Russian channel pulled up by I&B ministry for indecent content

Moscow-based channel Russia Today has been pulled up by the Information and Broadcasting ministry for airing a video clip containing several indecent shots last year.
The channel, which apologised for the mistake and assured that it will be more careful and vigilant about the content exhibited in India, was issued an advisory to adhere to Programme and Advertising Codes, according to the Ministry.
In its advisory, the Ministry said a show cause notice was issued to the channel after it was noticed that in December last year it ran visuals which appeared offending against good taste and decency.
Responding to the notice, M/s Lamhas Satellite Services Limited,as the distribution partner of Russia Today, submitted that they did not intentionally or unintentionally try to vilify the portrayal of women in general and that the show was an extract of another program purely based on abstract, experimental artistic pursuit as depicted in the clip.

It added that the channel did not aim at objectification of women in a detrimental way while also apologising on behalf of the channel.
The company also said that they had instructed Russia Today Channel to strictly abide by the Cable TV Regulation Act and it had assured to be more careful and vigilant about the content exhibited in India.
A representative of the channel also appeared before an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) which looked into the matter and admitted that it was a mistake on their part to telecast the programme.
The representative added that the programme was telecast during late hours under the impression that it would be watched by adult persons only and thus, would not be treated as a violation. However, she regretted the entire incident, the ministry order said.