Advisory on Obligation of Public Service Broadcasting

January 31, 2023

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been in constant discussions with private satellite television channel broadcasters. Based on the inputs provided by these TV channels, the ministry released an advisory on the Obligation of Public Service Broadcasting. According to the advisory, private satellite television channels should telecast public service broadcasting at least for 30 minutes.

About the 30 minutes broadcast

The 30 minutes public service broadcast can be anything starting from education, agriculture, health and family welfare, environmental protection, national integration, programs related to the uplift of weaker sections of Indian society, science and technology, women empowerment, cultural heritage, and the spread of literacy. However, the content should be related to social relevance and should be of national importance.
Commercial breaks are not to be counted in the 30 minutes.
The broadcasters are allowed to repeat the program

How will the private channels achieve this?

The Government of India has asked the private TV satellite channels to plan these 30 minutes at their will. However, they shall not broadcast the program between 12 midnight and 6 AM. Also, the government allows the channels to implement this through voluntary compliance. However, the Government has asked the private satellite TV channels to submit a report by February 7.
Foreign channels that are downlinking in India are exempted. For instance, Discovery Tamil is a foreign channel and is downlinking in India in Tamil. Discovery Malayalam is downlinking in Malayalam. And so on. Such foreign channels are exempted from the obligation.
The issued guidelines are to come into effect from March 1, 2023.

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