To prevent non-serious applicants from “crowding the electronic media landscape”, the Centre on Friday decided to increase the net worth criteria for those seeking permission to run TV channels.
The Cabinet cleared the proposal of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, where the net worth criteria for uplinking of ‘Non-News and current affairs’ channels and downlinking of foreign channels has been revised from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 5 crore for the first channel. Companies will have to show an additional net worth of Rs 2.5 crore for each additional channel. For uplinking of ‘News and Current Affairs’ channels the net worth has been increased from Rs 3 crore to Rs 20 crore for the first channel and Rs 5 crore for each additional channel.
Companies are also required to operationalise new TV channels within one year from the date of permission. In the event of non-operationalisation of the permitted channel within a year, the Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) will be forfeited and permission cancelled.
For non-news and current affairs channels, firms will have to sign a PBG of Rs 1 crore, while news and current affairs channels will have to pledge Rs 2 crore.
Aspiring firms should have one person in top management position of a chairperson, chief executive officer or chief operating officer with minimum three years experience in the media to seek permission for a new channel.