'No proposal to allow FDI in news agencies'

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There was no proposal now before the Centre on allowing Foreign Direct
Investment in news agencies in the country, Union Minister of State for
Information and Broadcasting, Ravi Shanker Prasad, said.

The question of allowing FDI in news agencies would arise only if "the stake
holders made a unanimous request for the same", Prasad told a press meet.
"It is a very sensitive and delicate issue. Let them say in a unanimous
voice", he said, adding "there are differences of opinion among the
stakeholders in the matter, he said.

Prasad said that 26 per cent FDI was permitted in print media, that too,
with clear cut parameters, that editorial, managerial and the operational
part should be in Indian hands. 'Two or three' organisations had approached
the government with proposals in this regard and the same were under
scrutiny," he said. On the steps taken by the centre to promote the
entertainment sector in India, he said 100 per cent FDI had been allowed in
Entertainment Television under the open entertainment policy.

Stating that Direct Home Telecast would open new horizons in entertainment
in the country, he said the Zee Television network had been given license
for DTH. Others were also in the pipeline. Referring to the controversial
Conditional Access System (CAS), he said the Centre wanted to introduce it
in consensus with state governments. However, a request in this regard had
to come from the states, Prasad said. 

Source:
Malayala Manorama
Sep. 15, 2003