MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has allowed 149 news and current affairs TV channels and 106 non-news and current affairs TV channels to uplink from India, as on 15 November, 2007.

Five TV channels, uplinked from abroad, have also been permitted to downlink in India. In addition to this, 52 TV channels, uplinked from abroad, have been provisionally permitted to downlink in India. The permissions are for operation on an all-India basis and are not State-wise.

Out of the total 255 channels permitted to uplink from India, 123 channels have Indian ownership whereas 132 have varying components of foreign equity in the parent company. Out of the total 57 TV channels uplinked from abroad and permitted to downlink in India, 2 TV channels have Indian equity whereas the remaining 55 TV channels have foreign equity.

The Ministry is considering the proposed draft of the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill. The said Bill is still at drafting stage and is under consultation with States/UTs and other stakeholders. No time frame can be given for finalization of the said Bill as consultation is on-going process.