Cable television networks (regulation) act, 1995

All over the country there had been haphazard mushrooming of cable television networks as a result of the availability of signals of foreign television networks via satellites. This had been perceived as a "cultural invasion" in many quarters since the programmes available on these satellite channels were predominantly western and totally alien to our culture and way of life. Since there were no regulations for these cable television networks, lot of undesirable programmes and advertisements were becoming available to the viewers without any kind of censorship.

It was also felt that the subscribers of these cable television networks, the programmers and the cable operators themselves were not aware of their rights, responsibilities and obligations in respect of the quality of service, technical as well as content wise, use of material protected by copyright, exhibition of uncertified films, protection of subscribers from anti-national broadcasts from sources inimical to our national interest, etc. It was, therefore considered necessary to regulate the operation of cable television networks in the entire country.

On 29th September, 1994 the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Ordinance was promulgated by the President. In order to replace the said Ordinance by an Act of Parliament the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Bill was introduced in the Parliament.