The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued an advisory asking central government ministries, state governments, and union territories in distributing broadcasting content business to pull out of distribution activities before 31st December 2023.
The new government advisory dated 21st October 2022, is raising questions on the future of state owned TV Channels. Tamil Nadu government owned educational channel Kalvi Tholaikatchi, Kerala government owned free-to-air children’s edutainment television channel, Kite Victers, Telangana government’s two television channels Vidya and Nipuna will be withdrawn following the advisory. The operations of Tamil Nadu government owns and operates a cable distribution company called Arasu Cable TV Corporation and AP Fibernet service run by Andhra Pradesh government will be affected by the advisory.
The advisory has also stated that no central government ministries or departments, state governments, union territories, and related entities should enter into the business of Broadcasting/Distribution of broadcasting in future.
In order to implement the decision, it has been decided that entry of Central, state, union territories governments into the business of broadcast for educational purposes should be done through the Prasar Bharati route, through suitable agreements between Prasar Bharati Concerned central, state, UT Governments.
“ln case Ministries of Central Government, State/UT Government and entities related to them are already distributing the broadcasting content, they will be required to extract themselves from the distribution activities,” the advisory read.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had issued recommendations on the subject in 2008, 2012, and 2015. The TRAI’s recommendations dated 28th December 2012 have been accepted by the I&B ministry and the Ministry of Law and Justice.
Further, in order to implement the decision, it has been decided that entry of Centra/State/Union Governments into the business of broadcast for educational purposes should be done through the Prasar Bharati route, through suitable agreements between Prasar Bharati and concerned central,state, and union Governments.
The ministry also stated that uninterrupted viewing of existing education channels and other scheduled programmes must be carried on smoothly till the engagement with Prasar Bharati gets in place.
The TRAI’s recommendations were based on the Sarkaria Commission’s recommendations and the Supreme Court’s judgement in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) matter.
