Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & Information Technology

28-December-2012 17:21 IST

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released Recommendations on “Issues related to entry of certain entities in to the business of broadcasting and/or distribution of TV channels”.

TRAI had received a reference dated 30th November 2012 from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) seeking its recommendations on the issue of whether Central Government Ministries, Central/State Government Departments, Central/State Government owned companies, Central/State Government undertakings, joint venture of the Central/State Governments and the private sector and Central/State Government funded entities may be allowed to enter in to the business of broadcasting and/or distribution of TV channels.

In December 2007, the MIB had sought recommendations of TRAI on the issue whether entities such as State Governments and political bodies should be permitted to enter into broadcasting and distribution activities. Following an exhaustive consultation process, the Authority forwarded its recommendations on the issues raised by MIB on 12th November 2008. In the consultation process the Authority had comprehensively examined the issue in the broader context of both Central and State Governments as well as their respective organs. These recommendations are in continuation of the earlier recommendations. The Summary of Recommendations is as under:-

(i) The Central Government Ministries, Central/State Government Departments, Central/State Government owned companies, Central /State Government undertakings, joint venture of the Central/State Governments and the private sector and Central/State Government funded entities should not be allowed to enter in to the business of broadcasting and or distribution of TV channels.

(ii) The arm’s length relationship between Prasar Bharti and the Government be further strengthened. The Authority also recommends that such measures should ensure functional independence and autonomy of Prasar Bharti.

(iii) Pending enactment of any new legislation on broadcasting, the disqualifications recommended for political bodies to enter into broadcasting and/or distribution activities should be implemented through executive decision by incorporating the disqualifications into Rules, Regulations and Guidelines as necessary.

(iv) In case the Central Government has already accorded permission to any State Government/State Government owned companies/State Government undertakings/Joint venture of the State Government and the private sector/State Government funded entities to enter into the cable distribution platform, then the Central Government should provide an appropriate exit route.

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MV/RK

Restriction on government-owned entities entering broadcasting to bar their participation, ensure public broadcaster independence and administrative disqualifications. The Authority recommends that Central Government ministries, government departments, government-owned companies, government undertakings, joint ventures involving government and private partners, and government-funded entities should be prohibited from entering broadcasting or distribution of TV channels; the arm's-length relationship between the public broadcaster and government should be strengthened to ensure functional independence; disqualifications should be implemented through Rules, Regulations and Guidelines pending new legislation; and an appropriate exit route should be provided where prior permissions exist.