Definitions

Definitions.–

1. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,–
   • (a) “broadcaster” means any person who provides a content broadcasting service and includes a broadcasting network service provider when he manages and operates his own television or radio channel service;
   • (b) “broadcasting” means assembling and programming any form of communication content, like signs, signals, writing, pictures, images and sounds, and either placing it in the electronic form on electro-magnetic waves on specified frequencies and transmitting it through space or cables to make it continuously available on the carrier waves, or continuously streaming it in digital data form on the computer networks, so as to be accessible to single or multiple users through receiving devices either directly or indirectly; and all its grammatical variations and cognate expressions;
   • (c) “broadcasting service” means assembling, programming and placing communication content in electronic form on the electro-magnetic waves on specified frequencies and transmitting it continuously through broadcasting network or networks so as to enable all or any of the multiple users to access it by connecting their receiver devices to their respective broadcasting networks and includes the content broadcasting services and the broadcasting network services;
   • (d) “broadcasting networks service” means a service, which provides a network of infrastructure of cables or transmitting devices for carrying broadcasting content in electronic form on specified frequencies by means of guided or unguided electro-magnetic waves to multiple users, and includes the management and operation of any of the following:
     • (i) Teleport/Hub/Earth Station,
     • (ii) Direct-to-Home
   • (DTH) Broadcasting Network,
     • (iii) Multi-system Cable Television Network,
     • (iv) Local Cable Television Network,
     • (v) Satellite Radio Broadcasting Network,
     • (vi) any other network service as may be prescribed by the Central Government;
   • (e) “cable television channel service” means the assembly, programming and transmission by cables of any broadcasting television content on a given set of frequencies to multiple subscribers;
   • (f) “cable television network” means any system consisting of closed transmission paths and associated signal generation, control and distribution equipment, designed to receive and re-transmit television channels or programmes for reception by multiple subscribers;
   • (g) “community radio service” means terrestrial radio broadcasting intended and restricted only to a specific community and within specified territory;
   • (h) “content” means any sound, text, data, picture (still or moving), other audio-visual representation, signal or intelligence of any nature or any combination thereof which is capable of being created, processed, stored, retrieved or communicated electronically;
     • (i) “content broadcasting service” means the assembling, programming and placing content in electronic form and transmitting or retransmitting the same on electromagnetic waves on specified frequencies, on a broadcasting network so as to make it available for access by multiple users by connecting their receiving devices to the network, and includes the management and operation of any of the following:
     • (i) terrestrial television service,
     • (ii) terrestrial radio service,
     • (iii) satellite television service,
     • (iv) satellite radio service,
     • (v) cable television channel service,
     • (vi) community radio service,
     • (vii) any other content broadcasting services as may be prescribed by the Central Government;
   • (j) “Direct-to-Home
   • (DTH) broadcasting service” means a service for multi-channel distribution of programmes direct to a subscriber’s premises without passing through an intermediary such as a cable operator by up linking to a satellite system;
   • (k) “Guidelines” means the Guidelines issued under section 5;
   • (l) “multi-system cable television network” means a system for multi-channel downlinking and distribution of television programmes by a land-based transmission system using wired cable or wireless cable or a combination of both for simultaneous reception either by multiple subscribers directly or through one or more local cable operators;
   • (m) “Prasar Bharati” means the Corporation known as the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990 (25 of 1990);
   • (n) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
   • (o) “satellite television service” means a television broadcasting service provided by using a satellite, and received with or without the help of a local delivery system but does not include Direct-to-Home delivery service;
   • (p) “satellite radio service” means a radio broadcasting service provided by using a satellite and directly receivable through receiver sets by multiple subscribers in India;
   • (q) “service provider” means provider of a broadcasting service;
   • (r) “specified” means specified under the Guidelines issued under section 5; “sporting events of national importance” means such national or international sporting events, held in India or abroad, as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette to be of national importance;
   • (t) “terrestrial television service” means a television broadcasting service provided over the air by using a land-based transmitter and directly received through receiver sets by the public;
   • (u) “terrestrial radio service” means a radio broadcasting service provided over the air by using a land-based transmitter and directly received through receiver sets by the public.
2. (2) Words and expressions used and not defined in this Act and defined in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 (7 of 1995), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997), the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885), the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 (17 of 1933) shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in those Acts.