Following the CASBAA India Forum in New Delhi in late March, a Council of Governors delegation met senior officials at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Planning Commission of the Government of India.

During the meeting with TRAI Chairman Dr JS Sarma the delegation focused on concerns surrounding the provision of satellite capacity over India (Open Skies) and concerns on proposed new limitations on advertising minutage for Indian “pay channels”. There was also discussion of the on-going roll-out of a high-capacity national broadband network which could “fill in” in areas where newly digitised cable TV systems do not reach.  

The meeting with MIB Secretary Uday Varma covered rate caps, digital cable services, the registration process for non-domestic board directors working for international pay-TV channels and also the cumbersome and lengthy processes for foreign satellite operators, especially the various licences and clearances that have to be obtained, which can take between 6 months to 1 year’s time..      

The meeting with Dr. Murli Krishnan, Principal Advisor-Infotech and Communications,  Planning Commission, touched on newly emerging worries over proposals for retrospective taxation of foreign satellite operators, (which could severely damage India’s reputation as a destination for investment and growth), the continuing tariff regulations of  TV services and the need to simplify licencing processes for foreign satellite operators.

Companies represented during the CASBAA delegation meetings included HBO Asia, Star India, PwC and APT Satellite.