New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has sought views from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on the number of channels that should be allowed to operate in the country. A senior official of the I&B ministry said, “About three days back the I&B Secretary has written to the chairman of TRAI on whether there should be additional qualifications for channels to enter the space.”

The official said, since the amount of spectrum available is scarce, views are sought from the regulator as to how many players should be given licences, if there is a need to curb it or not.

“We are only asking for views of the regulator at this point of time, we will see how they respond to it,” added the official.

At present there are 454 channels that have been approved to be broadcast in the country.

--Ishita Russell

‘Hindustan’ launches in Bareilly today

New Delhi: Hindustan, the Hindi daily published by HT Media Ltd, which also publishes Mint, will launch its eighth edition in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday,. The edition will cover Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur and Badaun districts in Uttar Pradesh. This makes Bareilly the eighth print location in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

--Staff Writer