MIB proposes overhaul of broadcasting regulatory framework

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has proposed an overhaul of the regulatory framework governing India’s television, radio and associated broadcasting services, seeking to consolidate multiple legacy licensing and policy regimes under a single framework linked to the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

The draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026, notified on September 2, seek to consolidate regulations governing satellite television channels, direct-to-home (DTH) services, headend-in-the-sky (HITS), private FM radio, community radio, television news agencies and IPTV.

The ministry has described the exercise as an attempt to create a "unified and significantly simplified rule book" and improve ease of doing business in television and radio broadcasting. The rules, however, also introduce or formalise a broad set of financial, ownership, security, reporting and operational obligations for authorised entities.

The draft is now open for another round of public consultation, with stakeholders required to submit comments by October 2, 2026. The rules will come into force only on a date subsequently notified by the central government.

From multiple legacy regimes to one framework

The proposed rules effectively seek to move broadcasting regulation away from a collection of sector-specific guidelines issued over several decades and into the framework of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

The MIB has incorporated the 2022 uplinking and downlinking guidelines for satellite TV channels, the 2001 DTH licensing guidelines, the 2009 HITS guidelines, the Phase III private FM radio policy of 2011 as amended up to September 2024, the revised community radio guidelines of 2024 and the 2008 IPTV guidelines.

The ministry said stakeholder submissions received during an earlier consultation, when the draft was published on June 12, 2026, have been examined and incorporated wherever considered appropriate.

The proposed framework also makes clear that the central government will retain a significant role in granting, renewing, transferring and, in certain circumstances, terminating broadcasting authorisations.

Television channels move to an 'authorisation' regime

Under the draft, television channels—both news and non-news—would require authorisation. Television broadcasting would cover satellite as well as terrestrial transmission, with channels permitted to provide their signals to authorised distribution entities, multi-system operators or IPTV providers for onward retransmission.

Applicants would have to be companies or LLPs, comply with applicable foreign investment rules and meet prescribed minimum net-worth thresholds. They would also have to satisfy security requirements.

One significant requirement concerns the ownership of channel brands and commercial rights. An applicant would need to possess the registered trademark for the channel name and logo, or obtain an appropriate no-objection certificate. It would also need exclusive marketing or distribution rights, including rights relating to advertising and subscription revenue, for channels that it seeks to distribute.

For foreign-origin channels, compliance with the applicable laws of the country of origin would also be required.

News channels face a substantially higher financial threshold

The proposed minimum net-worth requirements create a sharp distinction between news and non-news television.

For the first non-news channel, the minimum net worth is proposed at ₹5 crore, with ₹2.5 crore required for each additional non-news channel.

For news broadcasters, the threshold is considerably higher: ₹20 crore for the first news channel and ₹5 crore for every additional news channel.

DTH and HITS operators would each require minimum net worth of ₹10 crore, while the first teleport would require ₹3 crore and each additional teleport ₹1 crore.

There is no minimum net-worth requirement proposed for television news agencies or community radio services.

The differentiation effectively raises the financial entry barrier for new television news operators while leaving the threshold substantially lower for non-news broadcasters.

Cross-ownership restrictions tightened across distribution

The draft also proposes a 20% ceiling on certain cross-holdings between television channels, DTH and HITS operators.

For DTH, a television channel authorised entity, either individually or together with an MSO, cannot hold more than 20% equity in a DTH authorised entity. Conversely, a DTH applicant cannot hold more than 20% equity in a television channel or MSO.

Similar restrictions have been proposed between HITS operators, television channels and DTH companies. Direct and indirect shareholding would be considered for determining the threshold.

The provision could become particularly relevant for media groups that operate across content and distribution businesses, as the proposed architecture seeks to prevent excessive vertical integration between channel owners and distribution infrastructure.

Government scrutiny extends to ownership and control changes

The proposed framework would also impose continuing disclosure requirements.

