(a) whether the Government has issued any directive to certain TV
channels for airing objectionable content on their programmes including
reality shows in the recent past;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the such channels have complied with the directives of the
Government;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has any proposal to regulate the broadcasting
of reality shows; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING (SHRI CM. JATUA)
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. Recently two directives have been issued one each to
Imagine TV channel and Colors TV channel telecasting reality shows viz.
`Rakhi ka Insaf and `Big Boss Season-4 respectively. The TV channels have been
directed to shift the programme to any time after 11.00 P.M and modify the
content in accordance with the Programme Code. The channels have been also
directed to run a scroll on Television screen to effect that the programme is
not suitable for children. The channels have been further directed to ensure
that there are no transmissions/retransmissions of the programme between
5.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. The channels should also ensure that no clippings
of the programme are provided by them to any other News/Non News channel for
telecast at anytime during the restricted time zone from 5.00 a.m to 11.00 p.m
(c) & (d) The Imagine TV channel has complied with the directives of the
Government, while Colors TV channel has moved to the High Court at Mumbai and
got interim stay on the Government directives. The matter is sub-judice.
(e) & (f) There is no specific proposal. However, all programme and
advertisements telecast on TV channels, transmitted/ retransmitted through
the Cable TV Networks, are required to adhere to the Programme and Advertising
Codes prescribed under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rules
framed thereunder. Action is taken whenever any violation of Code is brought
the notice of the Government.
Government had constituted a committee for reviewing the existing
Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable TV Networks
(Regulation) Act, 1995 to provide greater specificity to the
provision of existing codes. The committee has made recommendations in the
form of draft `Self-regulation Guidelines for the Broadcasting sector` which
is available on the Ministry`s website http://mib.gov.in under the heading
`Codes Guidelines Policy`.
Ministry has been holding consultations with all concerned stakeholders
to arrive at a broad consensus on the recommendations of the committee. A task
Force has been set up under the Chairmanship of Secretary (I&B) for holding wider
consultations with stakeholders to arrive at a consensus regarding the provision
of the draft content code.