Government to form watchdog to monitor TV content
March 15th, 2011 - 4:08 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, March 15 (IANS) The government will constitute a panel headed by a retired judge to regulate television content in India, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said Tuesday in response to complaints by MPs on vulgarity in TV reality shows.
“We are right on the threshold of announcing a self-regulatory mechanism to monitor content on television,” Soni told the Lok Sabha.
She said the panel once formed would take up complaints from civil society about objectionable content on private television channels in the country.
She was replying to questions raised by MPs on the government’s move to monitor TV programmes. Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav and Congress’s N. Chaluvaraya asked her what the government was doing to “curb vulgarity in TV reality shows”.
Sharad Yadav advocated strengthening of censorship for such content and having a censor board as is the case with feature films.
The minister clarified there was “no censor board for TV”. She said TV content was regulated by the Cable Regulatory Act with some uplinking and downlinking criteria for the broadcasters.
“The ministry will not do anything that is later struck down by courts,” Soni said.
She referred to the ministry’s order of asking private TV channel Colors to change the telecast timing of reality show “Bigg Boss” to 11 p.m. from 9 p.m. The order was turned down by a Delhi court.
- Govt. to constitute mechanism to monitor content on television - Mar 15, 2011
- No diktat, but open to all-party meet on TV content: Soni - Dec 13, 2011
- Broadcasters will be consulted on new TV guidelines: Soni - Oct 10, 2011
- Renewal of TV licences: Self-regulatory bodies to be consulted - Dec 09, 2011
- Soni backs Katju on media's self-regulation - Nov 17, 2011
- Women's commission wants TV content monitored - Nov 19, 2010
- Government amends rules to toughen entry for TV channels - Oct 07, 2011
- TRAI asked to look into number of TV channels: Soni - Dec 07, 2009
- Soni pitches for self-regulatory mechanism for media - Oct 28, 2009
- Soni brings illegal channels to notice of home minister - Oct 09, 2009
- FDI limit hike proposed in broadcasting sector - Aug 09, 2011
- Court upholds government notice on TV reality show - Sep 30, 2011
- Broadcasting council takes shape to deal with TV complaints - Feb 18, 2011
- Government taking steps to curb illegal TV channels: Soni - Dec 07, 2009
- Pamela boosts 'Bigg Boss 4' TRPs - Nov 18, 2010
Tags: ambika soni, censorship, delhi court, feature films, india information, Lok Sabha, mps, objectionable content, private television, private tv channel, reality show, regulatory act, regulatory mechanism, sharad yadav, television channels, television content, tv content, tv programmes, tv reality, vulgarity