The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has cancelled the registration of two MSOs for violation of terms and conditions of certain rules and Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

“This Ministry has cancelled registrations of two MSOs, namely MIs 9 Star Digital Cable Network and M/s Top Ten Cable Network…for violation of terms and conditions of the MSO Registration and Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995,” an MIB advisory said.

The rules state that TV channels shall provide satellite TV channel signal reception decoders only to MSOs/cable operators registered under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 or to a DTH operator registered under the DTH guidelines issued by Government of India or to an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service provider duly permitted under their existing telecom license or authorized by Department of Telecommunications or to a HITS operator duly permitted under the policy guidelines for HITS operators issued by the MIB.

Accordingly, the satellite TV channels and broadcasters have been advised not to provide signals to the two barred MSOs as their registrations have been cancelled, MIB said.

Meanwhile, according to data put out by the MIB recently, India has a total number of 1,737 registered MSOs as of June 2023.

All registered MSOs, unless indicated in registration order specifically, can operate anywhere in India.