and the terms and conditions of the permission.”
It will now consult with the Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on how to proceed further.
The DTH boom of the last five years has seen the number of approved TV channels in India rise to more than 500. Another hundred new channels have applications to the I&B ministry pending.
Alongside the spectrum capacity problem, it is believed that the decision has also been influenced by a desire on the part of TRAI to establish firmer guidelines for applicants wishing to apply for a broadcast licence, particularly in terms of said applicants’ financial position.
