I&B Ministry
I&B Ministry to hold Open House Meetings with broadcasters
NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which had asked prospective broadcasters to deal directly with the Ministry, has now decided to hold Open House Meetings. The meeting which will be held twice a month will give more opportunity for access to information with respect to processing of increasing number of broadcasters’ requests.
The Open House Meetings will commence from next month with regard to permissions for television channels or teleports and not to appoint any intermediaries or consultants.
All broadcasters have been asked to send e-mails to dirbc-moib@nic.in and navil.kapur@nic.in at least one day in advance so that latest information can be provided.
Earlier on 11 June, the Ministry had issued a public notice, similar to the one issued late last year, according to which anyone who wished to apply for permission to start a television channel, teleport or various permissions under the Uplinking and Downlinking guidelines, could seek clarifications at the Open House held every month for the purpose and also get information on pending issues.
The Ministry will not entertain any intermediary, consultant, advisor, consultancy organisation or firm to liaise with the Ministry on behalf of applicants and permission holders for following up on their requests.
The Ministry follows an absolutely transparent and open process to grant various permissions to television channels, teleport operators, news agencies etc.
In addition, the Ministry has also put in place a specialised software, Satellite Television Channels Application Tracking System (STATS), for those who have already applied to the Ministry for various permissions. An ID and password has been given to all of them to track the status of their pending applications.
The Ministry is in the process of automating the entire Broadcasting Wing to ensure that an online mechanism is brought for various applications. Once in operation, this web enabled software will help applicants to apply online and also make payments of various fees etc., through the payment gateway.
All applicants and permission holders have therefore been advised not to approach anyone who claims to be an advisor, consultant or facilitator on behalf of applicants.
I&B Ministry
AIDCF moves TDSAT over Waves plan to stream linear TV channels
Industry body flags regulatory gap as OTT push sparks broadcast turf war
NEW DELHI: The battle between traditional television distributors and digital platforms has found its way to the courts, with the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) moving the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against Prasar Bharati’s latest OTT play.
At the heart of the dispute is Waves, Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, which has invited applications to onboard linear satellite TV channels. Aidcf, which represents multi-system operators (msos), argues that this move sidesteps existing broadcasting rules and risks tilting the playing field in favour of digital platforms.
The federation’s petition hinges on a key provision in the Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines, 2022. Clause 11(3)(f) allows broadcasters to downlink channels only if they provide signal decoders to recognised distribution platforms such as MSOS, DTH operators, hits operators and iptv platforms. OTT platforms, aidcf points out, do not feature on that list.
In simple terms, AIDCF’s argument is this: if OTT platforms are not officially recognised distributors, they should not be receiving broadcast signals in the first place. By inviting channels onto Waves, the federation claims, Prasar Bharati is opening a backdoor that lets broadcasters bypass long-standing rules.
The concern goes beyond legal interpretation. Aidcf says OTT platforms currently operate without a clear regulatory framework, allowing them to expand into traditional broadcasting territory without the compliance burden that cable and satellite operators must carry. That, it argues, creates an uneven contest.
There is also a warning for broadcasters. If they provide signal decoders to an OTT platform like Waves, they could risk breaching the very conditions under which their downlinking permissions were granted.
For its part, Prasar Bharati’s Waves initiative is positioned as a step towards wider access and digital reach, bringing linear television into the streaming era. But critics say the move blurs the line between regulated broadcasting and largely unregulated streaming.
The matter is expected to come up before tdsat next week. The outcome could do more than settle a single dispute. It may help define how India regulates the fast-merging worlds of television and OTT, where the lines are getting fuzzier by the day and the stakes, sharper than ever.
