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Cabinet Approves Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Satellite Television Channels in India, 2022

November 9, 2022

The Union Cabinet has approved ‘Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022,’ after a period of 11 years. The consolidated Guidelines aim to ease permissions to the companies/LLPs registered in India for Uplinking and Downlinking of TV Channels, setting up of Teleports/Teleport Hubs, use of Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG)/Satellite News Gathering (SNG)/Electronic News Gathering (ENG) systems, uplinking by Indian News agencies and temporary uplinking of a live event.

 

As per the Government, the main advantages of the revised guidelines are as follows: –

  • The requirement for seeking permission for the live telecast of events has been done away with; only prior registration of events to be telecast live would be necessary.

 

  • No requirement of prior permission for a change of language or conversion of the mode of transmission from Standard Definition (SD) to High Definition (HD) or vice versa; only prior intimation would be required.

 

  • In case of emergency, for a company/LLP with only two Directors/Partners, a Director/Partner can be changed, subject to security clearance post such appointment, to enable business decision making;

 

  • A company/LLP can use newsgathering equipment other than DSNG, such as optic fibre, Bag back, mobile, etc. for which no separate permission would be necessary.

 

  • LLPs can also seek permission and LLPs/companies would be allowed to uplink foreign channels from Indian teleports.

 

  • A news agency can get permission for a 5-year period as against the current one year.

 

  • A channel can be uplinked by using facilities of more than one teleport/ satellite as against only one teleport/satellite at present;

 

  • It has broadened the possibility of allowing the transfer of TV channels/Teleport to a company/ LLP as permissible under the Companies Act/ Limited Liability Act.

 

  • One composite set of Guidelines has replaced two separate Guidelines.

 

  • The penalty clauses have been rationalised and separate nature of penalties have been proposed for different types of contraventions, as against the current uniform penalty.

 

  • The companies/LLPs having permission to uplink and downlink a channel may undertake public service broadcasting for a minimum period of 30 mins in a day on themes of national importance and social relevance.
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