News Broadcasting
Downlink law may give govt. more powers
NEW DELHI: All channels beaming into India may soon have to open their profit and loss accounts and ownership patterns to the government or a regulatory body irrespective of the fact whether they are part of a private held company or a listed entity.
This, amongst others, is one of the major points in a draft note relating to a proposed law on downlinking, which has been prepared by the information and broadcasting ministry.
With the cricket telecast rights issue almost making a habit of landing in the court, the Indian government would make it mandatory for feeds of events of national importance to be given to pubcaster Doordarshan, according to the draft note.
The proposed law on downlinking — much talked about, but not given as importance as uplinking in the past — is aimed at bringing about a semblance of coherence in the almost unregulated broadcast and cable sector, along with some additional powers to the government to check whether new entrants, especially non-Indian, are serious about doing business in the country in a fair manner.
According to senior information and broadcasting ministry officials, the draft note on downlinking “borrows from regulations regarding this in the UK and the US.”
The note on downlinking, for example, says that there is a need to register and licence all TV channels that are beaming into India, irrespective of the fact whether they are uplinked from India or outside India. It also harps on the fact that in some countries like the UK, there is an
elaborate procedure to be followed if a non-British TV channel wants to target the audience there, unlike in India where the easy availability of TV channels, especially free to air ones, have crossed 300.
Another feature of the draft policy, which is still undergoing changes as discussions within the ministry continue on the issue, is that every channel beaming into India, after registering with a designated authority must open an Indian office. This would facilitate the government / designated regulatory authority to communicate with the channel concerned easily in case of disputes.
Interestingly, Prasar Bharati’s attempts to take Doordarshan channels to the UK have been part of a learning process for the Indian government, which
learnt how the British regulatory body goes about such things, including asking applicants for financial details.
On cue, the draft note on downlinking also states that any channel wishing to register itself for accessing the Indian cable TV market, would have to give details of profit & loss, antecedents of ownership(s), major source(s) of funding of various ventures and a broad business plan envisaged for India.
Of course, errant channels or those finding defaulting on any account would be penalised heavily and in extreme case re-transmission of such channels by cable operators would be made a cognisable offence.
Needless to state that as and when this law is put into force, certain amendments would have to be made in existing rules like the Cable TV (Network) Regulation Act, 1995 and the DTH guidelines to accommodate a `must
provide’ clause, which is mainly aimed at benefiting DD.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
