NEW DELHI: All foreign television channels yet to register in India can be shown by cable operators and direct-to-home service providers after May 11, provided they have applied for registration.

This clarification was issued by Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry on Tuesday in view of last week's order stating that all television channels downlinking into India from overseas which do not apply for registration as per the new downlinking policy by May 11 will have to go off the air from that day onwards.

While the downlinking guidelines had set a 180-day-deadline from November 11, 2005, for completion of all formalities of registration and obtaining permission for downlinking, the Ministry made a concession. All that such channels -- which have failed to register themselves in India till date -- have to submit their applications with processing fees by May 11.

The downlinking guidelines also mandate that "No cable operator or DTH service provider shall, after the expiry of 180 days from the date of this notification, carry or include in his cable/DTH network any television channel that has not been registered under these guidelines.'' But, given the concession that has been offered to such channels, the Ministry has informed cable networks and DTH platforms that they can continue to show them for another six months or till such time the registration of application is processed -- whichever is earlier.

Given the confusion over the issue, the Ministry has also decided to publish the details of the 173 channels, which had secured permission to uplink from India before December 2, 2005. The details will be posted on its website as will be information pertaining to channels that register in India subsequently.

In March this year, the Ministry after consultations with the Law Ministry had said that all registration formalities had to be completed within 180 days. However, since processing of the applications itself takes time at the Ministry's end, this concession has been offered in view of the fact that several channels are yet to apply.

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