RECASTING THE BROADCAST BILL

Officials of the information & broadcasting (I&B) ministry have been holding meetings with select broadcasters, cable TV associations and media firms to elicit their views on what shape the broadcast bill should take. The ministry will use these opinions, along with the recommendations of the joint parliamentary committee on broadcasting formed by the previous United Front government, to forge a new broadcasting act.

The broadcasting bill has been in limbo for nearly three years now. Former I&B minister Sushma Swaraj had been firm in her view that the Broadcasting Bill would be introduced in Parliament in the winter session commencing from 30 November. Her successor I&B minister of state M.A. Naqvi has, however, stated that there is no hurry. His ministry will take efforts to introduce the bill as soon as possible. The BJP government has been emphatic that foreign investment in broadcasting firms' equity should be limited to 20% while there should be restrictions on cross-media holdings.