I&B Ministry
MIB reminds TV channels, teleport ops about timely online payments
NEW DELHI: In an apparent bid to make broadcasters/TV channels and teleport operators to follow its diktat on online payments for renewals and renewal fees, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued two notices recently cautioning stakeholders that any breach could result in adverse consequences.
“Non-payment or delayed payments of prescribed annual permission fee tantamount to violation of uplinking/downlinking guidelines and attract action regarding continuation/revocation of permission under the relevant clauses of uplinking and downlinking guidelines 2011,” one of the MIB notices stated, adding it has been observed that a number of broadcasters and teleport operators had not been paying the requisite permission fee.
Directing broadcasters and teleport operators to deposit outstanding dues within 15 days from the issue of the notice, MIB said, cracking the whip, that any failure to do so will attract action under the existing policy guidelines.
“It must also be ensured that the time schedule for payment of required fee, as prescribed in the uplinking and downlinking guidelines 2011, is strictly adhered to. It may also be ensured before making any request to MIB that there are no outstanding against the channel/teleport operators on the date of application,” the notice said.
In another notice, MIB reminded stakeholders about the submission of online applications for change of name or logo or any other issue, apart from foreign remittance proposals.
“It is reiterated that the instructions given in the notice regarding online submission of applications may be strictly adhered to,” the second notice from the government said.
These notices come close on the heels of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, the apex industry body for TV channels in India, petitioning the Prime Minister’s Office on the steep hike by MIB in processing fees and other administrative costs.
MIB, in the past, has maintained that the facility of online payments to the government by stakeholders was introduced to reduce paperwork and make life easy for all.
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I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati opens AIR to private content under new policy
NIPP introduces revenue share, sponsored and gratis models
MUMBAI: Radio may be the oldest voice in the room, but it’s learning some very modern tricks. In a bid to stay tuned to changing listener habits, Prasar Bharati has opened the doors of All India Radio to private players under a newly rolled-out content framework. The initiative, titled Notice Inviting Programme Proposals (NIPP), marks a significant shift in how the public broadcaster approaches programming moving from a largely in-house model to a more collaborative, market-aligned ecosystem. Issued by Akashvani’s Directorate General in April 2026, the policy invites private producers, content owners and aggregators to pitch programmes across formats, from radio dramas and documentaries to quiz shows, storytelling and music-led content.
At the heart of the framework lies a three-pronged participation model designed to balance creative freedom with commercial viability. The most prominent route is revenue sharing, where advertising and sponsorship income generated by a programme is split between the producer and the broadcaster. The structure tilts in favour of creators offering a 70:30 split when producers bring in advertising, and 65:35 when monetisation is handled by Prasar Bharati.
Alongside this sits the sponsored model, where producers fully fund and monetise their content, subject to compliance with advertising norms and the AIR Broadcast Code. For those less commercially inclined, a gratis route allows content to be submitted free of cost, with Prasar Bharati retaining all monetisation rights effectively turning the platform into a national distribution channel for diverse voices.
The move comes as legacy media grapples with intensifying competition from private FM networks, streaming platforms and digital audio ecosystems. By repositioning AIR as both a public service broadcaster and a content marketplace, Prasar Bharati appears to be recalibrating its role in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Importantly, the framework does not dilute editorial control. All submissions must adhere to the AIR Broadcast Code, and proposals are evaluated through a layered process that weighs storytelling quality, production capability, audience appeal and revenue potential. Only proposals crossing a defined threshold move forward, signalling that while access has widened, the bar remains firmly in place.
Operational discipline is another cornerstone of the policy. Producers are required to maintain broadcast-ready content, deliver episode banks in advance and navigate a structured approval process. Crucially, all production costs are borne by the content provider, reinforcing Prasar Bharati’s positioning as a distribution and oversight platform rather than a commissioning entity.
What elevates the initiative further is its scale. The framework spans multiple clusters and stations across India, covering both metro and regional markets, with specific language mandates and submission channels. This not only expands the content pipeline but also deepens linguistic and cultural representation, an area where AIR has historically held an advantage.
In effect, NIPP signals a quiet but meaningful transformation. AIR is no longer just broadcasting to the nation, it is inviting the nation to broadcast with it, blending legacy reach with contemporary content economics in a bid to stay relevant in an increasingly fragmented audio universe.
