HITS policy norms get Cabinet approval

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet on Thursday approved an Information & Broadcasting ministry proposal seeking
to issue policy guidelines for putting up headend-in-the-sky (HITS), a system for multi-system operators (MSOs) to distribute television broadcast signals.

���HITS would help a subscriber with a wider choice of digital channels, better picture quality and value-added services at affordable price,��� as per a statement issued by the ministry of Information & Broadcasting. It added that HITS would also allow a cable TV viewer to receive more channels than what they get through the current system. The new policy allows HITS operators to uplink signals only from India, and has permitted total direct and indirect foreign investment up to a controversial 74%.

Neither in cable nor in DTH is such a high level of FDI permitted. But a prior approval of the FIPB will be required if FDI crosses 49% limit.