The Information and and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B Ministry) has issued 150 show cause notices in the last two years to different television channels for violation of programme and advertising codes. Of these, six television channels, NDTV India, Sahara One, Star One, Fashion TV, India TV and Cine World, have been warned by the ministry mostly. The ministry has issued a warning to these channels and directed them to be more careful in the future.
The government is of the view that absence of regulatory authority particularly content regulatory authority makes it difficult to regulate the broadcast content services. Under the present system, television channels and cable operators are expected to undertake self regulation based on these codes but often, commercial interests override societal concerns, sources pointed out.
The proposed Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, seeks to empower the Broadcasting Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) to take punitive measures for violations of content code. Content regulation had assumed importance, particularly in the context of music videos. While a committee headed by the secretary (I&B) is drafting the new content code, music channels meanwhile have been asked to obtain CBFC certification for music videos and they have been asked to broadcast programmes which are certified as U/A or A only between 11.30 p.m. to 5.00 a.m.
Besides, the Centre has also asked the state governments to constitute monitoring committees at the district levels to monitor private satellite television channels and local cable channels to detect and look into violations of the programme and advertising code.
Under Section 20(1) of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, an inter-ministerial committee was set up to look into violations of the programme code. The committee comprises officials from the ministries of home affairs, external affairs, defence, health, I&B and a representative of the advertising standards council of India (ASCI).
The programme and advertising codes prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 has specified the norms for television programming. It has specified that no programme should be carried in the cable service which offends against good taste or decency, contains criticism of friendly countries, contains attack on religions or communities, and contains anything amounting to contempt of court among other factors.
