The Hindu : National : Uplinking norms: satellite channels get more time

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Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005

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Uplinking norms: satellite channels get more time

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 3. The Government has decided to give satellite news channels with foreign investment more time to comply with the uplinking guidelines notified in 2003.

An earlier extension to comply with the norms expired in December and the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry today decided to give an extension of three months.

While the uplinking guidelines were revised in mid-2003 and television channels given a month to fall in line from the date of notification, a couple of news stations are yet to fall in line with the norms which mandate that 51 per cent of the total equity remains with one dominant Indian partner.

These guidelines were drawn up in 2003 after the international media baron, Rupert-Murdoch's Star ended its contract with New Delhi Television and decided to launch a 24-hour news channels of its own. The guidelines were first revised in March 2003 as per which Star News had to scale down foreign equity in the wholly foreign-owned channel to 26 per cent. However, after the Ministry prima facie found the channel flouting the new guidelines, the Government decided to review the policy for the second time to plug the loopholes and mandated that 51 per cent of the total equity should be in one hand.

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