Current downlinking norms only allow broadcasters to share their channels for the cable and direct-to-home platforms. Now, these will be amended to include sharing of channels with the IPTV platforms too, Minister of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said today after the Cabinet meeting.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had submitted its recommendations for IPTV to the I&B ministry some months back and it was pending the approval from the government.

State-owned BSNL and MTNL are already providing IPTV services across several cities, while private players like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications are waiting to launch their IPTV services.

IPTV uses high-speed internet to deliver not only the television channels but also other value-added services including time-shift TV, interactive advertising, movies without any advertisements and games.