NEW DELHI: The government today issued a warning to News Live TV channel for showing ‘extremely disturbing visuals of dead bodies and badly injured people including children which were not only disturbing but could also hurt the sentiments of the viewers.’
In a stern directive to the channel to follow the Programme and Advertising Code as well as the Downlinking/Uplinking Guidelines, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said ‘visuals were neither morphed nor blurred. The visuals appeared to be in bad taste and against the sensitivities of the victim's family. Hence, the visuals appeared to offend good taste and decency. The visuals also did not appear to be suitable for children and for unrestricted public exhibition.’
Any violation shall entail such action against the channel as deemed fit in accordance with the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Rules framed thereunder as also the terms and conditions of the permission granted under uplinking/downlinking guidelines.
Earlier, a show cause notice was issued to the channel on 5 November last year for the visuals carried in several news bulletins during 2012 and 2013. Initially, the channel said it was required to keep the recordings for only 90 days and therefore was unable to reply as the recordings had been destroyed.
The Ministry thereafter sent recordings in its own possession and also referred the matter to the Inter-Ministerial Committee which considered the matter on 4 July this year where a representative of the channel was also present.
The IMC observed that telecast of news bulletins were clear violation of the provisions of the Programme Code, particularly Rules 6(l)(a),6(lXo), and 6 (5) of Cable Television Network Rules, 1994. The IMC observed that even though the channel had accepted their fault and apologised for their mistake, they cannot escape the responsibility of ensuring content on their channel which must invariably be in conformity with the Programme Code.
‘News Live' TV Channel is also governed by the provisions of Uplinking/Downlinking Guidelines and Pride East Entertainments while applying for the uplinking/downlinking permission had undertaken to abide by the Programme and Advertising Codes and the Uplinking/Downlinking Guidelines, read with the permission granted to 'News Live' TV Channel.
