I&B Ministry
MIB calls for battle plan against digital pirates
NEW DELHI: India’s information and broadcasting ministry (MIB) has thrown open the floor to industry heavyweights, demanding fresh ammunition in the war against digital piracy. The call comes as film studios, streaming giants and broadcasters nurse mounting losses from rampant content theft.
Kshitij Aggarwal, deputy director for digital media, issued the public notice on 7 November, giving stakeholders just 20 days to fire off their grievances and game plans. The ministry wants the lot: technological fixes, enforcement strategies, global best practices that might work in India’s chaotic digital bazaar.
The targets are clear. Film piracy bleeds the industry dry. Illegal streaming sites mock OTT platforms. Bootleg broadcasts undercut television channels. The ministry reckons a comprehensive overhaul is overdue, one that ropes in everyone from telecom providers to intermediary platforms.
Four questions frame the consultation. What makes pirated content so devilishly hard to spot and kill? Where do enforcement mechanisms spring leaks? Which international tactics deserve a Mumbai makeover? And how can platforms, government agencies and rights holders stop tripping over each other?
Responses should land at digital-mediamib@gov.in before the deadline expires. Whether the ministry’s inbox fills with revolutionary ideas or tired platitudes will determine if India finally gets serious about protecting its content creators—or if the pirates keep plundering with impunity.
I&B Ministry
MIB halts news TRPs for four weeks over sensational US-Iran conflict coverage
Government flags panic-mongering in television war coverage
NEW DELHI: India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC) to suspend television ratings for news channels for four weeks amid concerns over sensational coverage of the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran.
According to media reports, the move intends to curb excessive dramatisation in television reporting that could trigger unnecessary public anxiety.
Officials have observed that several news broadcasters are amplifying developments in the conflict in ways that may fuel panic among viewers. By temporarily halting the publication of viewership data, the ministry hopes to ease the competitive pressure on channels to chase ratings through sensational content.
The suspension will remain in effect for one month for now. During this period, television news channels will continue to broadcast as usual, but their audience measurement figures will neither be counted nor released.
Authorities will monitor both the evolving geopolitical situation and the tone of television coverage during the pause. The four-week suspension could be extended if the government believes the risk of panic-mongering or sensational reporting persists.
