Centre Approves New Guidelines For Unlinking And Downlinking Of TV Channels In India

The Centre has released newly approved guidelines for uplinking and downlinking of TV channels in India.

Centre on Wednesday released new guidelines for Unlinking & Downlinking of TV Channels in India

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The Government of India on Wednesday released newly approved guidelines for uplinking and downlinking of TV channels in India. The new guidelines have been released after around 11 years. “We have released the new guidelines after around 11 years. We've taken the approval of the Union Cabinet, as per the improvement we have considered over the years... we have made multiple improvements in terms of ease of doing business', ANI quoted Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of I&B, as saying.

Centre approves Guidelines for Uplinking & Downlinking of TV Channels in India 2022

Guidelines ease compliance for TV channels. No prior permission for live telecast of events.Indian teleports may uplink foreign channels.Obligation to telecast content in national/public interest

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2022

“We have kept a provision that a 30-min slot should be given for things of national importance or national interest; 7-8 themes given for the same - women empowerment, agriculture, and teaching. We have tried to bring everyone on a level-playing field”, Chandra added.

The guidelines were last time amended in 2011. 

As per the new guidelines, there will be no requirement to take prior permission for the live telecast of events from now, only prior registration of the evens to be telecast would be necessary. Furthermore, there is 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.

As for ease of doing business, the guidelines state that specific timelines have been proposed for a grant for permission and Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) entities can also seek permission. Moreover, LLPs / companies would be allowed to uplink foreign channels from Indian teleports which would create employment opportunities and make India a teleport-hub for other countries, it stated.