Digital Accessible System (DAS) expected to get a boost due to relaxation in FDI cap in broadcast

The Government’s decision to increase the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the broadcasting segment including DTH (Direct To Home), MSOs (Multi Service Operators), cable TV and HITS (head-end in the sky) has given a new boost to the fledgling industry segment. The existing cap for the segment was only 49 per cent in cable TV and DTH. In HITS (head-end in the sky), it was anyway already up at 74 per cent. 

For the mobile television segment, however, there are no such norms as the FDI cap stands at 74 per cent. The news of increasing the FDI cap for Indian broadcasting industry was announced by the cabinet on September 14, 2012, where it was clearly mentioned that the FDI limit, especially for those involved in the distribution aspect of the broadcast business, has been increased to 74 per cent. 

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry officials have said that the digitalization deadline of November 1 for the four metros cannot be postponed anymore. The last deadline had to be postponed by four months, and now with the foreign investors also watching the space, the marketplace needs a positive signal of being a dynamic market and that there would be no delay in the digitization process anymore, said an industry watcher.

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/government-news/item/1582-digital-accessible-system-das-expected-to-get-a-boost-due-to-relaxation-in-fdi-cap-in-broadcast.html