Arasu TV: Centre refers to TRAI's recommendation

The Centre today informed the Madras High Court that TRAI has recommended that the central, state governments and their undertakings should not be allowed to enter the broadcasting sector.
When the case relating to Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd came up before Justice S Rajeswaran, Additional Solicitor General P Wilson referred to TRAI's recommendation.
Observing that governments in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal too have requested like Tamil Nadu, he said "we (the Centre) have not allowed the respective state governments to operate TV channels or do broadcasting like MSOs (Multi- System Operators)."
He said TRAI first recommended in 2008 against the Central, state governments and their undertakings and corporations, from being a broadcaster or having TV channels.

"Though the Tamil Nadu government made an application seeking for Digital Addressable System (DAS) license, the central government, taking into consideration the request made by various states, once again requested TRAI to reconsider the decision," he said.
But, TRAI again by its recommendation in December 2012 had made it very clear that central ministries and departments, companies owned and undertaken by the Centre, joint venture of the central government with private sectors, and government funded entities should not be allowed to enter into business of broadcasting and into TV channels, he said.

TRAI also recommended against state departments, government owned companies, undertakings, joint venture of state government with private firms, and state funded entities doing business in broadcasting and TV channels, he said.

Justice S Rajeswaran posted the petitions by the Tamil Nadu government along with another petition pending before a division bench of the same court for further hearing.
The Tamil Nadu government had sought a direction to restrain the I&B Ministry from interfering with the transmitting of cable TV signals by Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation in Chennai and also in Tamil Nadu.