NEW DELHI: Even as it is in the process of revamping its free-to-air direct-to-home (DTH) platform Freedish, the government has made it clear that it has no intentions to impose any restrictions on the total number of DTH licenses.

The Ministry has till now granted license to six private companies: Dish TV, Tata Sky, Sun Direct TV, Reliance BIG TV, BhartiTelemedia and Videocon d2h.

These platforms provide DTH services in India under the DTH Guidelines issued on 15 March, 2001, as amended from time to time.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources told Indiantelevision.com that Freedish is in the process of making changes so that it can provide up to 100 FTA television channels in the first stage in addition to All India Radio channels. A total of 19 e-auctions have also been held in this regard.

DTH licenses, under the DTH guidelines, are granted to those companies which fulfil the eligibility criteria, terms and conditions and subject to security clearance and technical clearances by the appropriate authorities of the Government.

The details are available on the website of this Ministry at www.mib.gov.in.

Under clause 3.1 of the DTH Guidelines, the licensee, in addition to an initial non-refundable entry fee of Rs 10 crore, is required to pay an annual license fee at 10 per cent of its gross revenue.