Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, Feb 17, 2005
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Feb 17, 2005 |
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Industry & Economy
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Radio/TV Broadcasting industry for regulator to monitor content Our Bureau
New Delhi , Feb. 16 THE broadcasting industry on Wednesday indicated that it is in favour of setting up an autonomous regulator to monitor content. However, it stressed that channels must exercise restraint and self-regulation on the quality of programmes being aired by them. Addressing newspersons after a round table meeting between Government officials, broadcasters, content providers and consumer groups, the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister, Mr Jaipal Reddy said, "While self regulation was most desirable, there was a broad agreement for a truly autonomous and quasi-judicial regulatory body to receive and dispose off grievances and complaints regarding content." He also added that there should be specific time slots for films and music videos that receive `A' certification from the Censor Board. However, no decision on the time band has been taken. Along with this, the Government is planning to come up with downlinking norms that would be part of the comprehensive Broadcast Bill. The Ministry hopes to table the legislation either in the Budget session or in the monsoon session of Parliament. Mr Reddy said that it was felt that the programme and advertising codes should be updated and there should be stricter enforcement of these norms. Also, there has been consensus that there should be cap on advertising time on pay channels. "Internationally there is a cap on advertising time and there is an in-principle agreement on this," Mr Reddy said. Another proposal that has been mooted is the setting up of a universal service obligation fund (USO), on the lines of the telecom sector. The fund will support the regulatory authority as well as social messages on issues related to health and education. A part of this would also be used also be used to fund audience measurement systems especially in the rural areas.
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