Lok Sabha Question No. 3422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: FDI in Media
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3422 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## FDI IN MEDIA

## 3422. SHRI RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the public opinion of the country is against the investment of foreign capital in media and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the reaction of the Government regarding the said investment;
- (c) the details of the improvements done by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) the adverse effects of foreign capital investment into media?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd:)]

- (a) to (d): No, Sir. But Government in power carries the mandate of people of India. Hence, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has liberalized the FDI Policy in electronic media vide press note No 5 (2016 series) dated 24.06.2016 for the broadcasting sector as under:

| SectorlActivity                                                                                                                                                                                  | Foreign Investment Cap   | Entry Route   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|---------------|
| 5.2.7.1.1 (2) Direct to Home (DTH); (3) Cable operating at National or State or District level and undertaking up-gradation of networks towards digitization and addressability); (4) Mobile TV; | 100%                     | Automatic     |

Contd\_

| Cable Networks (Other MSOs not undertaking up-gradation of networks towards digitalization and addressability and Local Cable Operators (LCOs)                                                                                       | 100%   | Automatic   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-------------|
| 5.2.7.2.1 Terrestrial Broadcasting FM (FM Radio) , subject to such terms and conditions, as specified from time to time, by Ministry of Information and   Broadcasting, for  grant of permission for setting_Up of FM Radio Stations | 49%    | Government  |
| 5.2.7.2.2 Up-linking_of 'News & Current Affairs' TV Channels_                                                                                                                                                                        | 49%    | Government  |
| Up-linking of 'Non-News & Current Affairs' TV Channels, Down-linking_of TV Channels                                                                                                                                                  | 100%   | Automatic   |

However, FDI Policy in Print media vide Consolidated FDI Policy dated 07.06.2016 is as follows:

| 5.2.8.1 Publishing of newspaper and periodicals dealing with news and current affairs.                                                                                                                                                                              | 26%   | Government   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|--------------|
| Publication of Indian  editions   of  foreign  magazines dealing with news and current affairs                                                                                                                                                                      | 26%   | Government   |
| 5.2.8.3 Publishinglprinting of scientific and technical magazineslspecialty journalsl  periodicals, subject to compliance with the legal framework as applicable and guidelines issued in this regard from time to time by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting | 100%  | Government   |
| 5.2.8.4 Publication of facsimileedition of foreign newspapers_                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 100%  | Government   |