Trai has no authority to limit ads: channels tell TDSAT

TDSAT on Monday started hearing arguments related to 12-minute cap on advertising in an hour imposed by Trai

Nov 12 2013, New Delhi: India’s telecom regulator has no authority to limit the number of advertisements carried by TV channels, the lawyer of a grouping of news channels told the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), which, on Monday, started hearing arguments related to the 12-minute cap on advertising in an hour of programming imposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

Appearing for the appellants, including the News Broadcasters Association, Supreme Court advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi termed Trai an “interloper” and argued that it did not have the power to regulate content on TV. He described advertisements as “a cornerstone of our economy” and a manifestation of free speech.

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