I&B asks FTV, 3 other channels to follow programming norms

Union Information and Broadcasting ministry has asked Fashion TV to abide by norms or face action citing a programme aired by the channel in which skimpily clad models were shown not as per the programming code.
In an advisory issued today, the ministry said that in a programme 'Fotos', aired in November 2014, the channel had shown models dressed in skimpy bikini gave indecent poses.
"Such indecent presentation of women's body appeared to denigrate women, was suggestive/obscene and also against good taste and decency," the ministry advisory said, adding that a Show Cause Notice (SCN) was issued to Fashion TV in May last year.

The matter was examined by an Inter-Ministerial committee (IMC) in January where representatives of the channel submitted that the content mainly focuses on international fashion trends and lifestyle related topics.
The representatives said the intention of the channel was to cover contemporary fashion-lifestyle trends and they have been sourcing such content for 32 countries.
They also clarified that the channel was being downlinked in Asia (lndia including) and the European countries through single satellite link and the content was meant for all such countries and they assured that now, they have changed the satellite link for Asian countries and the filtered content will henceforward be downlinked in lndia.

The IMC drew the attention of the representatives that although Fashion TV a niche channel, it is required to conform to various parameters of obscenity, considering the totality of the Indian conditions and conform to various provisions of the Programme Code.

Having considered all aspects, the IMC decided that an "advisory," be issued to the channel to abide by the Programme and Advertising Codes and to be more careful in future.
Acting on the recommendation, the I&B ministry today issued an advisory saying that any violation shall entail such action against Fashion TV channel as deemed fit in accordance with the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rules.

The ministry also issued a warning to one and advisories to two other channels today over content aired by them.