You need not to keep a remote with you to view your favourite TV programme. Also, you will get rid from labelling as a couch potato for veiwing the television programme as the surfing of different TV channels on your mobile set will be a reality soon.

After expansion of cable TV network, FM radio and IPTV , centre is considering a policy to introduce mobile TV service. Though the technology is already there in the country but the government is working on a policy to provide mobile TV service. According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting a suitable regulatory framework for enabling the private players to provide mobile TV service is under consideration. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has already recommended opening of terresterial transmission root only for provisioning of mobile TV service.

At present, there are 394 sattelite TV channels in the country while their number was just one in 2000. The number of private FM radio stations were 248 till the end of last financial year. According to annual report released by the Ministry of I&B today ‘a technology neutral approach’ has been suggested for the allocation of ‘mobile TV’. The pattern will be on the same line as prescribed for allocation of FM radio. There are requirement for the payment of one time entry fee, the annual license fee and timeframe for discharging the roll out obligations. A state or group of smaller states is proposed to define a license area and the license is proposed to be given for a period of 10 year with a provision of renewal. The cross holding limits has been recommended to the extent of 20% equity share. between the broadcasting companies and the Mobile TV licensee. It is notable that the tecnology to view TV channels on mobile is already in the market but in the absence of proper policy in this regard it could not become a popular reality. Though no timeframe has been setup to implement the policy.

The ministry is also in the process of finalising a policy of Sattelite Radio Services. The government had sent the draft policy to TRAI for its comment to issue license for non-news and current affairs radio news. TRAI has sent its recommendations in this regard to the Ministry. The recommendations are under consideration of the government.