Authorised entities would have to notify the government of changes in shareholding, partnership or foreign direct investment within 30 days. Changes in ownership, control, address and other material details would have to be reported within specified timelines.

More significantly, a change in ownership that results in a change in control or a complete change in management would require prior written permission from the central government.

This makes the authorisation materially different from a conventional commercial licence that can simply change hands as part of a corporate transaction.

Security clearance becomes a continuing obligation

Security requirements are another major pillar of the proposed framework.

Authorised entities, their key managerial personnel and members of governing bodies would be required to remain security cleared throughout the validity of their authorisation.

For news channels, television news agencies, television distribution services and private radio, a majority of directors, partners and key managerial personnel would have to be resident in India.

Foreign personnel deployed for installation, maintenance or operation of broadcasting networks would require government security clearance before deployment. Broadcasters would also have to disclose details of foreigners and non-resident Indians engaged as consultants or otherwise for more than 60 days in a year, or as regular employees.

Licences become longer—but renewal is not automatic

The draft proposes relatively long authorisation periods.

Television channels, teleports and community radio services would receive authorisations valid for 10 years from commencement of operations. Television news agencies would receive 10 years from the date of authorisation.

Television distribution services would have the longest period at 20 years, while private radio authorisations would run for 15 years.

However, renewal would not be automatic.

Applications would have to be filed at least 120 days before expiry. Renewal would depend on compliance with laws and policies applicable at that time, security clearances, adherence to authorisation conditions and the broadcaster's compliance record.

Importantly, an entity could face renewal problems if it had been adjudicated for more than five breaches involving the terms and conditions of authorisation, including non-compliance with the programme or advertising code.

The proposal therefore links the continuation of a broadcasting business not merely to payment of fees but also to its regulatory compliance history.

Migration from old licences gets a transition window

Existing broadcasters operating under the earlier Telegraph Act framework would not be required to switch immediately.

Entities holding legacy licences, registrations or permissions for satellite television, DTH, HITS or community radio would be allowed to apply for migration into the corresponding authorisation under the new rules during the validity period of their existing permissions.

Migration itself would not attract a processing fee. However, applicants would first have to clear outstanding dues and applicable interest.

Entities that do not migrate could continue operating under their existing terms and conditions for the remaining validity period, but their legacy licences would not be renewed.

This creates a transitional bridge between the old licensing architecture and the new Telecommunications Act-based regime.

Government puts a price tag on broadcasting

The proposed fee structure provides a clearer financial framework for broadcasters.

For television channels, the application processing fee for a new authorisation, renewal or change in category or transmission medium is ₹10,000.

The performance bank guarantee would be ₹2 crore for each news channel and ₹1 crore for each non-news channel, with the guarantee refundable after commencement of operations subject to the prescribed conditions.

Annual authorisation fees would include ₹7 lakh for terrestrial television, ₹2 lakh for uplinking a channel, ₹5 lakh for a channel downlinked after being uplinked from India and ₹15 lakh where the channel is uplinked from outside India. A foreign-origin channel would additionally attract a one-time ₹10 lakh registration fee.

The government would also require a security deposit equivalent to twice the applicable annual authorisation fee.

DTH faces ₹10 crore entry fee and AGR-linked annual payment

For DTH operators, the financial architecture is considerably more substantial.

The draft proposes a ₹10 crore non-refundable one-time entry fee. The annual authorisation fee would be 8% of adjusted gross revenue or 10% of the entry fee, whichever is higher.

DTH operators would also have to maintain a security deposit of ₹5 crore or an amount equivalent to two quarters' estimated authorisation fee and other non-securitised dues, whichever is higher.

The annual fee would be paid in quarterly instalments, with the final quarter reconciled against audited financial statements. Delayed payments would attract simple interest of 1% per month.

Private FM radio gets a separate financial regime

For private radio, the entry fee would be determined through auction, while the application processing fee would be ₹50,000.

