I&B Ministry
MIB zaps 144 TV channels for code breaches
Government tunes out 144 TV offenders with warnings, scrolls, and shutdowns from 2021-2025.
MUMBAI: Zapping the airwaves like a faulty remote, India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has dished out 144 enforcement slaps to private satellite TV channels for flouting the Programme and Advertising Codes under the 1995 Cable Television Networks Act proving that in the broadcast biz, breaking rules can lead to a swift channel change.
In a parliamentary ping-pong session, minister of state L Murugan spilled the beans to AAP MP Raghav Chadha, revealing how channels must toe the line or face the music: no attacking religions, stirring communal pots, or slinging slander at society’s moral fibre. It’s all enshrined in those codes, designed to keep the telly tame and tasteful.
But wait, there’s a plot twist, the government beefed up its watchdog role with the 2021 amendments on 17 June, rolling out a three-tier grievance gauntlet. First, broadcasters handle the heat themselves, if that fizzles, self-regulating bodies step in; and finally, the Centre swoops like a censor superhero for the knockout punch. No direct meddling in the early rounds, mind you just oversight when things get sticky.
The stats paint a pixelated picture of the crackdown, 43 actions in 2021, peaking at 52 in 2022, dipping to 37 in 2023, then a dramatic fade with just four in 2024 and eight in 2025. Breaking it down, that’s 35 gentle nudges via advisories, 50 stern warnings, 54 orders for those cringe-worthy apology scrolls crawling across screens, three outright off-air blackouts, one full permission yank, and even a lone disclaimer decree for good measure.
While 2022 stole the spotlight for most interventions, the recent years suggest a calmer channel lineup or perhaps broadcasters are finally getting the memo. The Ministry keeps firing off advisories like reminder texts, ensuring everyone plays nice, with heavier hammers reserved for the real rotters.
And for those wondering if local lingo channels get a free pass? Nope the rules blanket all, from national heavyweights to regional rabble-rousers. In this era of amended airwaves, it’s clear the government’s grievance grid is no mere static, it’s a tuned-in tool keeping the broadcast boat from rocking too wildly.
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.
