Taking note of the inconveniences that may be caused to Indian teleport operators uplinking foreign TV channels, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has come up with a temporary solution till the processes get fine-tuned.

Pointing out that while the development of requisite forms and online module on BroadcastSeva portal is currently under progress, MIB in an advisory said to “mitigate the genuine hardships of the applicants” a provisional application form  has been designed where the applicant teleport operator would fill the requisite details in respect of the foreign entity.

The problems surfaced as the guidelines stated a TV channel, owned by a foreign company or entity, may be allowed to uplink its content for being downlinked and viewed outside India by using the facility of a permitted teleport operator provided that permission for use of such facility shall be granted only after clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Space.

The mandated clearances, reportedly, were time consuming and impacting the businesses of Indian teleport operators.

“The permitted teleport operators may apply in the… said format for processing the application. Further, teleport operator(s), broadcasters and other stakeholders are invited to submit their comments on the provisional application form, if any,” MIB said in its advisory.

Uplink and downlink guidelines of India allow permitted Indian teleport operators to uplink television channels for viewing only in foreign countries subject to certain conditions and clearances from the government.