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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a consultation paper to review the current regulatory framework and guidelines for issuing licences to television channels.
The broadcast and telecom regulator has among the key issues raised sought stakeholders views on the feasibility of auctioning of TV channels similar to the manner FM Radio frequencies are auctioned. The consultation paper titled — ‘Issues relating to uplinking and downlinking of television channels in India’ — has been released after the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting sought TRAI’s views on the matter. Broadcasters currently require uplinking and downlinking licences to operate their TV channels in the country.
In its consultation paper, TRAI has also asked views on the possibility of increasing the amount of non-refundable processing fee that is required to be submitted for getting the permission to operate TV channels in the country. In addition, it is also seeks to review the eligibility conditions such as net worth of companies that seek permission for such licences.
Uplinking & downlinkingThe consultation paper has also asked stakeholders views on introduction of an entry fee for uplinking and downlinking permissions of TV channels. Currently, no such entry fee is charged by the government from domestic channels, while differential entry fee is charged from foreign players.
In a statement, TRAI said, for regulating the business of satellite TV channel broadcasting in India, the Central government has laid down policy guidelines for uplinking and policy guidelines for downlinking of television channels in India. “The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting ( vide letter dated August 21,2017) has stated that the present uplinking and downlinking guidelines which came into effect on December 5,2011 are now more than five years old…MIB has sought recommendations of the Authority on various issues relating to permission of uplinking and downlinking of satellite TV channels and teleports,” it said’
TRAI also said such a review or amendments of some provisions of these guidelines was required keeping due to the changes in technologies and market scenarios and to ensure healthy growth of the broadcasting sector.
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