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NEW
DELHI: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is seriously
considering the extension of Cas, as it notes in its annual
report for 2007, while on the news TV front has said that
onus of complying with the Code of Content lies with broadcasters.
Specifically
on Cas, the ministry's report says that "it has been
implemented smoothly, giving viewers in the covered areas
a better choice in terms of programmes on TV".
"The
success of CAS has made the government consider expanding
the scheme to additional areas," the report says.
On
the status of Cas today, the ministry notes that "it
has stabilised" in the notified areas.
Sources
said that Trai has also already recommended the extension
of Cas and this reflects clearly the roadmap to digitisation
of cable TV envisaged in the "Go Digital" report
of the Planning Commission, which paves the way for Cas extension
to other cities.
"All
ministries take the guidelines of the Commission very seriously,
and hence the report indicates that the ministry has decided
to go for Cas extension, irrespective of the hurdles that
may have put in on hold for a while," an industry expert
told indiantelevision.com.
Meanwhile,
it also has clearly indicated its resolve to go ahead with
the Content Code, though it is still open to comments from
stakeholders, MIB report says in its statement on the Broadcasting
Services Regulation Bill.
"The
need has been felt to regulate the content going into public
domain to ensure conformity with acceptable contemporary community
standards and to protect the vulnerable sections from harmful
and undesirable content on TV," says the report.
"The Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill has been redrafted
after considering the comments of stakeholders and revised
/ redrafted Bill has been posted on the website of the Ministry
for wider consultations."
Responses
received have been both for and against the Bill, the consultation
process is underway, the report says.
"Self
Regulation Guidelines (Guidelines) formulated and posted on
the Ministry website set out the principles, guidelines and
ethical practices, which shall guide the Broadcasting Service
Provider (BSP) in offering their programming services in India
so as to conform to the Certification Rules prescribed under
the Cable Television Networks (regulations) Act 1995, irrespective
of the medium/platform used for broadcasting of the programme,"
the report stresses.
It
says that the Guidelines have been drafted to introduce greater
specificity and detail with a view to facilitate self regulation
by the broadcasting industry and "minimise scope for
subjective decision by regulatory authorities or the broadcasting
service providers".
While
the industry has been fighting tooth and nail for its own
regulation, it is important to note that the government has
chosen the words "minimise scope of subjective decisions…
by the broadcast service providers", and not just the
government regulator alone.
Ominously
for broadcasters, the report states: "The basic underlying
principle of these Guidelines is that the responsibility of
complying with the provisions of the Certification Rules vests
with the BSP."
Incidentally,
the last date fixed by the media industry to give their own
Content Code to the government expires on 31 January and as
of now the industry-Code has not been received by the government,
sources said.
Senior
officials have told indiantelevision.com that they are willing
to completely rework on the most disliked parts of the initial
Code, so that the industry's apprehension of a perceived clamp
down on freedom of speech and expression is assuaged.
Media
sources, on the other hand, have told indiantelevision.com
that most of the news broadcasters are serious about a self-regulatory
Code and rounds of discussion have been taking place amongst
the editors of the channels.
But
they have also said that to make the entire exercise meaningful
and acceptable by news broadcasters across the country, there
is need for a little more time.
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