The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has revoked an earlier order cancelling the registration of  Bhusawal Cable Network Private Limited (BCN) — granted an MSO licence to operate networks in the States of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra — over allegations of TV signal piracy of pubcaster’s DD FreeDish DTH service.

“Considering the matter in its entirety, it is deemed appropriate to consider the period BCN was barred from distribution activities i.e. from 24.01 .20221o 03.04.2022 as sufficient penalty for offences committed by them. in addition to this, BCN is hereby warned for future to ensure compliance to the terms and conditions of its MSO registration and provisions of the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995 and rules framed thereunder,” the Ministry said in a communication last week.

It added that considering all the submissions and points raised by BCN, subsequent Mumbai court observations and appeals, the MSO registration of BCN was being “accordingly restored with immediate effect”.

Following a complaint received by the government in 2021 that BCN was taking feed from DD FreeDish and retransmitting them on its network, the Ministry requested an authorized officer to enquire into the matter and submit a report. The report had found, prima facie, that BCN was taking signals from FreeDish for unauthorised redistribution.

MIB had then cancelled the registration of BCN, after which the MSO appealed the directive and also approached a local court in Mumbai seeking legal remedies.

ln its defence, the MIB note said, apart from other pertinent issues raised, BCN had taken the plea that private TV channels and DD channels, alleged to be transmitted after taking signals from DD FreeDish, were “free channels” and, therefore, violation of Copyright Act, 1957 and consequently Rule 6(3) of the Cable TV Network Rules, 1994 did not arise.