I&B ministry to act as content monitor

Broadcasters can now be directly pulled up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) for non-compliance with the proposed content code as it is set to double as the apex broadcast regulator for monitoring editorial contents in the absence of any such authority. The new content code will be implemented by July.

Under the proposed guidelines, broadcasters have to certify their content into categories like 'U' and 'S'(shown at all times), 'U/A' (only between 8 pm and 4 am) and 'A' (only between 11pm and 4 am).

This means that most channels will not be able to telecast thriller and horror shows, smoking scenes, indecent representation of women, crime serials and adult contents before 11pm.

According to media experts, a number of prime-time serials will have to be rescheduled after 11 pm. "Also, the interpretation of what can be allowed and what can not, will become a point of debate," a Star TV official said.

Currently, the broadcasting sector is governed by a general set of guidelines under the Cable TV Act, which is overseen by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Non-compliance of content guidelines is addressed by a long-drawn process that involves both Trai and the I&B ministry.

"As we understand, under the new content code, the I&B ministry can act as a regulator now. This concerns us as the government can directly block cable operationsin the garb of violations of the new programme code," an executive in the programming department of a leading channel said.

But the ministry denied any such move. "We don't want to control content on any TV channel. We are proposing effective self-regulation for the entire broadcast industry,"I&B secretary Asha Swarup said.

The proposed content code has to be implemented under the guidance of the Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India (Brai). But Brai can only be set up once the proposed Broadcast Regulatory Bill becomes a law.

Explaining the need to bring in the new content guidelines before Brai could be set up, Swarup said, "Considering the state of content on programmes across cable television, we have decided to implement the new programme and content code by July, after incorporating the feedbacks from broadcasters and other stakeholders. Brai may take some time to set up and we do not want to wait that long."

Till then, the new programme code will be governed directly by the I&B ministry, a ministry official said.