The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has cancelled more than 1,100 registrations of Multi System Operators (MSOs), leaving just 843 players with valid operating licences across the country.

The move comes as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to streamline the cable television ecosystem, enforce regulatory compliance, and weed out inactive or non-compliant operators.

The ministry, which regulates the registration of MSOs under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, confirmed that 1,159 registrations had been either cancelled, surrendered, or expired as of early 2025. Many of these cancellations occurred during the fiscal year 2023-24 alone, when a staggering 883 MSO licences were revoked. Officials say the revocations were prompted by consistent failures to meet mandatory compliance, including submission of annual audited accounts, subscriber data, and other essential documents.

The large-scale deregistration has sent ripples across the broadcasting and cable TV industry, especially among regional players and local cable operators who depended on these MSOs for distribution. Experts note that this move could potentially lead to increased consolidation in the industry, with stronger players absorbing smaller, defunct ones.

The Ministry maintains an updated list of all MSOs whose registrations have been cancelled, surrendered, or expired. While the official list as of March 31, 2025, has not yet been made public, the last published list (as of November 30, 2024) is available on the Ministry‘s website. It details the names, registration numbers, and dates of expiry or cancellation, offering transparency in the regulatory process.