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While sources in
both Information and Broadcasting and Finance ministries insisted that such reference
to the sister ministry was made every time a proposal came for any venture with
a foreign component, it was clarified by the Finance ministry that the rules pertaining
to foreign direct investment were being reviewed and the proposals would be cleared
after this was completed.
But Finance ministry sources told Indiantelevision.com
that an announcement about the changed and simplified rules was expected shortly.
I&B ministry sources told Indiantelevision.com that this will not mean
any further delay in clearing various applications pending with it for licences
to start new television channels.
Finance ministry sources said the relevant
files had been referred to the Foreign Institutions Unit (FIU) which would refer
them to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) after examination.
The examination by the Finance ministry becomes important in view of the overall
cap of 26 per cent on foreign direct investment. The specific purpose would also
be to examine the ownership pattern of the channels as the government regulations
say that the ownership of a channel uplinking from within the country has to be
Indian irrespective of the FDI investment.
Proposals of 71 private satellite
channels from 52 different companies awaiting permission as on April 30 to uplink
from within the country were at different stages of scrutiny, which included clearances
from other ministries.
The Uplinking Guidelines issued in November 2005
prescribe two categories of channels: news and current affairs, or non-news and
current affairs.
Meanwhile, a total of 222 private satellite television
channels have been permitted to uplink from India as on April 30 apart from six
channels uplinked from abroad which have been permitted to downlink in India.
In addition to this, 54 foreign TV channels have been provisionally permitted
to downlink in India.
Ministry sources said only 25 of the proposals
are in the non-news category - some relating to music – while the balance
are in the news category.
The highest number of proposals – seven
- is from three companies linked to the NDTV group. There are four proposals each
from ZEE Telefilms, BAG Films group, and the TV 18 group, and three each from
Malar Network, Maa TV Network, and STV Enterprises. Two proposals have come from
the INX group. The rest of the proposals are from companies wanting to beam single
channels.
One proposal for two channels from Raj TV Network has been
pending since May 2005. While 23 proposals were sent in during 2006, the rest
were all made this year. |