You need a regulator, minister tells broadcasters

New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) The broadcast industry, witnessing rapid changes in the wake of cable TV digitisation, should consider the idea of a "techno-commercial" regulator, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said Thursday. He also asserted that the government would not regulate content.

Addressing over 70 top broadcast industry leaders here, Tewari said that a solution would be found to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) recent regulation that bars television channels from telecasting more than 12 minutes of advertisements every hour.

According to a release issued by industry lobby CII, Tewari said the government was committed to complete cable TV digitisation and protecting the interests of consumers.

"Around 38 cities in 15 states are experiencing cable TV digital broadcast from April 1, 2013," said Tewari.

Expressing concern over over TAM and TRP data, used for measuring popularity of TV programmes, the minister said that a Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) should be created at the earliest.