NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari has reiterated that he is in favour of self-regulation and ?reviews should be done by industry bodies without too much of governmental influence?.

The governmental cannot play big brother in every field, the Minister said, while responding to a question about the Film Federation of India choosing a film for the Oscars.

Self-regulation is part of the government?s role in safeguarding the fundamental freedom of the people, Tewari said in an informal chat with mediapersons.

The Government will therefore interfere only if there is a major aberration, he said.

Meanwhile, Ministry sources said the Minister has decided to give priority to gaming and animation sectors as he sees them as potential work generating industries.

The sources also said that the government is working expeditiously on ensuring that the auctions for FM Radio Phase III commence within this financial year. Certain issues raised by stakeholders are being ironed out, the sources said.

Referring to cross-media ownership, the sources said that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India which is studying the report of the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, on this subject had sought certain clarifications from the Ministry. These clarifications have been provided and Trai is expected to finalise its report soon, the sources said.

NEW DELHI: The Government has reiterated that there is no proposal to set up a Broadcast Regulator in view of the self-regulatory mechanisms set up by the news and general entertainment channels.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry officials also confirmed that the existing regulatory framework in the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 is adequate.

In fact, the Ministry has made it clear to the Indian Broadcasting Foundation that the Broadcast Content Complaints Council set up earlier this year and the IBF‘s Content Code and Certification Rules should follow the existing Codes under the Act.

Senior Ministry officials have also said there was no proposal at present to scrap the Broadcast Services Regulatory Authority Bill as the government would want to see how self-regulation works.

The officials also told indiantelevision.com that the Inter-Ministerial Committee which suo motu examines issues or hears complaints received from the viewers has recently been re-constituted with the addition of the Joint Secretary in the Consumer Affairs Ministry after the Prime Minister had asked that Ministry to check misleading advertisements.

The IMC will also examine any complaints forwarded to it by the self-regulatory bodies of the news and general entertainment channels.

As far as radio goes, it would be guided by the policy guidelines for FM Radio Phase III announced by the Government.