I&B Ministry
I&B asks TV channels to show censor certificates before airing movie trailers
NEW DELHI: All television channels need to show the censor certificate before telecasting any film or movie trailer, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has clarified.
The Ministry has reiterated its advisory sent on 6 January 2011 in this connection.
Any further violation of the programme code may attract strict penal provisions as detailed in Section 20 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and as provided under the Uplinking/ Downlinking Guidelines.
The Ministry said it had come to its notice that a number of TV channels continue to telecast films without displaying Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The notice said: “It has also been noticed that channels are sometimes showing trailers of new films without showing CBFC. Showing films/film trailers without CBFC is a violation of the cinematograph Act, 1952 as enshrined in Rule 6 [l] (n) of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994 which also provide that no film or film song or film promos of film trailer or music videos or music albums or their promos, whether produced in India or abroad, shall be carried on cable service unless it has been certified by the CBFC.”
The Ministry therefore has advised all TV channels again to display the CBFC before telecast of any film/film trailer which is clearly visible to the viewers.
They have also been advised to strictly follow Rule 6 (1) (n) while showing any film, song, film promo, music video, music albums or their promos.
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform
New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.
MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.
The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.
On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.
Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.
The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.
While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.
