RTI to Ministry of I&B, Date: 28-10-2009

Response, Ministry of I&B, Date: 17-11-2009

1. Did the Ministry conduct, or is it aware of, any survey/study to assess what revenue can be generated from licensing commercial terrestrial TV in India? Please share the surveys/studies and their findings.

With reference to your letter dated 28-10-2009 on the above subject, the information desired against point 1 and 2 of the application may be treated as NIL. Neither any survey has been conducted nor any study report/statistics available n record with respect to US and other countries regarding revenue that can be generated from licensing of commercial terrestrial TV.

However, this Ministry has received recommendations of TRAI dated 29 August 2005 on the broad issue of allowing private broadcasters in the field of terrestrial television which has so far remained in the exclusive domain of Doordarshan under Prasar Bharti. The full text of the recommendations may be seen at the website (www. trai.gov.in) of the TRAI.

2.Does the Ministry have statistics from the US and other countries, in which commercial terrestrial TV exists? How much revenue do the governments of these countries generate from the license fees?