The information and broadcasting ministry’s notices to channels for airing contents that violated the government’s code has risen to 65 since March 2005 from only three in 2005.
I&B ministry issues 65 warnings since Mar ’05
NEW DELHI: Big brother’s watching over television channels like never before. Sample this: The information and broadcasting ministry’s notices to channels for airing contents that violated the government’s code has risen to 65 since March 2005 from only three in 2005.
The ministry had issued 23 notices or bans last year and 39 warnings in 2006. Most of these channels were asked to carry a ‘roll of warning’ for airing programmes or advertisements for violating the code.
However, some channels also had to face a temporary ban like AXN for airing a programme called World’s Sexiest Advertisements and FTV for Mid Night Hot.
Janmat also faced a ban for showing a sting operation on a teacher Uma Khurana.
The government’s list of “objectionable” programmes included song remixes, adult films, programmes on private activities of MLAs and MPs, telecast of self-immolation by Gopalkrishna Kashyap, programmes promoting superstition, an episode of the teleserial Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and news channels that showed wrong maps of India in their bulletins.
Many prominent FMCG companies were asked to apologise through a scroll on the TV screen for ‘objectionable’ advertisements promoting products ranging from fairness creams, innerwear and liquor brands to contraceptives. Some channels were also issued notices for telecasting political ads.
Currently, the programming and advertising code in the Cable Act govern the content on television channels. However, the government has penned a draft ‘content code’, which is likely to be a part of the proposed broadcast Bill.
Broadcasters have been in talks with the government on fine-tuning the Broadcast Bill and the Content Code. While broadcasters want the ‘self-check’ route for content across TV channels, the government is keen on the legislative path.
m_nivedita@dnaindia.net
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