New Delhi: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has released a consultation paper on Media Ownership.
The consultation paper was brought in after Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) sought Trai's recommendations on the need for cross media and ownership restrictions in India for radio, broadcasting and print media.
These recommendations have been sought under Section 11(1)(a) (ii)and (iv) of the Trai Act. Government of India has provided for restrictions in ownership of companies seeking licenses, permissions or registrations under various Policy Guidelines issued from time to time for electronic media. As of now such restrictions are in place only in DTH services and Private FM radio.
In addition, Trai has also recommended similar restrictions on Private Terrestrial TV, Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS) and Mobile TV.
While laying out the restriction, Trai said, These have come at different times and stages of growth. Therefore there is a need to lay down a holistic and clear cut approach towards cross-media and ownership restrictions for the future growth of these sectors....
Meanwhile the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has identified issues like the need for cross media and ownership restrictions, and whether the existing laws are adequate to address the concerns or a separate legislation is needed.
The Ministry has also argued that with more and more broadcasting and telecom companies entering into delivery of service, whether there should be restrictions on ownership of cable, DTH, IPTV and Mobile TV companies by broadcasting or telecom companies or vice-versa.
Further to bring a uniform structure the Ministry along with Trai will be studying the policy structure and restrictions in other parts of the world.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry further clarified, Looking at the increasing trend of the print media entering into broadcasting sector, there is a need to examine the reason behind its entry. Trai in the present context should also include print media while examining the need for any cross media restrictions vis-? -vis broadcast media....
Media Ownership is a subject of intense debate and requires a government review in both developed and developing countries around the world. Almost all of the developed democratic countries like USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France etc. have restrictions on common and cross media ownership. Many of these countries have recently reviewed the media ownership rules.
The consultation paper which is available on www.trai.gov.in deals with issues like media ownership rules and control, the methodologies to measure concentration and plurality.