Govt needs to do more to regulate content on TV  says I&B Minister

           The Government today admitted that more needs to be done to regulate the content on television channels particularly in the light of obscenity and objectionable matter, but said it was working to rectify the situation.

             Answering questions in Parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said: “We are working with all stakeholders to monitor content in a more effective way”, adding that she was “personally monitoring this.”

              She also said: “Some channels have shown the aptitude for self-regulation.” Soni said that notices and advisories were sent to the concerned channels under the Cable TV network  (Regulation) Act 1995 and even stricter action was being taken wherever necessary.

           She also said she had drawn the attention of Home Minister P Chidambaram to the telecast by Cable networks or multi-system operators of some channels that did not have permission to downlink in India.

          She had written a letter to the Home Minister and also state Chief Ministers about two months earlier drawing attention to some of these channels. These channels include Peace TV, ARY Q TV, TV Maldives and Saudi TV, which are exclusively focused on Islamic teachings.

        The Centre has also asked the states to set up district level committees to monitor telecast of such channels, she said.

        Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mohan Jatua said the government had issued an advisory on 7 October to all authorized multi-system operators and cable operator associations to discontinue with immediate effect transmission/re-transmission of illegal channels. Penal action will be taken against illegal operators.