The Union Cabinet on 9th November 2022, approved the “Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022”. The guidelines shall ease issue of permissions to the companies/ LLPs registered in India for Uplinking and Downlinking of TV Channels, setting up of Teleports/ Teleport Hubs, use of Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG)/ Satellite News Gathering (SNG)/ Electronic News Gathering (ENG) systems, uplinking by Indian News agencies and temporary uplinking of a live event.
As per this guidelines, a company or an LLP may apply online on Broadcast Seva on payment of processing fees for setting up a Teleport/teleport hub. The online application shall be processed from the view point of eligibility conditions, and shall be subjected to clearance and approval by the Department of Space and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The Ministry shall, preferably within 30 days of receiving clearance and approval of Ministry of Home Affairs and other authorities, and after satisfying itself that the applicant company/LLP is fit for grant of permission, issue a Letter of Intent (LOI) requesting the company/LLP to pay the permission fees for the first year, furnish the Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) and Security Deposit within the stipulated period.
After making the payment of the first year permission fee and furnishing the PBG and Security Deposit, the Ministiy shall, preferably within 15 days of receipt of such payment and furnishing of the PBG, grant permission for ten years by an order in writing, to the company/LLP for setting up the teleport.
The companies/LLPs having permission to uplink and downlink a channel may undertake public service broadcasting (except where it may not be feasible) for a minimum period of 30 mins in a day on themes of national importance and of social relevance. The TV Channels uplinking in frequency band other than C band are mandatorily required to encrypt their signals.
