DTH gets go-ahead; but final clearance still some time away

The group of ministers on DTH – headed by home minister L.K. Advani – met once again on 30 October and said they had no reservations on giving it the go-ahead.

Since television comes under the purview of the information and broadcasting ministry, minister Sushma Swaraj and her team will prepare a note which is to be presented to the Union Cabinet for approval within a fortnight.

From current indications, it appears as if the GoM is in favour of a 49 per cent ownership cap, an open set top box regime, no specific need for broadcasters to go via the Prasar Bharati’s service, and a licence fee.

The details will however become clearer over the next few days.