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

November 10, 2022

The Union Cabinet recently approved the Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022, which replaces those that have been operational since 2011. The recent changes were taken due to the technological advancements over the years. The guidelines were first introduced by the Indian Government in 2005.

What are the key features of the guidelines?

Daily broadcast of content with social relevance or national importance:

The new guidelines require all stations holding permission to broadcast to feature contents focusing on issues having social relevance or national importance for at least half-an-hour. This provision is not applicable for foreign channels and channels where it is not feasible like sports channels.

The half-an-hour content will not be provided by the government. The TV channels are given the freedom to create and broadcast their own content.

The topics of the content should be based on either of the 8 listed themes – education and spread of literacy, agriculture and rural development, health and family welfare, welfare of weaker sections of society, science and technology, women’s welfare, protection of women and cultural heritage and national integration.

This new provision was introduced since “airways or frequencies” are public property and must be used for the best interest of the society.

Easing of permits:

The new guidelines seek to ease the issuance of permission to companies and limited liability partnership firms for uplinking-downlinking of TV channels and associated activities.

The new guidelines removed the need for permissions for live telecast of events. Only prior registration of event is required for live telecast.

Prior permissions are not required for changing the language or conversion of mode of transmission from Standard Definition (SD) to High Definition (HD) or vice versa. Such changes can be made after prior intimation.

The company or LLP with only two directors or partners can change director or partner in case of emergencies and get security clearance after the appointment.

A company or LLP need not get a separate permit for using news gathering equipment like optic fibre, bag back, mobile etc. However, permission is required for Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) technology.

The permission for a news agency will be given for a five-year period – an increase from the current one-year period.

The guidelines have broadened the possibility of permitting the transfer of TV channel or teleport to a company or LLP under the Companies Act or the Limited Liability Act.

Uplinking with foreign channels

The LLPs/companies are permitted to uplink foreign channels from Indian teleports. This could make India a teleport hub for other countries.

This will allow TV channels from the neighboring countries of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal to uplink from India. Currently, these countries’ preferred uplinking hub is Singapore. Currently only 30 out the 897 registered channels are uplinked from India.

Other provisions

It is mandatory for all TV channels uplinking frequency band other than C-band to encrypt their signal.

The penalty clauses have been rationalized and graded penalties have been proposed for different types of contraventions. The guidelines also provide a provision for a security deposit to ensure the due payments.

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