I&B secretary wary of telcos entering broadcasting

New Delhi: Union information and broadcasting ministry secretary Amit Khare has said that lack of regulation on Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) entering broadcast media was a valid concern, and indicated thinking on measures to prevent such monopolies and in distribution.

Speaking here on Thursday at a seminar organised by the Union industry ministry and the World Intellectual Property Organization, he said: “A DTH company can’t own more than 20% in a TV broadcasting company and vice versa, but the 20%rule is not there for TSPs —it’s a concern”, also adding later that “there is no control on TSPs and they have already entered broadcasting”.

Pointing towards broadcasting distribution as well, he said that it is important that information is not controlled by one entity. “If a monopoly restricts the good content — then something has to be done,” and added that there is a need to ensure that “distribution is fair”.


He also indicated that there were discussions on to see how to remove the corporate veil over ownership of distribution companies and also emphasised on the need for more competition, especially when technologies are converging.