Agartala, Feb 6: In a proactive move, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha took the lead role in resolving the disruption of cable television channels in the state. The interruption occurred on Monday due to a failure to obtain registration under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs under the Indian Companies Act 2013.
Dr. Saha’s intervention proved instrumental, prompting Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur to ensure that local channel transmissions on cable networks would not be disrupted. This decision took into consideration the inadequate broadcast infrastructure in the state.
Tripura currently lacks satellite television channels, relying on more than 30 small and micro channels operating through multi-system operators (MSOs) on cable networks.
In November 2022, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had advised all MSOs nationwide to register all Platform Service channels within a year, a directive that went unheeded. Subsequently, an order last week mandated MSOs to cease the transmission of all non-registered channels from Monday, sparking nationwide concern, particularly in states like Tripura, where cable networks serve as the backbone of television service.
The Assembly of Journalists (AoJ), the apex media body in Tripura, took up the matter with Chief Minister Dr. Saha, seeking his intervention to resolve the situation.
Dr. Saha engaged with Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, who, following a meeting with a media delegation from Tripura, assured them that the matter would be looked into with the best interests of the media community in mind. He emphasized that the objective was to bring local channels into a legal framework to prevent fake news, scandalous and malicious content, and unethical journalism.
The delegation, during their discussion with Minister Thakur, requested an extension of at least six months for registering Platform Service Channels operating through MSOs. They also sought permission to continue cable channel transmissions until they could complete the registration process.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the media industry in Tripura, the delegation urged Minister Thakur to support the initiation of satellite TV channels in the state. They highlighted the impossibility of operating such channels due to infrastructure unavailability and poor capital formation in the media industry.
While cable channels may not have the financial capacity to build extensive infrastructure, they play a crucial role as important stakeholders in governance, a fact the delegation emphasized and urged to be recognized. Minister Thakur reassured them that a comprehensive solution would be sought soon.
