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DATE
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EVENT
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| December 1996: | The United Front Government under Prime Minister Deve Gowda issues a notification saying that a licence has to be obtained for Ku-band DTH services. Many companies, including Star TV, apply for a licence. But government delays the process. |
| 26 March 1997: | Star TV holds a press conference in Delhi detailing their DTH plans. Star TV Asia CEO Gary Davey and others attend the function where a live demo is given. |
| First week April 1997: | The then communication minister Beni Prasad Verma signs a policy setting the terms and conditions for granting licences to DTH players. Two holidays follow and it cannot be notified. |
| 11 April 1997: | Gowda government falls as Congress withdraws support. |
| May 1997: | I&B minister Jaipal Reddy introduces the broadcast bill in Parliament which gets referred to a joint parliamentary committee. |
| July 1997: | The United Front Government under Prime Minister I.K. Gujaral issues another notification banning maintaining or keeping equipment capable of receiving TV signals over 4800 Mhz (Ku-band) till a comprehensive broadcast law is passed. |
| November 1997: | Gujaral government falls. |
| December 1998: | I&B minister Pramod Mahajan with the BJP-led government says the issue of DTH cannot wait till the passage of the broadcast bill. A decision has to be taken soon. |
| January-February 1999: | The Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee sets up a group of ministers (GoM), comprising ministers of I&B, communications, defence, finance and home, to come up with recommendations on DTH.Promod Mahajan said that DTH is as powerful as a Nuclear bomb. |
| February-April Ist week 1999: | Lot of study papers on DTH compiled for GoM, which fails to meet formally even once. But hopes of favourable recommendations abound as I&B minister admits in private he hopes to make an announcement in Parliament once it reassembles after a fortnight's recess. |
| 17 April 1999 | The BJP-led government loses the vote of confidence on the floor of the Lower House of parliament. |
| October 1999 | National Democratic Alliance comes to power in the centre |
| 18 October 2000 | Jaitley sworn in as I & B Minister give indication as they will move fast on the DTH front, though cautiously. DD wants an exclusive licence for two years. |
| 15 March 2000 | Murdoch pushes for DTH service in India |
| 10 April 2000 | Jaitley said Prime Minister A B Vajpayee had constituted a committee chaired by the Union Minister to work out details of direct-to-home (DTH) services and uplinking facilities. |
| 4 October 2000 | Sushama Swaraj again takes on as I & B Minister, promises Television-for-Family |
| 16 October 2000 | Star TV's James Murdoch, Bruce Churchill and Peter Mukherjee meet Swaraj |
| 29 Octobet 2000 | GoM committee headed by Home Minister L K Advani finalises most of the recommendations for lifting DTH ban. Law minister Arun Jaitley asked to frame legal ramifications on DTH. |
| 30 October 2000 | GoM committee recommends opening up DTH. I & B Minister Sushama Swaraj says that she will submit a note to the Indian Cabinet for a final decision. |
| 2 November 2000 | Cabinet Approves lifting DTH ban. Issues notification. |
