NEW DELHI: While the total number of satellite television channels uplinking from or downlinking into India has risen to 857, the permission to as many as 126 channels have been cancelled.

Thus, the government had given permission to a total of 983 channels, which included those whose permissions were cancelled later. Of the 29 channel permitted after 30 November, 19 were cleared in December 2015 and 1o in January 2016.

Of the permitted channels, 399 are news and current affairs channels, while 458 are general entertainment channels (GECs).

Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country, as on 31 January, 2016.  

A total of 749 channels including 372 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 88 including 73 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.    

The largest gainer after the last list of 30 November, 2015 was Star India, which launched 10 channels, while Viacom 18 launched seven. Sony and the Times Group launched four each, Zee launched two channels, and one channel each was launched by Travel XP Celebrities Management and Vijay TV.

While Star India and Zee (Ten Sports) launched sports channels (which fall in the category of GECs), some others launched High Definition channels.