The Hindu : More stringent rules likely for uplinking of foreign news channels

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 07, 2003

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More stringent rules likely for uplinking of foreign news channels

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 6. The Government today indicated in the Rajya Sabha that it could further tighten the rules for allowing uplinking of foreign news channels while ensuring that the editorial control remained in Indian hands.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, faced sharp criticism for giving frequent extensions to the Star News channel amid interruptions and a last-minute walkout by almost all the Opposition members dissatisfied over his reply to a calling attention motion on the CAS and the uplinking of foreign channels.

Defending his Ministry's decision to grant extension to the Star News channel, Mr. Prasad said an inter-ministerial group was already going into "bulky documents" submitted by the channel. "I am giving them a fair and transparent consideration. Should I stop mid-way? When Star gave application, we raised some queries and they have sent a bulky reply. The matter is under consideration.'' On the demand for a regulatory authority, he said the plea was well-taken but a common regulator under the Convergence Bill was favoured. "We are open to suggestion. The matter is under consideration of the Government."

Defending the CAS, Mr. Prasad said it had the potential to usher in technological empowerment of the households. Armed with data on TV viewership in the four metros, he said there were 65 lakh total cable TVs of which only 15 to 20 per cent were expected to go in for set-top boxes by September 1. It would mean 2.83 lakh boxes at a total cost of Rs. 150 crores, he said while debunking claims of the Opposition members that the figure could be as high as Rs. 1,800 crores to Rs. 2,400 crores. A minimum of 30 to 35 "free-to-air channels" would be available for which the consumer would not require a set-top box.

"In Brazil, only 27 per cent people see pay channels as adequate number of free-to-air channels are available." Allaying apprehensions over the suitability of new technology, Mr. Prasad said: "Let us not stop the march of technology. With technology will come competition and it will bring smiles on the faces of consumers."

Citing the examples of computerisation during the Rajiv Gandhi regime and mobile phones, he said consumers were reaping the benefits of modern technology. The Direct-to-Home facility, free-to-air channels and the CAS would be able to co-exist and the consumer would have the widest choice of technology.

Earlier, Opposition members mounted a scathing attack on the Government, alleging "proxy editorial" control by Rupert Murdoch's News Corps in Media Content and Communication Services, floated by Star to meet the uplinking guidelines which put the cap on foreign companies' equity at 26 per cent. Initiating the discussion, Sanjay Nirupam (Shiv Sena) said the CAS was neither consumer-friendly nor beneficial to indigenous set-top box manufacturers. He wanted to know whether the CAS policy had been vetted by security agencies.

On uplinking, Mr. Nirupam charged the Government with tolerating Star News despite it having flouted the eligibility norms. Sarla Maheshwari (CPI-M) alleged that the interests of foreign multi-national companies were being protected and the new technology was neither in the interest of consumers nor cable operators. She questioned the fifth extension given to Star News.

C. Ramachandraiah (Telugu Desam Party) criticised the eligibility criteria for uplinking of news and current affairs channels. "We are in a transition phase. We have been appointing regulators in every activity. Despite the Supreme Court judgment in 1995, till today we have not appointed a regulator.''

Amar Singh (Samajwadi Party) and Eduardo Faleiro (Congress) said that Indian shareholders were acting as "frontmen" for Mr. Murdoch. Suresh Pachouri (Congress) described the Government's media policy as "immature" and assailed it for uncertainty over the CAS.

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