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NEW DELHI: The government has only received three applicants from multi-system operators (MSOs) to operate under the Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS) scheme and is examining the possibility of bringing direct-to-home (DTH) players under it.
“We are studying the possibility of whether DTH operators could be placed under the HITS scheme,” said Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.
The government announced its HITS policy which was notified by amendment of the Downlinking Guidelines late last year.
Soni also indicated that the process for FM radio Phase III is to begin shortly and may include introduction of news accessed from All India Radio.
The Minister also indicated in an informal meet that the channels may be permitted to have sports, films or other news bulletins.
She said the Ministry’s note on this was already pending with the Cabinet for the last two and a half months.
Answering questions on other issues, she said it had been decided to hold meetings of Ministry officials with local stakeholders in different regions, beginning with the meeting in Guwahati on 13 July. The north zone meeting would also be held before the end of July.
She said though the report of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on permitting new television channels was expected by the end of this month, the Government had already cleared nine channels since April subject to the financial viability of the applicant and his/her expertise in broadcasting.
While declining to name the channels, Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that these were from the list of existing applications and no new applications had been accepted..
Meanwhile, Soni said a sum of Rs three billion had been set aside to revamp DD Kashmir by the end of September. She said capacity building training classes will also be held in Jammu and Kashmir to find local talent.
She also said that the Press and Registration of Publications Act 1857 and the Cinematograph Act 1952 were being looked at de novo. While the PRB was being strengthened to prevent violation of copyright, both the laws were also being revamped in view of changed circumstances since they were promulgated.
“We are studying the possibility of whether DTH operators could be placed under the HITS scheme,” said Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.
The government announced its HITS policy which was notified by amendment of the Downlinking Guidelines late last year.
Soni also indicated that the process for FM radio Phase III is to begin shortly and may include introduction of news accessed from All India Radio.
The Minister also indicated in an informal meet that the channels may be permitted to have sports, films or other news bulletins.
She said the Ministry’s note on this was already pending with the Cabinet for the last two and a half months.
Answering questions on other issues, she said it had been decided to hold meetings of Ministry officials with local stakeholders in different regions, beginning with the meeting in Guwahati on 13 July. The north zone meeting would also be held before the end of July.
She said though the report of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on permitting new television channels was expected by the end of this month, the Government had already cleared nine channels since April subject to the financial viability of the applicant and his/her expertise in broadcasting.
While declining to name the channels, Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that these were from the list of existing applications and no new applications had been accepted..
Meanwhile, Soni said a sum of Rs three billion had been set aside to revamp DD Kashmir by the end of September. She said capacity building training classes will also be held in Jammu and Kashmir to find local talent.
She also said that the Press and Registration of Publications Act 1857 and the Cinematograph Act 1952 were being looked at de novo. While the PRB was being strengthened to prevent violation of copyright, both the laws were also being revamped in view of changed circumstances since they were promulgated.