Union Cabinet approves issuance of DTH license for 20 years

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal to revise the guidelines for obtaining a licence for Direct-To-Home (DTH) broadcasting service, to make the period 20 years instead of existing 10 years.

The Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal that licence for the DTH will be issued for a period of 20 years in place of present 10 years. Further, the period of licence may be renewed by 10 years at a time. The licence fee has been revised from 10 percent of GR to 8 percent of AGR.

"AGR will be calculated by deduction of GST from GR. Licence Fee will be collected on quarterly basis in lieu of presently annual basis. DTH operators shall be permitted to operate to a maximum of 5 percent of its total channel carrying capacity as permitted platform channels. A one-time non-refundable registration fee of Rs 10,000 per PS channel shall be charged from a DTH operator," a government statement said. According to the Centre, the DTH sector is a highly employment intensive sector, as it directly employs DTH operators as well as those in the call centres besides indirectly employing a sizeable number of installers at the grass-root level. (IANS)

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