I&B Ministry
I&B ministry backs 20 per cent FDI in FM radio
NEW DELHI: Aimed at liberalising the regime, information and broadcasting ministry has cleared 20 per cent FDI for the private FM radio sector, but stuck to the ban on news and current affairs programmes.
“We have formalised the policy package for the private FM radio and sent it to various ministries for taking their views, before taking it to the Cabinet,” information and broadcasting minister S Jaipal Reddy was quoted by Press Trust of India as saying on the sidelines of the of a conference by industry chamber ASSOCHAM.
The minister said the ministry has decided to limit the FDI level at the existing FII cap. “We hope to go to the Cabinet on the matter soon,” he added.
However, he said the government was not open to the idea of allowing news and current affairs on private FM radio. “There are certain reservations, PTI quoted him as saying.
Broadcast and cable regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had set the ball rolling for the second phase of privatisation of FM radio last year by saying that there should be migration to revenue share of four per cent annually and that up to 26 per cent foreign investment could be allowed, subject to government review of the existing policy that bars any foreign investment in this sector.
On the issue of allowing news and current affairs (N&CA) programming on private FM radio stations, the regulator had recommended that the existing restriction be reviewed by government and lifted after incorporating adequate safeguards.
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.
