Govt mulls new content code for broadcasters

Yet another content code for checking violations by broadcasters is being mulled by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) as it is all set to undertake a review of the existing content code.

The proposed new draft content code will be the third under the present United Progressive Alliance government. Private channels and the government could not arrive at a consensus on the earlier two such draft code even after much discussions.

“We are contemplating a review of the existing draft content code as it needs to be at par with changing times,” said Sushma Singh, the recently-appointed I&B secretary.

The government is concerned at the violent and disturbing scenes shown by some news channels under the garb of crime-based shows, among other instances.

Several broadcasters including the news broadcasters association, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, and FM radio channels have said they will have their own regulations on content in place.

“We will bring our own guidelines on self-regulations within the next 30 days,” G Krishnan, president, News Broadcasters Association (NBA), and the chief executive of TV Today Network, said.

The NBA is the apex body of all private news channels.

The current draft of the content code was put up on I&B ministry’s official website in July 2007. However, private broadcasters want their own content code and see the government move as interference on their editorial control.

The proposed content code will encompass guidelines pertaining to standard of content to be followed by over 350 television channels including the general entertainment channels, news channels, and radio companies.

The proposed content code, like the several attempted before by the government, seeks an independent redress mechanism for consumers against any violation of television content.

Currently, apart from the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, and the programme and advertising code for Doordarshan and All India Radio, there are no separate laws governing broadcasters.

In the absence of any effective regulations on content violations, the I&B ministry had to issue over 80 warnings and advisories to various television channels for programme and advertising code violations in the last couple of years, I&B ministry officials said.

Currently, the matter is pending in the Delhi High Court which has asked the I&B ministry to bring out a legislation on the subject.