(a) the details of existing Direct-to-Home (DTH) service providers in the country;
(b) whether the Government proposes to grant more licences to DTH service providers;
(c) if so, the details thereof alongwith the criteria and conditions to grant such licences;
(d) whether the Government is earning any revenue therefrom; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE; MINISTER OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)
(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 396 FOR ANSWER ON 19.12.2014.
(a) The Ministry has granted license to six private companies, namely,
(i) M/s Dish TV India Limited
(ii) M/s. Tata Sky Limited
(iii) M/s. Sun Direct TV Pvt. Limited
(iv) M/s. Reliance BIG TV Limited
(v) M/s. BhartiTelemedia Limited, and
(vi) M/s. Videocon d2h Limited to provide Direct to Home (DTH) services in India under the DTH Guidelines issued on 15.3.2001, as amended from time to time. In addition, Doordarshan as Public Broadcaster is also providing free to air DTH services in the country.
(b) & (c) DTH licenses, under the DTH guidelines,are granted to those Companies which fulfill the eligibility criteria, terms and conditions and subject to security clearance and technical clearances by the appropriate authorities of the Government. There will be no restriction on the total number of DTH licenses.The details are available on the website of this Ministry at www.mib.gov.in.
(d) & (e) As per provisions of clause 3.1 of the DTH Guidelines, the Licensee, in addition to an initial non-refundable entry fee of Rs.10 crores, is required to pay an annual license fee @ 10% of its gross revenue.