The Hindu Business Line : Cos rush to comply with uplink norms

WITH just a few days left for television news companies to comply with the uplinking guidelines, the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has received over a dozen applications from various news channels available in India.

And among them are ones from CNBC-TV 18, TV Today's Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, New Delhi Television (NDTV), Asianet News, Independent Television, Sri Adhikari Brothers Television, MAA TV, Raj TV, Broadcast Worldwide and a whole bunch of channels from Sahara Media.

Officials in the I&B Ministry said, "By March 26, all channels with news and current affairs content in them must adhere to the uplinking norms announced last year.

Even if the channels do not have foreign investment, they must submit documents proving their compliance. We will examine each application closely and see that they conform to the norms."

Last year, when the Government had announced the uplinking guidelines for news channels, it had given channels that have already been uplinking from the country, a year's time to restructure and comply with the rules. This deadline expires on March 26.

However, broadcasters such as Zee are taking more time to restructure.

According to data available with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the total foreign equity in Zee Telefilms is 63.86 per cent with FIIs holding about 39.19 per cent, while the total foreign investments in TV 18 is 19.98 per cent with FIIs having 10.76 per cent share. "We are likely to look into this issue and take a decision shortly," said officials.