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NEW DELHI: The Indian government has issued an ultimatum to all
TV channels that those failing to adhere to downlink norm deadline
of 10 May will not be allowed to downlink into the country.
In a statement issued on 3 May, the government has said, “It
is clarified that (television) channels for which even complete
applications, with processing fees, are not received on or before
May 10, 2006, shall not be permitted to be downlinked thereafter.”
The information and broadcasting ministry has come out with clarifications
on various queries on the policy guidelines for downlinking of television
channels in India on its website.
The guidelines stipulate a time of 180 days from 11 November 2005
for completion of all formalities of registration under downlinking
guidelines.
On queries relating to foreign direct investment (FDI) permitted
in television ventures, the government statement states that 100
per cent FDI is permitted in the broadcasting sector, which is not
under the automatic route and all such proposals will have to be
routed through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).
The government has also clarified that as on the date of submission
of application for permission under downlinking guidelines, the
applicant company must have requisite net worth and continue to
satisfy the requirement thereafter.
The information and broadcasting ministry had earlier stipulated
different net worth of television companies as per categories, namely
entertainment, news, etc, in an effort to differentiate between
the serious and non-serious players.
The downlink guidelines state that all TV channels wishing to be
downlinked into the country would have to get themselves registered
with a designated authority and also establish a permanent establishment,
amongst some other stipulations that have been dubbed stringent
by some media companies.
For example, the government reiterated on Wednesday that an applicant
company is required to provide a facility where online monitoring
of content being beamed into India is possible.
Also, the system should have the capacity to store data for 90
days, which should be available to the government at any point of
time in India at a pre-designated place.
The companies need not set up new facilities for this purpose,
but could authorize any of their multi service operators (MSOs)
or head end operators to provide this facility, the ministry has
clarified.
The government has shot off letters relating to various queries
on downlink norms to the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, Star Group
and Time Warner, according to information posted on the site of
the I&B ministry.
Earlier in March, the government had turned down a request from
the Indian Broadcasting Foundation to extend the 180-day deadline
for fulfilling newly-formulated downlinking norms by broadcasting
companies.
Indiantelevision.com
has learnt from government sources that Star group, for instance,
has applied under downlink norms for various family channels separately.
For further details on the government stand on queries raised on
downlink norms, visit http://www.mib.nic.in/informationb/CODES/frames.htm
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