I&B Ministry
MIB warns MSOs, LCOs against removing mandatory channels
NEW DELHI: The Government today warned all multi-system operators (MSO) and local cable operators (LCO) of action if they failed to carry the mandatory channels of Doordarshan, Rajya Sabha TV and Lok Sabha TV.
Noting that it had been found that many MSOs and LCOs were not carrying mandatory channels notified by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) under different notifications, a note posted on the Ministry’s website said this was a violation of Section 8 of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.
Non-carriage of mandatory channels was liable to attract Section Il, Section 12 and Section 8 of the Cable Act.
Any violation of Section 8 of the Cable Act shall invite such action as provided in the Cable TV Act and the Rules framed thereunder as well as the terms and conditions stipulated in the MSO permission, as the case may be.
DD alleges DD Bharati taken off by Tata Sky
Meanwhile in a separate note, Doordarshan said that its cultural channel DD Bharati had been taken off by DTH operator Tata Sky from 13 June till date without any official information. “This accounts to a serious violation from Tata Sky’s end,” the note said.
Prasar Bharati had already moved the Ministry in this regard, and requested it to initiate action against the DTH operator.
DD Bharati and some other Doordarshan channels including DD UP, DD MP, DD Bihar & DD Rajasthan are not being carried by Tata Sky on its network, which amounts to violation of the Government rules, DD said.
Doordarshan reiterated that it is obligatory for every DTH operator to carry all Doordarshan channels, irrespective of any bouquet(s) or a-la-carte channel(s) being subscribed by subscribers. The DTH operators have to place the channels in the respective genre and display them in full television screen.
The notification of 5 and 6 September, 2013 and 25 May, 2015 had specified a list of channels that are to be mandatorily carried by DTH operators, MSOs and cable operators on their cable TV networks.
In areas where cable TV digitization has been completed, it is obligatory for the cable operators to carry 23 channels of Doordarshan including Kisan Channel, besides Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha channels.
In other areas, the cable operators are required to carry eight channels of Doordarshan, in addition to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha channels.
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.
