New Guidelines for Broadcasters

Landmark Policy Shift in Broadcasting Policy

Broadcasting Policy Amended after more than a decade

New Guidelines for Broadcasters. Government of India, through its Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has made landmark changes in guidelines for News Agencies and Temporary up-linking for live telecasts. .

Following the decision taken by the Union Cabinet on 28^th September 2022, the revised guidelines have been issued which mark significant changes in the existing policy which was in place since 2011. The salient features and the benefits of the new policy are given in brief hereunder:

1          News agencies can now get permission for Five years instead of the existing provision of One year.

2.         Now, for the first time the LLPs will also be eligible for similarly doing the business of broadcasting as the Companies were allowed to do.

3          Ease of Compliance for the permit holders and ease of doing business for new entrants is the main attractions of the policy.

4.         The general perception of the news agency may get a makeover following the new guidelines which demand that news agencies behave responsibly and telecast content that is more useful and relevant to society at large.

5.         The companies now will be bound to telecast a 30-minute program on Public Service daily on the themes of national importance and social relevance.

6.         Security deposit provision has also been made for ensuring payment of dues or penalties on the channels.

7.         Penalties have been rationalized.

8.         There will be no requirement of prior permission for the live telecast of the events and only registration for the same is sufficient.

9. Signal encryption is mandatory for television channels uplinking in a frequency band other than C-band.

The new policy document spread across 34 pages was released on the official website of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and is available for download under the link given hereunder: Here is Guidelines for Uplinking and Downhinking of Satellite Television Channels in India, 2022.pdf (mib.gov.in)

The Union Government is committed to ensuring ease of doing business and ease of compliance which are great policy booster for the economy and attracts more investment in the industry. 

Accordingly, the policy document has addressed in minute detail all the aspects related to Information and Broadcasting in the country. Interested parties can access the document through the link given above and study it for the benefit of their relevant business.

Press Release on Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines 2022

Hope the new policy will imbibe a new trust of the general public in the broadcasting companies and the requirement of social and national relevant content will make these channels serve the public at large in their day-to-day business.