I&B Ministry
Modify or shift ‘double entendre’ progs, cautions broadcasting council
NEW DELHI: Action was taken in 18 cases relating to telecast of content of indecency/obscenity/vulgarity in the last three years, the Parliament has been told. This included some general advisories issues by government. The punishment in most cases was a warning or the running of an apology scroll.
Minister of state for information and broadcastng Rajyavardhan Rathore revealed that there had been no action in 2017.
The minister said apart from action taken by government, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) had set up a Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) to examine the complaints relating to content of television programmes.
The council had informed the ministry that they have received complaints against usage of double meaning dialogues of sexual nature that might not be suitable for children. In such instances, BCCC has passed directions on case to case basis, either asking the channels to modify/ edit the content, not to repeat the episode, shift it to a late night slot or run an apology scroll on the channel.
To ensure that the channels do not cross the thin line between comedy and vulgarity, the Council has also issued an advisory on 27 December 2012 to IBF’s member channels to use friendly banters without being derisive to any community, religion and individual.
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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.
