Reply: The Post Office Amendment Bill which deals with the subject is presently under the consideration of the Parliament.
China 15:
Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/249):SECTION IV: TRADE POLICIES BY SELECTED SECTORS:
Question: Please describe the development of India's radio and television industry. What are the policies with respect to foreign investment, equity and acquisition as well as broadcasting of foreign programs? Please also describe the development of India's cable network industry, including its relationship with the radio stations and television stations.
Reply: The Broadcasting industry in India is in the realm of both public and private sector. The public sector broadcasting is the mandate of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) which are governed by Prasar Bharati (PB), an autonomous body set up under Prasar Bharati Act 1990 a copy of which is available on the Ministry's website at www.mib.nic.in.
Private television operators are not allowed to enter in the terrestrial broadcasting sector as it is an exclusive domain of the public broadcaster i.e. Prasar Bharati, however companies can operate satellite television channels after obtaining necessary permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as per the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking/Downlinking for TV Channels. A copy is available on the Ministry's website. Companies desirous of downlinking a foreign uplinked channel in India have to register their channel with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as per the Downlinking Guidelines.
There is no restriction with regard to the telecast of foreign content on channels permitted by the Government; however the telecast content should be in accordance with the Programme Code as provided in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.
So far 745 TV channels have been permitted out of which 366 are news and current affairs channels and 379 are non news and current affairs channels. Teleports (earth stations) are permitted as per the provisions contained in the uplinking guidelines.
