Information Society Watch

March 3, 2007, Sridhar Muralidharan, Economic & Political Weekly

In India, the question of satellite television regulation has been interpreted differently than the norm. The orthodox viewpoint of airwaves “belonging” to the public is one that is difficult to enunciate especially with regard to the principles of instrumentality and agency. While Indian constitutional provisions ensuring “freedom of expression” remain open-ended on the matter of regulation, the debate itself has juxtaposed the interests of the television networks vis-à-vis the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The unfortunate feature is that the public, in whose ostensible interests the debate is being waged, remains entirely in the dark on these matters (Adapted from author).

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