Question : Monitoring of Private TV Satellite Channels

(a) whether several private satellite channels in the country are screening their programmes in other countries through uplinking facility;

(a) if so, the details of such channels, language-wise;

(c) whether the Government monitors the contents of the programmes of the said satellite channels and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether certain State Governments have either launched their own channels in regional languages or are in the process of launching the same; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING, [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHODE (Retd.)]

(a)& (b): Government has permitted 36 TV channels uplinked from India and downlinked abroad under Uplinking Guidelines. Details are as per Annexure.

(c): As per clause 12.1 of Uplinking Guidelines of 5.12.2011, “TV channels operating in India and uplinked from India but meant only for foreign viewership are not required to comply with the programme and advertisement code of India. The concerned broadcasters will be required to ensure compliance of the rules and regulations of the target country for which content is being produced and uplinked. However, the uplinked content should not contain anything which is against the sovereignty, integrity and national security of India as well as its relations with friendly countries. For Monitoring purposes, these channels will be required to preserve the recordings of the proceedings for at least six months instead of the present stipulation of 3 months.

(d)&(e): No State Government has been permitted to launch any TV Channel.

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