I&B to issue guidelines to prevent monopolies in cable sector

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is in the process of issuing guidelines to ensure that there is no monopoly in distribution of electronic content.
I&B Minister Manish Tewari today said broadcast sector regulator TRAI had given its recommendations on monopolies in cable sector and the guidelines would be issued shortly.
According to him, in broadcasting it is said that if content is king, distribution is god and added that distribution in most states is owned either by surrogate political ownership or by monopoly interests.
Tewari, who was speaking at a 'National Consultation on Women in Media' also expressed concerns about the use of new media and said there are implications related to national security, minority rights, gender sensitivity are issues which are not being examined.

"Any discussion on having agreed rules of engagement in the cyber space, is rubbished and brushed aside in the name of transgression into the right to freedom of speech and expression," he said.
Tewari said it is necessary to ensure gender sensitivity across different platforms and a pro-active approach is needed to plug the aberrations prevalent regarding portrayal of women across this medium.

It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to prevent subversive discourse in the new media space, he said.
Speaking about the proposed Cinematograph Bill 2013 as suggested by Justice Mudgal Committee, he said it has tried to address gender concerns so as to ensure a correct and positive portrayal of women.

He said for the first time, a sunset clause defining the time span of the proposed bill was being incorporated so that it is examined before it becomes archaic.