IndianMascot
Core Member
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has sought the recommendations of TRAI regarding issues relating to transmission of local channels or ground based channels operated at the level of cable TV operators/MSOs. In its reference to TRAI, the ministry has sought to know whether there was a need to put in place a comprehensive set of provisions for local channels which would cover issues related to registration mechanism, including eligibility requirements, fee, terms and conditions to be provided for such channels, including the definition of local or ground based channels and their area of operation.
The ministry has also sought TRAI’s views on the issue of transmission of local channels at LCO level in Digital Addressable System (DAS) regime. TRAI, in its recommendations dated July 25, 2008, had recommended that LCOs shall be permitted to transmit their ground based channels. However, in the current DAS regime only digital addressable signals can be carried out on the cable network which is generated at the MSO head-end. The ministry has also requested TRAI to state whether there was a case for putting a cap on the total number of ground based channels operated by a single MSO/cable operator.
