I&B Ministry
I&B secretary beckons to radio
MUMBAI: Information and broadcasting secretary Pawan Chopra was in Mumbai on Monday evening to participate in a panel discussion on challenges in the infrastructure and technology sphere in television, but took the opportunity to invite radio to join the tech revolution.
In his address, Chopra announced,”Once you have DTH (direct to home), you can also have audio broadcast of satellite.” Referring to the FM radio broadcast in the country which was launched before satellite broadcasting was officially acknowledged in the country, chopra said it was now upto radio to respond to this opportunity. ” We may well leapfrog into satellite broadcasting that much faster,” he told the assembled gathering of media and television industry professionals.
Chopra, who later fielded questions on the rights and wrongs of putting CAS in suspended animation, also said that broadcasters need to pay as much attention to the content, as they are paying to transmission quality. “The proof of the pudding is finally going to be in the content,” he quipped.
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.
