(a) whether Doordarshan and ASC Enterprises Ltd. (Zee Group Company) have
been given Letter of Intent (LoI) for DTH telecast;
(b) if so, the number of applications for DTH are pending with the Government for
issue of LoI with names of companies;
(c) whether some DTH applications are pending inspite of being cleared by FIPB
and other agencies and acceptance of Entry Fee by the Government; and
(d) if so, reasons therefor and by when these applications are likely to be cleared?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND CULTURE (SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY)
(a): The Government had approved KU Band transmission project of
Doordarshan which envisages distribution of 30 free to air channels. M/s.
ASC Enterprises Ltd. have been granted licence on 16th September, 2003,
under relevant DTH guidelins.
(b): Three applications concerning M/s. Space TV, Essel Shyam
Communications Ltd. and NOIDA Software Technology Park Ltd. are
under process in the Ministry.
(c) & (d): M/s. Space TV Ltd. have deposited the entry fee alongwith the
requisite documents. Their application is currently under process in the
Ministry. No time limit can be indicated for the grant of letter of intent to
the applicant company.