In the midst of one of the biggest international stories in months — the ongoing siege on Mumbai, CNN’s license to broadcast live from India has expired. CNN had applied for and received a 5-day license which began last Monday and expired today. CNN had a license when the story broke because they were broadcasting a special series on India and business. All foreign broadcasters need to have a license to transmit live from India.
“Live satellite transmission from India has to be approved by the Indian government,” CNN spokesperson Nigel Pritchard tells TVNewser. “Unfortunately, the officials are not extending CNN’s live transmission license.”
CNN/U.S. and CNNI can still simulcast the transmissions from their partner CNN IBN. Pritchard says the network will also “continue to have correspondents at the Taj Hotel and other locations in Mumbai and will be reporting from the various scenes on the latest news via phone.”