After weeks of dithering, the Government now wants its bigwigs to meet and decide on what to do with Star News. A group of ministers (GoM) will decide whether the channel can uplink from India after August 7.As the decision to grant licences for uplinking involves the ministries of Home, Finance, Telecommunications and the Information Broadcasting Ministry, a GoM of the ministries is being seen as the best and least controversial option.But before the GoM meeting, which depends on the availability of top Cabinet ministers, an inter-ministerial group comprising the Law Ministry, Department of Company Affairs and the I&B ministry will discuss tomorrow the application of Star’s shell company, Media Content and Communications Services (MCCS). Officials of the I&B ministry said they needed more time to scrutinise the ‘‘600-odd’’ page proposal sent by MCCS — a response to the 26 questions put forward by the Ministry which on Thursday gave two weeks extension to Star News, its fifth such extension.The two weeks will be utilised by the ministry to confabulate with secretaries of the inter-ministerial group. A decision on Star News, officials admitted, could come after the applicant company is found to confirm to the uplinking rules for news channels.The rules announced in March 26, restricts foreign direct investment in news operations to 26 per cent with majority control in Indian hands. Ministry officials said ‘‘the channel has not clarified on issues concerning ownership, inter-linkages between the companies mentioned in the proposal and has not submitted the shareholders’ agreement to us.’’ But Star insisted that they have answered all the queries. And, it sent Star News president Raveena Raj Kohli along with business development head Kaushal Dalal to respond to the ministry’s queries on Thursday.Meanwhile, the Indian Media Group comprising the India Today group, Aaj Kal, Punjab Kesri, Amar Ujala, Dainik Bhaskar, Times of India, Mid-Day, NDTV, Aaj Tak, Eenadu and Zee which met today, called for a uniform and comprehensive media policy for foreign invesment in print, television and radio and a regulatory authority. The group has asked why foreign companies are allowed to distribute their content when Indian companies are not allowed to do the same abroad.
