I&B ministry’s revenue soars in two months after processing fee for TV channels hiked

The fee, which was not revised since 2009, was increased from December 13, 2017

The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry has earned an additional revenue of Rs 6 crore in a little less than two months, after it raised the processing fee for TV channels, officials familiar with the issue said.

The information and broadcasting ministry earned an additional revenue of Rs 6 crore after it hiked processing fee for TV channels in December last year. (PTI File Photo)

The hike was implemented from December 13, 2017, after the ministry decided to increase the fee that had not been revised since 2009. National channels now pay Rs 1 lakh for temporary uplinking while regional channels have to pay Rs 50,000.

The fee will apply to broadcasting companies for any changes made to the uplinking or downlinking from satellite, channel name or logo, language of channel, category of channel, mode of transmission, teleport or category of channel from general entertainment to news for temporary uplink of a live event.

There is also a similar charge levied as processing fee per channel per day for temporary uplink of a live event. Prior to the hike, the amount was Rs 25,000 per case.

According to an official who is familiar with the issue, the hike in fee was proposed as a means to generate more funds for the ministry.