LS passes mandatory sharing Sports Broadcasting Signals Bill

New Delhi, Mar 8 (UNI) The Lok Sabha today passed by voice vote a Bill that seeks to make it mandatory for private channels to share their feed of sporting events of national importance with public broadcaster Prasar Bharati.

The Bill, the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Bill, 2007, replaces the ordinance issued in this regard.

The ordinance was brought forward after some private channels approached the court, questioning the government's downlinking and uplinking policy guidelines.

Replying to the debate on the Bill, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said a comprehensive legistation on broadcasting will soon be brought in Parliament.

''It will be the first of its kind in the world. No country would have such transparent legislation,' he said.

It will be brought in after consulting all stakeholders, including the Sports Ministry, Prasar Bharati and the channels.

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