News uplink norms deadline extended further

NEW DELHI: Another extension has been granted to the news channels uplinking from India to conform to the existing guidelines. The new deadline is 31 December.

Though nothing official has been communicated to the industry or to the media, information and broadcasting ministry sources indicated over the weekend that the deadline has been extended, as the ministry has not been able to decide the areas that need some further changes.

Earlier last month, the cabinet had taken a decision to extend the deadline to 31 October.

According to ministry sources, the changes being sought by the ministry include making the Press Information Bureau, a government arm, the nodal agency for vetting all news tapes that are uplinked from India via Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. by the likes of BBC and CNN.

Indian uplinking guidelines do not permit more than 26 per cent foreign investment in news channels that are directly uplinked from India.