Permissions of 71 TV channels cancelled: Govt

Permissions of 71 TV channels have been cancelled by the information and broadcasting ministry for various reasons after a comprehensive review of the companies operating them, Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.

"Permissions of 71 channels have been cancelled till date due to reasons of non operationalisation, non submission of performance bank guarantee or surrender of permission," I&B minister Manish Tewari said in a written reply.

He said during the review, it was found that six companies had changed their board of directors without prior approval of the ministry.

"As this is a violation of clause 5.10 of the uplinking guidelines, a showcause notice was issued to these companies," Tewari said. It was also found that 15 companies had effected change in their share holding pattern in violation of clauses under uplinking guidelines. These companies have also been issued show cause notices, he said.

Eleven companies, issued notices for their corresponding channels, did not respond to the notices sent by the Ministry. They have been issued show cause notices and permission of one has been cancelled, he said.

In response to another question, he said 300 private TV channels are monitored by the electronic media monitoring centre. He said the government had approved a scheme to enhance the EMMC's monitoring capacity to 1,500 satellite channels.