Trai probe into number of TV channels not to curb growth

The Government has directed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to examine the maximum number of channels that can be permitted in the country in the wake of spectrum constraints but has no plans to curb the growth of the broadcasting sector. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni clarified in Rajya Sabha today that the study by the sector regulator must be seen within this context and there was no government motive to curb the growth of TV channels in the country. "Trai has been requested to examine the number of channels which can be permitted in the country keeping available spectrum and transponder capacities as well as technological developments and general practice internationally," Soni said.

Soni noted as many as 512 private satellite TV channels had been permitted under uplinking and downlinking guidelines. Another 152 applications are awaiting permission to uplink from India and 14 applications are pending for permission to downlink from India, Soni added.

-Indiantelevision