CNN, BBC, ZEE GET THE NOD
FOR UPLINK FACILITY

With channels like STAR TV starting a 24-hour temporary news channel specially for the purpose of covering the 1998 general elections, the interest of foreign and Indian channels in the election coverage is more than evident this time.

Getting uplinking facility for the election-related programmes on the private channels was a necessity, as without it the channels could not have telecast anything live. And for the first time, this year, the foreign and Indian private channels had requested the government of India to allow them to uplink from India. Now, according to sources in the ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the government of India has allowed private foreign and Indian satellite channels to uplink from India directly. Last week, the government approved the CNN’s application asking for uplink facility for election related telecast. STAR TV is also expected to seek permission for direct uplink. BBC and Zee TV have already been permitted to do so, but the facility is available to them only for seven days — starting from March 2, when the counting of votes is expected to begin. The facility is limited to seven days, because by March 9, the process of formation of the new government is expected to be complete. With this temporary permission, CNN, BBC and Zee TV can directly send their signals to their satellite channels from any part of India. Private channels have been allowed direct uplink only on two occasions before this — for the 50th anniversary of Indian Independence on August 15, 1997, and the funeral service for Mother Teresa. But this is the first time that the facility is being provided to other channels besides the national broadcaster for election-related programmes. Direct uplink has been a major issue in recent times, with several members of the parliamentary committee studying the Broadcast Bill objecting to it. The private channels which are being given the permission, will have to inform the government about the places from where they are planning to uplink. According to officials, the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd will keep a close watch on the private companies in this regard.