The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) held an Open Home Dialogue (OHD) on December 20, 2024 on its session paper concerning the regulatory framework for Floor-Based mostly Broadcasters (GBBs). Through the dialogue, business specialists emphasised the necessity for a unified regulatory strategy that includes rising transmission applied sciences resembling fiber, cloud, and broadband, alongside conventional satellite tv for pc broadcasting.
The regulator launched the session paper on the regulatory framework for GBBs on October 18, 2024. The paper was issued to collect suggestions from business stakeholders on the evolving panorama of broadcasting, notably specializing in the mixing of newer transmission applied sciences resembling fiber, cloud, and broadband.
Through the dialogue stakeholders argued that this shift would modernise the broadcasting sector, scale back prices, and enhance content material supply, whereas additionally fostering technological innovation. In addition they burdened that these adjustments shouldn’t compromise compliance with content material and promoting rules, making certain a good and balanced strategy for all broadcasting platforms.
Debashish Bhattacharya, senior deputy director basic of the Broadband India Discussion board emphasised the necessity for the federal government to permit the usage of various transmission strategies. “The Indian broadcasting sector is at a vital juncture,” he stated. “It’s important that we embrace newer applied sciences resembling cloud, fiber, and broadband to scale back reliance on satellite tv for pc and guarantee higher scalability and suppleness for broadcasters. This may assist in bettering the buyer viewing expertise, offering higher high quality whereas lowering prices.”
Bhattacharya additionally burdened that ground-based broadcasters, utilizing terrestrial strategies resembling fiber and broadband, shouldn’t be subjected to the identical satellite tv for pc uplink and downlink tips.
Anil Kumar Malhotra, head of public and regulatory affairs at ZEE and representing NBDA echoed Bhattacharya’s sentiments, stating the confusion across the medium of supply. “From a shopper’s perspective, the display screen at house stays the identical, whether or not the content material is delivered through satellite tv for pc, fiber, or cloud. Nevertheless, the present rules solely deal with satellite tv for pc transmission, creating pointless distinctions between totally different broadcast mediums,” he remarked. Malhotra additionally raised considerations concerning the rise of OTT companies and the challenges they pose for content material regulation. “Shoppers are already confused about content material rules on OTT. There must be uniform rules that apply to all broadcast mediums to make sure shopper safety and forestall content material that violates the programming code from reaching households.”
Rajiv Khattar, an unbiased advisor within the broadcasting enterprise, argued for a extra versatile regulatory framework. “There must be one singular, technology-agnostic definition of a broadcaster,” Khattar stated. “The excellence between satellite tv for pc and ground-based broadcasting must be eliminated. If a broadcaster needs to make use of fiber, cloud, or satellite tv for pc, the rules ought to facilitate that alternative with out pointless restrictions.”
The transfer in the direction of a unified framework shouldn’t be solely seen as a technological development but in addition a response to the rising variety of content material supply strategies. Shweta Singh, coverage and technique head, Bharti Airtel highlighted the significance of eradicating boundaries for newer applied sciences, stating, “The present tips limit broadcasters to satellite-based transmission. It’s time we enable broadcasters to leverage developments in fiber, cloud, and broadband, making certain higher high quality, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.”
There are additionally discussions across the categorisation of broadcasters on the nationwide and state ranges. Whereas some specialists recommended a state-level strategy for broadcasters with regional content material, others, together with Rajiv Khattar, warning in opposition to such compartmentalisation. They stated that broadcasting is a nationwide topic and must be regulated centrally. State-wise regulation might result in a fragmented strategy that may disrupt the business.
Rabindra Narayan, MD and president, G Subsequent Media and PTC Community, pointed to world developments as nicely, stressing the necessity for a unified regulatory framework. “In international locations just like the US, Canada, and the UK, broadcasting rules are uniform, whatever the transmission medium. India ought to comply with an analogous strategy and never threat regional management over broadcasting,” Narayan stated.