The annual authorisation fee would generally be 4% of adjusted gross revenue. For specified cities in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and several northeastern and island territories, the rate would be 2% of AGR for the first three years before moving to 4%.

The proposed net-worth requirement would vary according to city category—from ₹3 crore for A+ and A category cities to ₹50 lakh for D-category cities and smaller towns. An operator seeking coverage across all categories in all regions would need ₹10 crore.

Radio operators face tighter content and ownership conditions

The rules also place specific structural restrictions on private radio.

An applicant must have at least 51% equity held by the largest Indian shareholder, subject to specified exclusions. It cannot be controlled by a trust, society, non-profit, religious or political organisation.

More significantly, an entity operating as an advertising agency, or an affiliate or entity controlled by an advertising agency, would not be eligible to obtain a private radio authorisation.

The draft also proposes that an authorised entity cannot operate more than 40% of the total radio channels in a city where at least three different authorised entities exist. Group companies and entities under common management or control would be counted together for this purpose.

Private radio must carry at least 20% local content

The proposed rules would require private radio services to remain free-to-air and prohibit charging users for access.

Operators would have to provide up to one hour a day of government-mandated public-interest announcements, retain full editorial and operational control and comply with sports broadcasting sharing requirements.

At least 20% of daily broadcast content would have to comprise local content aimed at promoting such material.

The draft also requires prior government approval for fixing or modifying a radio service's channel identity.

Community radio retains its non-news character

Community radio would continue to be treated differently from commercial radio.

Authorisation would be granted on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible non-profit or public-interest entities, including Section 8 companies, charitable societies, public charitable trusts and certain government-recognised institutions.

Operators would need to have been engaged in community development services in the specified geographical area for at least three years before applying.

Community radio stations would also be required to constitute an Advisory and Content Committee comprising members of the local community, with 50% of its members being women.

The stations cannot broadcast news programming, except unaltered Akashwani news bulletins, which may be translated into a local language or dialect without distortion or editing.

Platform services capped at 5% of network capacity

The draft rules also address platform services offered by distribution operators.

An authorised entity providing platform services would have to register each service and pay the prescribed one-time registration fee. More importantly, the total number of platform services would be capped at 5% of the total channel-carrying capacity of the operator's broadcasting network.

Distribution operators would also be prohibited from carrying unauthorised television channels or entering into agreements for exclusive distribution of authorised channels.

Transfers become regulated transactions

The proposed rules create a formal framework for transferring broadcasting authorisations.

Television channels, teleports and private radio services could be transferred only after the applicable lock-in period and with prior central government approval.

The lock-in would be three years for private radio and one year for television channels and teleports.

Transfers could take place in circumstances including court-approved mergers, demergers or amalgamations, transfers of businesses or undertakings, or transfers within a group company.

The transferee would have to satisfy the eligibility and net-worth requirements and obtain security clearance. News agencies for television and community radio authorisations, however, would not be transferable.

A major regulatory reset for broadcasting

Taken together, the draft represents more than a consolidation of old guidelines. It creates a common authorisation architecture covering content broadcasters, distribution platforms, satellite infrastructure, radio and television news agencies.

The government is offering longer authorisation periods and a stated objective of simplifying the regulatory regime, while simultaneously creating more explicit controls over ownership, management changes, security clearances, financial reporting, content compliance and transfer of authorisations.

For broadcasters, the biggest shift could therefore be the move from a collection of sector-specific permissions to a continuing authorisation relationship with the government.

The framework is still a draft and could change following the latest consultation. But if implemented in its current form, it would establish a considerably more integrated regulatory architecture for India's traditional broadcasting sector—one that combines commercial licensing with continuing oversight of ownership, security, operations and compliance under the Telecommunications Act framework.

The proposed rules also leave the government with powers to issue directions and guidelines consistent with the Act and rules and to amend the schedules through notification, giving the regulatory framework an additional degree of administrative flexibility.