National   

Ministries differ on uplinking Star TV

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 3. Even as Rupert Murdoch's wholly foreign-owned Star TV eagerly awaits a final word on its application to uplink from Indian soil, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is apparently confronted with varying views from the four Ministries it consulted while deciding to refer the matter to the Cabinet.

Though the satellite-uplinking policy allows all television channels to uplink from India irrespective of their ownership or management control, the Ministries of External Affairs, Home, Finance and Communications hold different views on the issue. These ministries had been consulted by the I&B Ministry as it decided to approach the Cabinet to take a fresh look at the uplinking policy in view of Star TV's application to run a 24-hour news channel. According to I&B Ministry sources, only the Communications Ministry was in favour of continuing with the present policy. While the External Affairs Ministry is of the view that there should be 26 per cent cap on foreign equity, the Home and the Finance Ministries are open to allowing companies with 49 per cent foreign holding to uplink from India.

Caught in a situation that it had not anticipated while opening up satellite uplinking completely in July 2000, the I&B Ministry last year thought it advisable that the decision on the issue be a collective one of the Cabinet rather than that of the Ministry alone.Though the present policy allows all television channels — irrespective of their ownership (including equity structure) or management control — to uplink from India provided they undertake to comply with the Broadcasting Codes, Star TV was the first completely foreign-owned news channel to apply for uplinking permission in anticipation of the end of its contract with NDTV in March this year.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• U.S. satisfied with India's stand: Blackwill
• India, Germany share views on Iraq
• No plan for service tax on software exports: Singh
• `A vote for unity in Tripura'
• Tributes paid to Balayogi
• The man and the mandate
• J&K Council resolution wants review of Indus accord
• BJP to approach Minister on fertilizer subsidy cut
• `H.P. poll result heralds victory of secular forces'
• PM may convene arbitration meet
• India denies obstructing SAARC process
• Ayodhya: SC to hear Centre's plea on March 6
• Ministries differ on uplinking Star TV
• View it as a game, says Karunanidhi
• SC notice to Centre on BPL families
• BJP expels 20 leaders in H.P.
• SC rejects Vikas Yadav's plea
• `Ban asbestos' movement gaining momentum
• Cell firms to meet again on March 13
• Abida sings her way into Indian hearts
• A bold initiative, but crisis in farm sector ignored
• Mayawati denies SP allegations
• India, Slovenia to step up trade
• IAF gets air-to-air refueller
• HC disposes of PIL on Airbus deal
• MPs express concern over security
• Arjun Singh denies meeting Uma Bharti
• Togadia seeks Sonia's support for temple

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu