New Delhi:- The Centre has permitted over 890 private satellite television channels in the country and has no plans to limit the number of such channels, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
Currently, as many as 112 proposals of such channels are pending for fresh registration.
“As on February 28, 2017, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has permitted 892 private satellite TV channels,” Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said in written reply.
To a query, he said there are no plans to limit the number of channels in the country.
Meanwhile, Rathore also said All India Radio (AIR) has earned a revenue of about Rs 186 crore during the current financial year upto January through FM by commercials.
Besides, it has also earned revenue of about Rs 42 crore during the current fiscal upto March 6 through monetising its FM infrastructure with private broadcasters.
Currently, 290 private FM radio channels are operational, including 47 in Maharashtra, 28 in Uttar Pradesh, and 22 each in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
As far as All India Radio is concerned, 391 FM broadcasting stations are functioning in the country, the minister said.
To another query, Rathore said as many as 147 films were denied certification by Central Board of Film Certification during the last three fiscals (April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2016).
PTI
