TRAI moves court against broadcasters for ads above 12 mins

TRAI had made Standards of Quality of Service Regulations in May last year

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has moved a Delhi court against broadcasters seeking their prosecution for carrying advertisements for over 12 minutes in an hour.

Separate complaints, the first such action after regulations came into force a year ago, have been filed in the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vidya Prakash seeking summoning and prosecution of the errant broadcasters.

The complaints said the broadcasters have been violating the TRAI regulations which limit the time of advertisement during one hour of programme to 12 minutes.

'This limit of 12 minutes was completely disregarded by the broadcasters in as much as some broadcasters were carrying ads in their channels up to 35 minutes per hour,' TRAI has said.

It said TRAI had made Standards of Quality of Service (duration of ads in TV channels) Regulations, 2012 in May last year laying down the standard of quality of service to be provided by the service provider with primary objective of striking a balance between giving a consumer a good TV viewing experience and protecting the commercial interests of broadcasters.

As per provision of these regulations, TRAI's counsel Saket Singh, said no broadcaster shall carry in its broadcast of a programme advertisements exceeding 12 minutes in a clock hour and any shortfall of the ad duration shall not be carried over.

It said a report was sought from various broadcasters for details of advertisements in all their channels and it was found that they violated the regulation.

The regulations have been challenged in TDSAT but have not been stayed, TRAI informed the court.