Broadcast Bill Controversy

Freedom is like virginity. You either have it or you don’t. There are no in-betweens. You can’t promise freedom with clauses and caveats. So, when the government says the Broadcast Bill it is bringing to Parliament is not meant to curb the freedom of the media, but only to ensure your and my freedoms, you can be sure there’s serious doubletalk. This is not a space the State is supposed to enter...

New Delhi, July 14: Despite strong protests by broadcasters, there was little likelihood of the information and broadcasting ministry consulting them on the shape of the controversial draft broadcast bill before its likely introduction in the monsoon session of Parliament. The proposed legislation that is understood to have provided for sweeping powers to authorities to control media evoked...

The controversial Broadcast Bill, that could give sweeping powers to authorities to control media, is likely to be introduced in the coming monsoon session of Parliament with government insisting it will be "most media-friendly legislation". "When introduced in the Parliament, it will be the most media-friendly legislation in the world," Information and Broadcasting Minister PR Dasmunsi told...

NEW DELHI: You can kiss the Broadcast Services Regulation Bill 2006 - a draft of which is doing the rounds of various ministries and industry stakeholders these days - goodbye, Well, almost. "Whenever I bring a Bill to Parliament, it'd be the most media-friendly legislation in the whole world," information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi today said, hinting that the draft is likely...

NEW DELHI: The broadcasting bill, which triggered angry reactions from the media industry over stringent clauses contained in the draft proposal, appears to be in a limbo now. Replying to a query on the sidelines of the cabinet briefing here on Thursday, information and broadcasting minister P R Dasmunsi said the government would consult the electronic and print media before finalising the bill...

NEW DELHI, JULY 11: The government is likely to re-visit some of the contentious clauses of the proposed broadcast bill and is keen to take the media industry into confidence before getting on with the process of formulating laws for governing them. The ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) secretary met the management of some of the leading private television channels and print...

As politicians go, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi is an affable man. His ego is not enormous; he doesn't bristle at criticism; he's the sort of chap you can share a joke or two with, and sometimes he will even laugh at himself. He's fired by football as much as he's driven by politics and his geniality is germane to his dexterity as Parliamentary Affairs Minister. So what is he doing defending what could...

NEW DELHI: The Indian Broadcast Federation (IBF) and the Indian Media Group (IMG) today met the Information & Broadcast secretary S K Arora for an interaction on the Broadcast Bill 2006. IBF has opposed the cross-media holding restrictions and the so-called Draconian clauses in the bill. It said, the draft bill should be discussed with the industry, before having taken to the cabinet and...

MUMBAI: Media bodies are now waking up to condem on the draft of Broadcast Bill prepared by the information and broadcasting (I&B). After the Indian Broadcast Federation (IBF) has opposed the cross-media holding restrictions and the so-called Draconian clauses in the bill. The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd has expressed its concerns about recent reports in the media that the...

(IFJ/IFEX) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is concerned by the proposed Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, 2006, which seeks to give the government greater power over the media, places restrictions on cross media ownership and hints at strict content regulation for news channels. There are concerns that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry will have greater control...