Broadcasters may get nod to set up own transmitters

Meher Khanna - Televisionpoint.com
Doordarshan may lose its exclusive right over terrestrial television. In a move that will have tremendous implications for television transmission in the country, the broadcasting regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI is preparing to recommend that private broadcasters be allowed to set up their own terrestrial TV transmission networks.

Many countries in the world allow multiple competition in terrestrial television. In effect, this would mean that Star or TV Today or NDTV could go about setting up its own transmitting stations all over the country. Doordarshan has around 1,400 low-power transmitters covering over 90 per cent of India's territory.

The state-owned broadcaster is moving towards 100 per cent coverage using satellite-based directto-home (DTH) television technology in areas where the cost and difficulty of setting up transmitters is prohibitive. DD does not posses fibre-optic or cable television capacity.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman Pradip Baijal said, "We are working on terrestrial TV recommendations. The consultations are over. We hope to finalize them within this month. The policy will act as an enabling and facilitating regime which will allow private satellite television channels to beam terrestrial signals. Our recommendations will be given to the government for action."

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India started work on this in February this year when it published a consultation paper on policy and licensing framework for the introduction of private terrestrial television broadcast services in India.

Baijal cites the Supreme Court judgement of 1995 that ruled that airwaves or frequencies are public property and became a milestone in permitting individual citizens to set up their own broadcasting media organizations and operate freely. It was held in the Supreme Court judgment that for ensuring the free speech rights, it is necessary that they have benefit of plurality of views and a range of opinions on all public issues. This cannot be provided by a medium controlled by a monopoly ­ whether the monopoly is of the state or any other individual, group or organization.

Accordingly, allowing the private sector in terrestrial TV broadcasting will provide plurality of views. Sources also indicated that the government is not averse to the idea of terrestrial competition. And that Baijal is of the view that additional spectrum for terrestrial TV will enable the convergence theme to be played out. He ended by saying that he will be giving a fully structured view on the subject to the information & broadcasting ministry.

In Interanational Markets
Hong Kong: Two commercial terrestrial broadcasters, TVB and ATV
Japan: Over 100 terrestrial broadcasters (plus 60 satellite, cable broadcasters)
Indonesia: Five including state-owned Televisi Republik lndonesia
South Korea: 4 national broadcasting systems & pvt regional terrestrial TV stations
Singapore: 6 TV stations, 16 satellite broadcasters (DTH not permitted)
Taiwan: 5 terrestrial stations
Pakistan: Shalimar TV Network (first semi-private TV network)
Bangladesh: Ekushey TV -- first pvt terrestrial broadcaster (closed down in 2002)
Nepal: Govt opened establishment, operation, and maintenance of terrestrial TV to pvt sector in Oct 2000 - two started by July 2003