MIB Issues Advisory against Broadcast of Unauthorized TV Channels

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting 
has issued an advisory to stop the broadcast of non-licensed channels in the country. Broadcast or transmission of any non-permitted channels is advised to be stopped immediately by the cable operators and DTH operators.

The advisory states that as per Section 5 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995, no person shall transmit or re-transmit through a cable service any program unless such program is in conformity with the program code. In the Cable Television Network (CTN) Rules 1994, framed under the cable TV Act, the nature of the contents prohibited to be transmitted or re-transmitted are given in the program code under Rule 6 of these rules.

Sub-rule 6(6) of the Cable TV Rules specifies that no cable operator shall carry or include in his cable service any television broadcast or channel, which has not been registered by the central government for being viewed within the territory of India. A list of private satellite TV channels permitted by the ministry is available on its website.

Transmission or re-transmission of any TV channel in violation of Section 5 of the Cable TV Act read with Rule 6(6) by any cable operator is an offence, which attracts action against the operators by the authorized officers.

All the MSOs and LCOs have, therefore, been advised to ensure that no un-authorized TV channels are transmitted by them in their networks. In case of violations, necessary action would be taken against the defaulters.