Govt rules out establishment of broadcast regulator

NEW DELHI: The Government has reiterated that there is no proposal to set up a Broadcast Regulator in view of the self-regulatory mechanisms set up by the news and general entertainment channels.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry officials also confirmed that the existing regulatory framework in the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 is adequate.

In fact, the Ministry has made it clear to the Indian Broadcasting Foundation that the Broadcast Content Complaints Council set up earlier this year and the IBF‘s Content Code and Certification Rules should follow the existing Codes under the Act.

Senior Ministry officials have also said there was no proposal at present to scrap the Broadcast Services Regulatory Authority Bill as the government would want to see how self-regulation works.

The officials also told indiantelevision.com that the Inter-Ministerial Committee which suo motu examines issues or hears complaints received from the viewers has recently been re-constituted with the addition of the Joint Secretary in the Consumer Affairs Ministry after the Prime Minister had asked that Ministry to check misleading advertisements.

The IMC will also examine any complaints forwarded to it by the self-regulatory bodies of the news and general entertainment channels.

As far as radio goes, it would be guided by the policy guidelines for FM Radio Phase III announced by the Government.