Industry grouping nixes Prasar Bharati DTH TV proposal
(posted on 14 November, 8:00 am)

The Indian Broadcasting Federation (IBF) has said nyet to state-owned broadcaster DD's DTH proposal. DD had proposed that it would own 20 per cent in a DTH venture with the remainder being given to non-broadcasters. Broadcasters would be called to partner it as content providers.

DD chief R. R. Shah met up with private broacasters who are members of the IBF on 13 November. The members apparently did not evince much interest in the proposal and instead asked that the government issue a clarification on the issue of the cap on equity for broadcasters and cable TV operators in a DTH operation.

Private broadcasters have not been happy with information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj's statement that the limit on total broadcasting investment in a DTH project's equity is 20 per cent. They have been pushing for this to be an individual broadcaster's investment so that two or three of them can get together to form a DTH coalition.

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