Broadcasters seek PMO’s help on permissions

NEWDELHI: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) seeing a revision of some of the policies of the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) including the levy of processing fee for temporary uplink of live events and the need for security clearances to start new channels.

IBF has said in a report to the PMO, seen by Hindustan Times, that delays in permissions to start new channels to ending the auction of free slots to private broadcasters on the DD FreeDish go against the very spirit of the ‘ease of doing business.’

The report, submitted last month, claims various operations of television channels including setting up of new channels despite valid permissions, change of name or logo, and change of teleport among others “have come to a complete halt”.

MIB did not respond to queries e-mailed on Monday.

IBF, according to information available on its website, was established in 1999 and has both news and non-news channels as its members and provides research-based legislative inputs to the government.

Highlighting the delay in operationalisation of channels, IBF sought a time limit of 6-8 weeks be stipulated for MHA to submit a report on the security clearance sought by the MIB.

BF has also asked the PMO to direct the MIB to come out with an “objective policy” on allotting vacant slots on DD FreeDish to protect the interests of Prasar Bharti, the ministry’s broadcasting arm and the broadcasters interested in having their channels carried on DD FreeDish.