India Revamps Media Rules to Boost Entertainment Content Exports

India's telecommunications and broadcasting regulators are joining forces to reshape the country's media landscape, aiming to reduce red tape and position the nation as a bigger player in global entertainment markets.

Anil Kumar Lahoti, chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), unveiled the partnership with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on Monday at FICCI Frames 2025, an industry conference in Mumbai. The collaboration seeks to harmonize rules that have long frustrated content producers and distributors navigating overlapping regulatory jurisdictions.

Under the framework, broadcasting authorizations and content licensing will be aligned with telecommunications regulations established in the 2023 Telecommunications Act. The ministry will oversee broadcasting and streaming content, while TRAI will continue setting television channel tariffs.

India Streamlines Broadcasting Regulations and Content Licensing

The regulators plan to eliminate prescriptive standards from cable and television licensing and shift toward authorization-based frameworks to simplify compliance. The ministry is also revamping direct-to-home satellite television regulations as part of the broader strategy.

Sanjay Jaju, secretary of the information ministry (MIB), said the creative economy extends beyond revenue generation to establishing cultural influence and ensuring Indian narratives reach global audiences.

Mr. Lahoti stressed the need for fair competition among media distributors, warning against practices that could squeeze smaller players. The ministry will work with the Motion Pictures Association and the Producers Guild of India to combat content piracy and protect intellectual property.

A centralized music licensing registry, set to launch in October, aims to streamline rights transactions for live events and digital distribution. Separately, WAVES, India's audiovisual summit, will become a biannual international event starting in 2027.

With Indian content now consumed in more than 200 countries, officials believe the policy overhaul can boost exports by reducing regulatory friction and better integrating domestic production with global supply chains.