News Broadcasting
Now, uplinking caps may apply for regional channels too
NEW DELHI: It is not only the likes of Star News, CNBC-TV18 and Zee News that have to restructure their shareholding pattern to comply with the foreign investment cap of 26 per cent on news channels uplinking from India.
The government may extend the dragnet to some regional channels too, like Alpha Bangla, Alpha Marathi, Alpha Gujarati (from the Zee Telefilms stable) and Vijay TV in which the Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star has over 40 per cent equity stake indirectly.
While Star News and CNBC-TV18 have restructured themselves to fall within the permissible limits, Zee News is yet to initiate a restructuring, taking full advantage of the one year time granted to it. Star News’ final clearance from the government is expected over the next 10 days.
While formulating a new uplinking policy, announced on 26 March 2003, the government had also said that any entertainment channel that beams news and current affairs programming would have to adhere to the prescribed norms and caps if the news venture has foreign investment.
According to data laid by the government on the table of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) today, Alpha Gujarati, Punjabi, Bangla and Marathi – apart from Zee News and Zee TV – have foreign holding of 57.54 per cent.
Interestingly, according to the information on Zee Telefilms’ site, the total foreign shareholding in the company mounts to 61.7 per cent as on 30 September, 2003.
When contacted by indiantelevision.com, a spokesperson for Zee Telefilms admitted that Alpha channels do air news bulletins, apart from entertainment-related programmes, and said, “All Zee Network television channels are subsidiaries/divisions of Zee and restructuring compliance will be across the spectrum.”
According to the new eligibility criteria for uplinking, foreign holding should not exceed 26 per cent of the paid-up equity in a news channel venture, while at least 51 per cent of the stake would have to be held by an Indian shareholder. This excludes the equity held by public sector banks and financial institutions.
The government today also said, so far it had permitted 39 companies to uplink 104 channels from the country, which beam news and current affairs and/or entertainment programmes. Out of these, 12 had varying component of foreign equity.
Information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in a written reply to a question in the House today stated, the government has asked Star News, BBC and CNBC-TV18 to reduce foreign equity in their channels by at least 74 per cent and comply with the revised guidelines by March next year for uplinking from the country.
Prasad said that all the existing channels, having foreign equity or foreign direct investment, were required to comply with the new regime within one year after the new guidelines were issued on March 26 this year, putting a cap on holdings.
News Broadcasting
TV9 to host What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 in Delhi
PM Narendra Modi to keynote two day forum on India and the world
NEW DELHI: TV9 Network is gearing up to host the fourth edition of its flagship What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 on March 23 and 24 in the national capital, bringing together a wide spectrum of voices to debate India’s place in a shifting global order.
The summit will open with a keynote address by Narendra Modi, setting the tone for this year’s theme, “India and the world”, as the country positions itself at the crossroads of economic growth, geopolitical shifts and technological change.
From cabinet ministers to chief ministers, business leaders to cultural figures, the event promises a crowded stage and a lively exchange of ideas. Union ministers such as Piyush Goyal and Jyotiraditya Scindia are expected to attend, alongside state leaders including Mohan Yadav, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Bhajan Lal Sharma, Nayab Singh Saini and Bhagwant Mann.
Political voices from across the aisle, including Smriti Irani, Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi, will also join the conversation, ensuring that the debates are as diverse as they are dynamic.
Adding a cultural and sporting touch, personalities such as yoga guru Swami Ramdev, poet Kumar Vishwas and cricketing names like Sourav Ganguly, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh are set to share the stage. Global business leaders and diplomats will further widen the lens, reflecting the summit’s international outlook.
Speaking ahead of the event, TV9 Network managing director and chief executive officer Barun Das, said India stands at a unique moment in history, combining demographic strength, technological capability and entrepreneurial energy. He noted that in uncertain times, honest conversations and bold ideas will shape the country’s trajectory.
The summit will explore themes ranging from economic growth and governance to innovation, sustainability and culture, positioning itself as a platform for dialogue at a time when the world is in flux.
With a packed agenda and a high-profile guest list, What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 aims to do more than just talk. It seeks to capture a moment where India is not only part of the global conversation, but increasingly helping lead it.
