New Delhi:: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (Trai) recommendations on hike in FDI limits in carriage and content services of broadcasting sectors differ significantly from the stance of the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B). Striking a discordant note with the ministry on FDI limits in cable operators, news and current affairs channels and FM. Trai has asserted that foreign investment limit be revised upwards from 49 per cent to 74 per cent in cable TV networks, in the news and current affairs channel to 49 per cent from the existing 26 per cent and in FM radio sector to 49 per cent from the existing 20 per cent.

Trai’s recommendation run contrary to I&B ministry’s position on cable network where it had recently preferred to cap FDI at 49 per cent in cable TV network (despite Trai’s earlier recommendation to increase it to 74 per cent), maintaining status quo in FDI cap in news channel at 26 per cent and restricting the FDI limit to 24 per cent in FM radio for various reasons cited by the ministry.