Towards making India an uplinking hub

Towards making India an uplinking hub

#GS-03 Science and Technology

For Prelims

Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021

It provides for the creation of a three-level grievance redressal mechanism;

  • self-regulation by broadcasters,
  • self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of the broadcasters, and
  • oversight by an Inter-Departmental Committee at the level of the Union government.

The guidelines aim to create a conducive environment in line with the principle of ease of doing business on a sound regulatory framework.

Satellite Teleport

  • A teleport is a ground station designed as a telecommunications hub for connecting a satellite network with a terrestrial network.
  • It aims to provide high-quality satellite communication services through up linking TV signals to a geostationary satellite.
  • The first license to set up a teleport in India was granted in only in 2000.

Private Television in India

  • Zee TV launched in October 1992 is India’s first private television channel.
  • This was done by taking an idle AsiaSat satellite transponder on lease for five years to uplink programmes.
  • Indian Broadcasters were later allowed to uplink from India through Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL).
  • Private broadcasters got permission to set up their own earth stations and to uplink in July 2000 through ‘Guidelines for Uplinking from India’ notified by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India.
  • The first license was given in November 2000 to TV Today Network Limited with which they started a 24X7 Hindi news channel, Aaj Tak, from December 31, 2000.
  • Hence, Aaj Tak became the first Indian private television channel to uplink signals from its own earth station.