The Hindu Business Line : Cabinet refers downlinking norms for channels to GoM

THE Cabinet today decided to refer the downlinking guidelines to the Group of Ministers (GoM) to put in place a regulatory framework for channels beaming into the country.

Briefing newspersons after the Cabinet meeting, the I&B Minister, Mr Jaipal Reddy, said, "The downlinking norms would require channels uplinking from foreign locations to register their channels and companies in India."

So far several broadcasters have been operating in India through marketing agents. Under the new norms, they would have to register their companies under the Companies Act and the channels with the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry.

Besides this, the GoM will also consider the issue sharing of feed of sporting events of national importance played out side the country with national broadcaster, Prasar Bharati.

As per this, private broadcasters would mandatorily have to provide feed of such events to Doordarshan's terrestrial network.

This issue has been a controversial one, after some private broadcasters were unwilling to share the feed with Prasar Bharati stating various reasons such as copyright violations and devaluation of the deal. However, due to the intervention of the Courts, the private broadcasters had to share their telecast rights with Doordarshan.

This is the second policy proposal that has been sent to the GoM headed by Mr Pranab Mukherjee. The group was initially set up to examine the uplinking norms.

India-Italy co-production treaty

The Cabinet today accorded ex-post facto approval to the audio-visual co-production agreement between India and Italy. This will provide access to transparent funding, shared risks and increased markets to the Indian animation and film industry.

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