- Prelims: Governance, digital India, Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 etc
- Mains GS Paper III: Digital India, Science and technology-developments and their applications and effects in everyday life etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- There have been major developments in the television industry in India in the last two years.
- The Union Cabinet has approved the “Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022”.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Recent Developments in Television Industry:
- In 2021, Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, were amended:
- Include a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances and complaints of viewers.
- In accordance with the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
- In 2022, the Union Cabinet approved the policy guidelines for the uplinking and downlinking of television channels from India.
- Uplink refers to the link from a ground station up to a satellite
- Downlink is the link from a satellite down to one or more ground stations or receivers.
Advantages of amendments:
- Strong institutional system for redressing grievances and making broadcasters and their self-regulating bodies accountable and responsible.
- The policy guidelines for uplinking and downlinking are aimed at making India the hub of uplinking as they allow Indian teleports to uplink foreign channels.
Background of television industry:
- September 1959: broadcasting was solely under the control of the state.
- In the early 1990s
- cable television arrived in India unannounced.
- No government checks on transmission and broadcast through foreign satellites.
- Cable television networks mushroomed haphazardly, and foreign television networks invaded our culture through their programmes.
- Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995: In order to regulate this cable network industry and to make registration of cable operators mandatory.
- In 2000: the first license to set up a teleport.
- An earth station facility from where TV signals can be uplinked to a geostationary satellite was granted.
Development of uplinking and downlinking:
- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB): notified the ‘Guidelines for Uplinking from India’ in July 2000
- Private broadcasters got permission to set up their own earth stations and to uplink.
- Aaj Tak became the first Indian private television channel to uplink signals from its own earth station.
- In 2001, five broadcasters – set up their earth stations with the facility to uplink.
- The MIB issued uplinking and downlinking policy guidelines in 2011 for private satellite TV channels and teleports.
- The Ministry published the draft policy guidelines on April 30, 2020, and invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders
- The policy guidelines for uplinking and downlinking of television channels from India were notified in Nov 2022.
Key Guidelines:
- Ease issue of 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
- Temporary uplinking of a live event
- Companies/LLPs having permission to uplink and downlink a channel: They may undertake public service broadcasting (except where it may not be feasible) for a minimum period of 30 mins in a day on themes of national importance and of social relevance.
- Mandatory encryption: The TV Channels uplinking in frequency bands other than C band are mandatorily required to encrypt their signals.
- Net worth requirement for Companies/LLPs holding permissions, to be as per the Guidelines at the time of renewals.
- Security deposit: To ensure payment of dues.
Themes for Public service broadcasting:
- Education and spread of literacy
- Agriculture and rural development
- Health and family welfare
- Science and technology
- Welfare of women
- Welfare of the weaker sections of society
- Protection of the environment and of cultural heritage
- National integration.
Importance of Guidelines:
- Ease compliance: New Guidelines ease compliance for Television Channels
- No prior Permission for Live Telecast of Events
- Uplink foreign channels: Indian Teleports may uplink Foreign Channels
- Obligation to telecast content in National/Public Interest
Way Forward
- Ease of compliance for the permission holder:
- Only prior registration of events to be telecast live would be necessary.
- No permission for live telecast of events.
- No prior permission for change of language or conversion of mode of transmission from Standard Definition (SD) to High Definition (HD) or vice versa
- 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.
- A company/LLP can use News gathering equipment other than DSNG, such as optic fiber, Bag back, mobile, etc.
- No separate permission would be necessary.
- Ease of Doing Business:
- Specific timelines for grant for permission
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) entities can also seek permission
- A news agency can get permission for a 5 year period(one year at present)
- A channel can be uplinked by using facilities of more than one teleport/ satellite(one teleport/satellite at present)
- Simplification and Rationalization:
- One composite set of Guidelines
- Structure of the Guidelines has been systematized
- Penalty clause: Separate nature of penalties have been proposed for different types of contraventions(uniform penalty at present)
- Only prior registration of events to be telecast live would be necessary.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
Q. Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, coupled with lack of Information and Communication Technology(ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification.(UPSC 2021) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
