NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: In a move that is bound to raise the hackles of the television and ad fraternity, the government Thursday decided to broaden the scope of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 to cover satellite television channels and the internet.

The amendment approved by the government seeks to ensure that more effective protection is provided against indecent representation of women by covering newer forms of communication including internet, multimedia messaging beyond the print and audio-visual media.

This, the government feels, will aid in addressing the problem of increased objectification of women, thereby ensuring dignity of women.

"The existing Act covers print media in its present form however over the year?s technological revolution has resulted in the development of newer forms of mediums such as internet and satellite based communication, multi-media messaging, and cable television among others," the government said.

"It has, therefore, become imperative to widen the scope of the law so as to cover such forms of media, on one hand, and to strengthen the existing safeguards to prevent indecent representation of women through any such form," it added.

The creative fraternity, still to come to terms with The Dirty Picture saga when the television premiere of the film was postponed twice due to censor board?s intervention, has made it clear that the government needs to clearly spell what indecency means and who will decide that.

"While we definitely feel there is an overarching need to protect women from indecent portrayal, the question over what constitutes indecency still looms. We need to study the fine print of the act carefully before drawing conclusions but indecency is a very subjective term and unless it is clearly defined it will open a can of worms," film director Mahesh Bhatt said.

Lowe Lintas chairman R Balki, a filmmaker himself, believes that the law might be misused by vested interests if there is dichotomy over what constitutes indecency.

"I think media has a responsibility towards women, children and, in fact, towards everybody, human beings in general. It doesn?t mean that men maybe misrepresented. But what constitutes decency or indecency will always be the dispute," he says.

According to the amended act, penalties are to be enhanced to a maximum of three years of imprisonment and fine of between Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 for first conviction, and imprisonment of not less than two years, but which may extend to seven years, and a fine between Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000 for second conviction.

Police officers of the rank of inspectors will be authorised to carry out search and seizure, in addition to state and central government officers authorised by the respective government.

Director‘s Kut producer Rajan Shahi said there was a thin line that divides decency and indecency which is why self-censorship is the best mechanism for television. He also said that is best left to viewers to decide what they want to watch.

"I always believe that there should be self-censorship for television since it is a very impressionable medium and the family watches it together. Another thing is that in TV you have the power of remote, it?s your choice which programme you want to watch. There are options of privacy settings too, so one can control what content he wants to watch," Shahi avers.

Balki also believes that for something to be termed indecent, it has to be backed up by mass support. Otherwise people with vested interests will misuse the law.

"If somebody writes to the government that such and such is found indecent, there has to be a critical mass that agrees to the complaint. The question then is what will form that critical mass? And who decides or judges it? There should be very clear guidelines, otherwise it will become very subjective and vested parties will be at an advantage," he reasoned.

The IRWA Act focuses on indecent representation of women and brings under its ambit references that are derogatory to the dignity of women. The IRWA 1986 was enacted with the specific objective of prohibiting indecent representation of women through advertisement, publication, writing and painting or in any other manner.

MUMBAI: Television production house Balaji Telefilms continues its profit run, improving its preceding quarter performance and turning around from the year-before quarter as its other income jumped on account of sale of discontinued operations.

Balaji Tele finished the fiscal-fourth quarter with a net profit of Rs 15.4 million compared to a loss of Rs 11.5 million a year before.

The company?s other income grew to Rs 90.8 million from Rs 3.9 million. Income from operations, however, trimmed by 35 per cent to Rs 278.4 million on account of reduction in the number of hours of commissioned & sponsored segment and lower realisation on sponsored revenue.

The company brought down its total expenditure by 11 per cent to Rs 385.6 million, from Rs 431.3 million in the previous fiscal of the same quarter.

The company?s income from operations during the quarter was Rs 247.3 million compared to Rs 337.8 million. Revenue contribution from commissioned programming (HSM) was Rs 223.2 million against Rs 271.1 million, while that of sponsored programming was Rs 24.1 million as against Rs 66.7 million.

In the quarter under review, the company has reported an operating loss of Rs 16.4 million against an operating profit of Rs 1.8 million. The company reported a negative Ebitda of Rs 16.4 million in the current quarter from Rs 1.8 million a year ago.

Realisation on programming hours

Realisation per hour from commissioned programming (HSM) increased to Rs 1.86 million against Rs 1.807 million.
The company produces shows like Pavitra Rishtaa, Bade Achee Lagte Ho, Parichay, Kya Hua Tera Vaada, and Gumraah.

Hours of commissioned programmes reduced from 150 hours to 120 hours while hours of sponsored programmes reduced from 190 hours to 126 hours.

Balaji Motion Pictures

As on 31 March, the company?s total investments were at Rs 2.58 billion including Rs 300 million invested in wholly owned subsidiary Balaji Motion Pictures Ltd (BMPL) with as much as Rs 209.962 billion being invested in units of mutual funds & debentures issued by other corporate & Trusts During the quarter, BMPL achieved a turnover of Rs 584.4 million as against Rs 416.9 million during the previous fiscal. In the current financial year, BMPL has reported profit of Rs 88.3 million against Rs 23.2 million for the same quarter a year ago.

The company?s cost increased substantially to Rs 501.9 million compared to Rs 391.1 million in the year-ago period. Ebitda for the quarter was Rs 82.5 million, up from Rs 25.8 million.

Balaji Tele?s FY?12 performance

Balaji Telefilms posted a net profit of Rs 204.41 million for the fiscal ending 31 March as per the consolidated audited results. The company had finished previous fiscal in red with a net loss of Rs 10.80 million.

The company?s net sales in the fiscal reduced by Rs.145.8 million to 1.7657 billion due to the fall in turnover of the Balaji Telefilms by Rs 313.4 million on a standalone basis, which was due to reduction in volume of Hindi Commissioned programmes from 617 hours to 466 hours.

Total expenditure fell by Rs 88.917 million to Rs 1.9378 billion compared to Rs 2.0268 billion in the trailing fiscal. The company?s cost of production/acquisition and telecast fees increased by Rs 230.123 million to end at Rs 1.4670 billion. Staff cost too saw a minor increase at Rs 199.833 million as against Rs 183.652 million in the previous fiscal.

However, the fall in turnover was supported due to the improved performance of BMPL which increased in turnover by Rs 167.6 million, a 40 per cent increase as compared to last year mainly due to the excellent performance of The Dirty Picture.