Towards making India an Uplinking Hub

SCIENCE AND TECH.

07 Jan, 2023

NEWS HIGHLIGHT

Theme : Digital India, Science and technology-developments and their applications and effects in everyday life etc

Paper:GS-3

The Union Cabinet has approved the “Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022”

TABLE OF CONTENT

Context : The Union Cabinet has approved the “Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022”.

Recent Developments in Television Industry :

In 2021, Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, were amended:
Include a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances and complaints of viewers.
In accordance with the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
In 2022, the Union Cabinet approved the policy guidelines for the uplinking and downlinking of television channels from India.
Uplink refers to the link from a ground station up to a satellite
Downlink is the link from a satellite down to one or more ground stations or receivers.

Background :

September 1959: Broadcasting was solely under the control of the state.
In the early 1990s:
cable television arrived in India unannounced.
No government checks on transmission and broadcast through foreign satellites.
Cable television networks mushroomed haphazardly, and foreign television networks invaded our culture through their programmes.
Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995: In order to regulate this cable network industry and to make registration of cable operators mandatory.
In 2000: the first license to set up a teleport.An earth station facility from where TV signals can be uplinked to a geostationary satellite was granted.

Development of uplinking and downlinking :

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB): notified the ‘Guidelines for Uplinking from India’ in July 2000.Private broadcasters got permission to set up their own earth stations and to uplink.
Aaj Tak became the first Indian private television channel to uplink signals from its own earth station.
In 2001, five broadcasters – set up their earth stations with the facility to uplink.
The MIB issued uplinking and downlinking policy guidelines in 2011 for private satellite TV channels and teleports.
The Ministry published the draft policy guidelines on April 30, 2020, and invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders.The policy guidelines for uplinking and downlinking of television channels from India were notified in Nov 2022.

Key Guidelines :

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
Temporary uplinking of a live event
Companies/LLPs having permission to uplink and downlink a channel: They 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.
Mandatory encryption: The TV Channels uplinking in frequency bands other than C band are mandatorily required to encrypt their signals.
Net worth requirement for Companies/LLPs holding permissions, to be as per the Guidelines at the time of renewals.
Security deposit: To ensure payment of dues.

Road Ahead :

Ease of compliance for the permission holder:

Only prior registration of events to be telecast live would be necessary.No permission for live telecast of events.
No prior permission for change of language or conversion of mode of transmission from Standard Definition (SD) to High Definition (HD) or vice versa
In case of emergency, for a company/ LLP with only two Directors/ Partners, a Director/ Partner can be changed.Subject to security clearance post such appointment.
A company/LLP can use News gathering equipment other than DSNG, such as optic fiber, Bag back, mobile, etc.No separate permission would be necessary.
Ease of Doing Business:
Specific timelines for grant for permission
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) entities can also seek permission
A news agency can get permission for a 5 year period(one year at present)
A channel can be uplinked by using facilities of more than one teleport/ satellite(one teleport/satellite at present)

FAQs :

ANS.

Uplink refers to the link from a ground station up to a satellite
Downlink is the link from a satellite down to one or more ground stations or receivers.

Which Indian private channel was first to uplink signals from its own Earth Station?

ANS. Aaj Tak became the first Indian private television channel to uplink signals from its own earth station.