Lok Sabha Question No. 3282 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Telecast of TV Channels in a Dignified Manner
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3282 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15/03/2018

## TELECAST OF TV CHANNELS IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER

## 3282.  SHRI  ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE :

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  INFORMATION  &  BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]

(a)  &  (b).  As  per  existing  regulatory  framework,  all  programmes  and  advertisements telecast  on  private  satellite  TV  channels  and  transmitted/re-transmitted  through  the Cable  TV  network      are  required  to  adhere  to  the  Programme  Code  and  Advertising Code prescribed  under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 framed thereunder.  The Act does not provide for precensorship  of  any  programme    and  advertisement  telecast  on  such  TV  channels. However, all programmes and advertisements  telecast on such TV channels should be in  conformity  with  the  prescribed  Programme  Code    and  Advertising  Code  which contains a wide range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements on TV channel.

Rule  6  (1)  (a)  of  the  Programme  Code  provides  that  no  programme  should  be carried in the cable  service which offends against good taste or decency. Whereas Rule 7(1) of the Advertising Code provides that advertising carried in the cable service shall be so designed as to conform to the laws of the country and should not offend morality, decency and religious susceptibilities of the subscribers.

The Ministry has set up Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) to monitor the  content    telecast  on    private  TV  channels  with  reference  to  the  violation  of Programme Codes. An Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC)  has  also  been  set  up  in  the Ministry  to  look  into  the  specific  complaints  or  suo-motu  take  cognizance  against  the violation of Programme Codes. The IMC has representatives from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs, Law, Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare,  Consumer  Affairs,  Information  &  Broadcasting  and  a  representative  from  the industry in Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).  The IMC meets periodically and recommends action for violation of Programme and Advertising Codes by private TV channels . Apart from this,  the  Ministry  has  also  issued  directions  to  States  to  set  up District level and State level Monitoring Committees to monitor content telecast on cable TV channels and private FM Channels and Community Radio Stations.

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  or  proposes  to  take  any  effective  steps  to ensure that the programmes are telecast by TV channels in a dignified manner; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

As  part  of  self-regulation,  the  following  are  the  self-  regulatory    bodies  of broadcasting industry:

(i)  News  Broadcasters  Association  (NBA)-  a  representative  body  of  news  and current affairs TV channels has set up News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) to  consider complaints against or in respect of broadcasters relating to content of any news and current affairs telecast on TV channels.

(ii) Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), which is a representative body of nonNews  &  current  affairs  TV  channels,  has  set  up  Broadcasting  Content  Complaints Council (BCCC) to examine the complaints about television programmes, and

(iii)  Advertising  Standards  Council  of  India  (ASCI),  a  self  regulatory  body  of advertising  industry  has  set  up  Consumer  Complaints  Council  (CCC)  to  consider complaints in respect of advertisements.

The above mechanism has also been acknowledged by the Supreme Court of India in its order dated 12.01.2017 in the matter of WP(C) No.387 of 2000 - Common Cause vs UOI & Ors.

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