Question : BROADCASTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF TV CHANNELS

(a) whether the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has submitted its recommendations on issues related to entry of certain entities into the business of broadcasting and /or distribution of TV channels in the country;

(b) if so, the details in this regard;

(c) the details of the recommendations of the TRAI in this regard;

(d) whether the Government has examined the recommendations of the TRAI; and

(e) if so, the details in this regard along with the action taken by the Government on each of such recommendations?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI MANISH TEWARI)

(a) to (e) The Ministry made a reference on 30.11.2012 to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) seeking their recommendations regarding entry of Government entities in broadcasting and distribution activities. In response to the said reference, TRAI has made its recommendations on 28.12.2012. Among other things TRAI has, inter alia, recommended the following;
(i) Central Government Ministries and Departments, Central Government owned companies, Central Government undertakings, Joint ventures of the Central Government and the private sector and Central Government funded entities should not be allowed to enter into the business of broadcasting and /or distribution of TV channels.
(ii) State Government Departments, State Government owned companies, State Government Undertakings, Joint venture of the State Government and the private sector and State Government funded entities should not be allowed to enter into the business of broadcasting and /or distribution of TV channels.

TRAI further stated that the above recommendations are in continuation of their recommen- dations on “Issues relating to entry of certain entities into broadcasting and distribution activities” dated 12.11.2008 wherein it, inter-alia, recommended that State Governments, urban and local bodies, religious bodies and political bodies should not be allowed to operate broadcasting stations and distribution platform. The recommendations of TRAI are available on their official website – www.trai.gov.in.

The Ministry vide its Office Memorandum dated 03.01.2013, has constituted an Inter- Ministerial Committee (IMC) under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to examine various recommendations of TRAI. The Committee comprises of representatives from various Ministries and Departments including Department of Telecommunication, Department of Information Technology, Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), Doordarshan and All India Radio. Recommendations are under examination of IMC.