03-17-2010, 10:16 AM
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has asked for views on capping the number of satellite channels in the country. It released a consultation paper on the uplinking and downlinking of TV channels today.
In the paper, it also asked for suggestions on renewal policy for permission to channels under the uplinking/downlinking guidelines. Suggesting if India should be developed as a teleport/hub centre for channels uplinking which are not meant for viewing in India, Trai asked, “If so, what are the facilities that should be provided to the companies,” and whether this would in any way adversely affect the transponder availability for uplinking of TV channels to be viewed in India.
The regulator further asked the stakeholders whether it be mandated for broadcasters to switch from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 encoding from a stipulated date in the future. It queried if the networth requirement of the applicant company for permission of TV channels under uplinking and downlinking guidelines should be enhanced and the experience and expertise of the promoters of the applicant company should be included in the eligibility criteria.
Whether permission fee should be enhanced to ensure participation of serious players, one-time permission fee be converted into annual fee, and if commitment from the applicant company to stay in business for certain period be prescribed were some of the other issues that the regulator sought suggestions on.
Source: Business Standard
In the paper, it also asked for suggestions on renewal policy for permission to channels under the uplinking/downlinking guidelines. Suggesting if India should be developed as a teleport/hub centre for channels uplinking which are not meant for viewing in India, Trai asked, “If so, what are the facilities that should be provided to the companies,” and whether this would in any way adversely affect the transponder availability for uplinking of TV channels to be viewed in India.
The regulator further asked the stakeholders whether it be mandated for broadcasters to switch from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 encoding from a stipulated date in the future. It queried if the networth requirement of the applicant company for permission of TV channels under uplinking and downlinking guidelines should be enhanced and the experience and expertise of the promoters of the applicant company should be included in the eligibility criteria.
Whether permission fee should be enhanced to ensure participation of serious players, one-time permission fee be converted into annual fee, and if commitment from the applicant company to stay in business for certain period be prescribed were some of the other issues that the regulator sought suggestions on.
Source: Business Standard
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