Why in the News?
Private TV channels must air programs about important national issues and socially relevant topics for 30 minutes each day, according to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry's recently clarified "Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022."
What recent guidelines-related advisories have been released?
All private television channels will be required, starting on March 1, 2023, to air 15 hours of national interest programming each month.
- The national interest material can be incorporated into the airing programs and does not necessarily have to last for 30 minutes at a time.
- Except for content broadcast between midnight and six in the morning, which would not be subject to the public service broadcasting obligation, there would be no restrictions on how this content could be transmitted.
- Science and technology, agriculture, rural development, health and family welfare, the welfare of women and the weaker segments of society, preservation of the environment and cultural heritage, and national integration could be covered in the content.
Sharing of content: The broadcasters may exchange national interest content and rebroadcast it on a single or a number of TV channels.
- It is also possible to create a common e-platform that serves as a library of pertinent videos and texts that can be accessed and used.
Maintaining the record of the content telecast: Broadcasters must maintain the record of the content telecast for a minimum of 90 days.
- On the Broadcast Seva Portal, the government mandates broadcasters submit monthly reports.
Exemptions from the requirement to broadcast content of national interest: All channels are subject to this requirement, except those specifically listed as exempt.
- In addition, to live telecasts for sports channels, these also include wildlife channels and foreign channels.
- Monthly reports are not required from channels that air more than 12 hours of devotional, spiritual, or yoga programming.
- Reporting: Each month, they must provide the government with a report.
- The annual report they submit must contain a certificate.
- However, these restrictions do not apply to foreign channels that only broadcast content in languages not listed in the Indian Constitution's Eighth Schedule.
- Additionally, the monthly reports will be optional of channels that primarily air sporting events or religious programming.
What regulations apply to satellite television channels in India starting in 2022 for uplinking and downlinking?
- These regulations were introduced to deal with granting permissions to businesses registered in India for uplinking and downlinking TV channels, setting up teleports and teleport hubs, and using digital satellite news gathering (DSNG), satellite news gathering (SNG), and electronic news gathering (ENG) systems.
- It consists of
- Channels' compliance with the new rules is made easier.
- No prior approval is required to broadcast events live.
- Indian Teleports may uplink foreign channels.
- Broadcasting of material with the national or public interest.
