MIB to address by-passing of DDFD Auction system in new uplinking and downlinking guidelines TV channels

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) will address the reception of some channels of the private broadcasters on the set-top boxes of DD Free Dish subscribers that were not part of the channels downlinkable from that platform, said Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Information and Broadcasting in Lok Sabha last week in Lok Sabha in response to a question from Anto Anthony on the by-passing of auction system by some private television channels.

Anthony had asked whether the government received any complaints regarding the same and whether it had taken any action in this regard. Anthony also asked if the Doordarshan suffered a loss of Rs 52 crore due to the fraud committed by these channels.

The Ministry is set to address the issue in the new uplinking an downlinking guidelines for private TV channels that will be notified by the Government.

“This situation has arisen due to co-location of signals and nonmandatory requirement for encryption of signals of a Free-to-Air TV Channel,” said Prakas Javadekar.