The going may get tough for the cable TV operators who run their own local film or news channels. The proposed downlinking guidelines to be issued by the information & broadcasting ministry suggest that all cable TV channel must be licensed.

Currently, the channels run by the neighbourhood cable service provider are neither registered or licensed. The downlinking policy draft says that any local cable operator who also broadcasts his own channel will now have to get a license from the information & broadcasting ministry.

In case a local cable operator broadcasts news, he will have to follow the norms applicable to all the satellite news channels. If the operator broadcasts content without a license or without adhering to the rules, the I&B ministry could terminate the license or seize his equipment.

The downlinking policy will also ensure that all the satellite channels being uplinked from outside India also register themselves here.

Currently, the satellite channels uplinked from outside are not registered in India. The downlinking policy draft says that any satellite channel that cable operators show, irrespective of its management control, equity structure etc. will have to be registered in India.

To introduce the downlinking policy in the broadcasting sector, the government will have to amend the Cable TV Act of 1995 and include the word satellite TV channels.

The draft says that once the policy is introduced, the unregistered channels will have to register themselves within 90 days of the notice.

The channels will need to pay a variable registration fee depending on whether they are free-to-air or pay or cable or satellite.

There is likely to be a provision for warning and penalty including encashment of bank guarantee and suspension of operations for channels if they violate the rules.