Question : Media Trials

(a) whether the Government has the power under requisite provisions to forbid the media channels from holding “media trials” of sub-judice matters, and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has taken note of the sub-optimal state of reporting by the media channels within the country, and if so, the steps taken to improve it; and
(c) the instances of blocking of any news channel during the last ten years over broadcasting matters not in accordance with guidelines alongwith the names and duration of any such blocking?

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (b): All programmes and advertisements telecast on private satellite TV channels are regulated in accordance with the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Rules framed thereunder.

The Government takes action in cases where Programme / Advertising Codes are found to be violated by the private TV channels, including issuance of advisory, warning, running an apology scroll and in extreme cases, directing the channel to be off air for a certain time duration.

(c): During the last ten years and current year, there have been thirty five (35) instances where private satellite TV channels were asked to prohibit transmission of telecasting content in violation of the Programme Code for the period ranging from one day to thirty days.
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