New Delhi: In an effort to speed up the
digitalisation process in broadcasting, the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting has initiated consultations with
stakeholders to see whether the FDI limit in the cable
television sector can be increased.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni,
while addressing the State Information Ministers Conference
(SIMCON) here today, said that her ministry is in favour of
approaching the matter on the basis of consensus.
She informed the participants that the ministry is having
consultations with broadcasters and industry stakeholders on
whether the current FDI limit in cable television sector,
which stands at 49 percent, should be increased or not.
Ever since she has assumed office, Soni has been
emphasising on speeding up the digitalisation process in the
broadcasting sector.
For this purpose, the government also recently cleared
the Headends in the Sky (HITS) policy, which will provide
cable services through satellite and give a big push to
digitalised broadcasting. At the same time, 74 percent FDI
limit has been allowed for service providers in it.
In this scenario, consultations are currently on between
ministry and industry stakeholders with the aim of building a
consensus on increasing the FDI limit.
An increased FDI limit in the cable television sector
will provide it a level-playing field with the HITS platform.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, December 05, 2009, 20:26