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| indiantelevision.com's Breaking News |
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| I&B steps up content regulation with
directive on horrow show timings |
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Indiantelevision.com
Team
(17 December 2002 4:00 pm) |
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| NEW DELHI: Rapped by the government, the
Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), an apex body of broadcasters
operating in India, has formed a panel which will look into the slotting
of horror shows on private satellite channels so that such shows are
not easily accessible to children. |
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Reason: a missive from the Information and
Broadcasting ministry on the issue of horror shows and their effect
on children. The formation of the panel on horror shows - comprising
Star India chief executive Peter Mukerjea, SET India chief executive
Kunal Dasgupta and Sri Adhikari Brothers' vice-chairman Markand Adhikari
- also coincides with certain steps on content regulation that the
Indian government proposes to take.
The Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the I & B ministry
will be meeting tomorrow to discuss ways which can possibly give the
government powers to control what it feels is undesirable programming
on TV channels.
Broadcasting industry sources confirmed that the IBF has formed a
panel to look into the issue of horror shows as it received a letter
from the I&B ministry saying various representations have been made
to it on rampant airing of horror and thriller shows during prime
time which can have negative effects on children.
The sources indicated that the IBF panel might look at shifting such
programming on to late night slots or at times when children are not
likely to be watching television.
Programmes like Aahat and Achanak on Sony, Shhh...Koi
Hai on Star Plus and Khauff on Sabe TV usually air at 9
pm or 10 pm on weekends currently.
The parliamentary panel tomorrow will discuss ways on how the government
can enforce a control on content being put out on television channels,
including commercials that have been termed objectionable like the
Fair & Lovely cream ad - which, as per a petition to the I&B ministry
by a human rights commission, promoted colour prejudice and is biased
against the dark skinned girl child.
According to government sources, the move to get some hold over content
on television also comes in the wake of frequent objections raised
by members of Parliament on un-Indian like programming on the small
screen.
Meanwhile, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) is close to finalising
a programming code that is to be followed by the member-broadcasters.
According to early information available with indiantelevision.com,
the IBF programming code, aimed at self-regulation, is a lengthy document
running into almost 100 pages. It will be put up for the board's approval
once it is finalised.
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