CENTRE REVISES GUIDELINES FOR CABLE OPERATORS

The Union ministry of information and broadcasting on Wednesday updated the guidelines that permit multi-system operators (MSOS) to transmit local content, seeking a one-time registration fee of ₹1,000.

An official familiar with the matter said that the process will help streamline how platform services operate.

“Earlier, even the ministry did not know how many internal channels a cable operator had. Now, they have to register these channels and their limit must be less than 5% of the total channels they have,” the official said. A new registration process has been provided for, which earlier did not exist, the official added. According to a press statement by the ministry, the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, permit MSOS “to transmit their own programming service, either directly to their own subscribers or through one or more Local Cable Operators”.