Over 350 unauthorised channels told to shut operations in Puducherry

The district authorities have issued notices to over 350 unauthorised/ unregistered channels in Puducherry to shut operations immediately.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrates of the District said it has been brought to their notice that various unauthorised/ unregistered channels are being telecast by cable networks in Puducherry district. Many networks and other cable operators telecast advertisements and daily news periodically without obtaining exclusive permission from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

“As per rule 6 (6) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules 2006, no cable operator shall carry or include in his cable service any television broadcast or channel, which has not been registered by the Centre for being viewed within the territory of India. As such the act of carrying the unauthorised channel in their cable network of multi-system operators (MSOs) and cable TV operators amounts to violation of section 5 of Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 read with Rule 6 (6) of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1995, said S. Kanakaraj, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (North) in the said notice. Pointing out that telecast of unauthorised channel by any network amounts to violation of the provisions of Cable Television Networks Rules, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate said such act will be viewed seriously and action will be initiated against erring MSOs/cable TV operators.

They telecast advertisements and news without getting permission from the TRAI