I&B Ministry asks foreign channels to Register themselves
Kishore Sharma - Televisionpoint.com
The Information & Broadcasting Ministry has decided to amend the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, and to make operators accountable for beaming unregistered channels through their network. With this regulator coming to effect, only registered television channels will be allowed to go on air through the Cable and Direct to Home (DTH) networks.
Putting things together simple, the amendment basically means that foreign channels like Star Network, Sony Television, HBO, Discovery, Ten Sports etc., have to mandatory register themselves to beam in the signals. The I&B ministry will give the foreign broadcasters a time till November 2006 for the same to be implied. Note that all the homegrown channels like Zee, Sun TV, NDTV, Aaj Tak among others are registered.
According to an ministry official, who has knowledge in this regard, is quoted as "Once the channels, including the ones uplinking from foreign countries, are registered, we will have the power to regulate them. Penal action can also be taken against channel representatives in India for any violation of law. The ministry is powerless now as most of the foreign channels have registered offices in their respective countries. They just have distribution and marketing outlets in India, so to regulate them, it is compulsory to be registered."
He adds that if the foreign channels are registered, they will become accountable to the government. It is should be noted that the I&B ministry recently has blocked two channels for showing obscene programmes.
The new draft policy asks a foreign channel to register as a company/firm in India. It has to nominate an Indian responsible for telecast in the country. The company will have to deposit about RS 1.52 crore as a guarantee fee for registration with the I&B Ministry after registering itself under the Companies Act.
The Information & Broadcasting Ministry has decided to amend the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, and to make operators accountable for beaming unregistered channels through their network. With this regulator coming to effect, only registered television channels will be allowed to go on air through the Cable and Direct to Home (DTH) networks.
Putting things together simple, the amendment basically means that foreign channels like Star Network, Sony Television, HBO, Discovery, Ten Sports etc., have to mandatory register themselves to beam in the signals. The I&B ministry will give the foreign broadcasters a time till November 2006 for the same to be implied. Note that all the homegrown channels like Zee, Sun TV, NDTV, Aaj Tak among others are registered.
According to an ministry official, who has knowledge in this regard, is quoted as "Once the channels, including the ones uplinking from foreign countries, are registered, we will have the power to regulate them. Penal action can also be taken against channel representatives in India for any violation of law. The ministry is powerless now as most of the foreign channels have registered offices in their respective countries. They just have distribution and marketing outlets in India, so to regulate them, it is compulsory to be registered."
He adds that if the foreign channels are registered, they will become accountable to the government. It is should be noted that the I&B ministry recently has blocked two channels for showing obscene programmes.
The new draft policy asks a foreign channel to register as a company/firm in India. It has to nominate an Indian responsible for telecast in the country. The company will have to deposit about RS 1.52 crore as a guarantee fee for registration with the I&B Ministry after registering itself under the Companies Act.
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