Source: The post is based on the article “Centre devises new guidelines for TV channels; broadcast of socially relevant topics compulsory” published in The Hindu on 10th November 2022.
What is the News?
The Union Cabinet has approved the “Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022”.
These guidelines will ensure the ease of compliance for the permit holders of TV Channels and will also promote ease of doing business by simplification of rules and procedures.
What are the key provisions of the guidelines?
Broadcast National Importance content: All the stations holding permission — except for the foreign channels and where it may not be feasible — would have to broadcast content on issues of national importance and social relevance for at least 30 minutes every day.
– The content must be related to education; agriculture; health; science and technology; welfare of women; welfare of the weaker sections of society; protection of the environment and of cultural heritage and national integration.
– Note: The guidelines exempt the channels including those related to sports, where it would not be feasible to broadcast such content.
Live Telecast: The requirement for seeking permission for the live telecast of events has been done away with; only prior registration of events to be telecast live would be necessary.
Penalty: The penalty clauses have been rationalized and graded penalties proposed for different types of contraventions.
Net worth: The required net worth for the first channel is ₹20 crore and ₹5 crores for the subsequent ones.
Other important guidelines 1) Specific timelines have been proposed for a grant for permission, 2) Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) entities can also seek permission and 3) A news agency can get permission for a 5-year period as against one year at present.
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