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Our Bureau

New Delhi , Nov. 16

FOREIGN news channels such as BBC World and CNN are studying the implications of the recently notified downlinking norms that prevent them from carrying advertisements or design content aimed at Indian viewers.

A BBC World spokesperson said, "BBC World, the international news and information channel, reaching over 200 countries and territories, is currently considering the content of the guidelines and will respond in due course."

Mr Anshuman Misra, Managing Director, Turner International India Pvt Ltd and Senior Vice-President, Network Distribution, South-East Asia, added, "It is too early to comment at this stage as we are still studying the implications. CNN International is available in over 186 million households and hotel rooms worldwide."

The channels have six months to comply with the guidelines.

According to Government sources, the aim has been to bring parity between the norms for facsimile edition of foreign newspapers in the print media and the broadcasting sector.

"Foreign newspapers printed in India are not allowed to carry ads or content exclusively targeted at India. Similarly, we felt that the same norm should be extended to foreign news channels beaming into India."

However, the sources maintained that channels beaming international feeds covering a large geographical footprint would not be affected.

The guidelines state that a foreign channel beaming into India must be a standard international channel and it should telecast in the country from where it is uplinked after getting approvals from the regulatory authority of that country.

However, the norms have clearly stated that the conditions related to advertising and India-specific content could be waived on a case-to-case basis.

Protecting domestic channels: Sources added that the decision to prohibit ads is also to protect the Indian news channel business. This would ensure that foreign news channels do not take away a large portion of the advertising.

Media analysts said that currently, both the foreign news channels do not have an India-specific feed and have very few India-centric programmes.

"The advertisers on these channels such as credit card companies, high-end consumer durable companies or tourism bodies also have an international presence," said a media planner.

Meanwhile, the guidelines have also clearly stated that in the event of any war, calamity/national security concerns, the Government will have the power to prohibit for a specified period the downlinking/reception/transmission and re-transmission of any or all channels.

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