‘Is it time for a new broadcasting regulator?’
11 years, 11 months ago

‘Is it time for a new broadcasting regulator?’

The Hindu  

At a time when the relationship between the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and Indian television industry is strained, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Manish Tewari, has asked broadcasters whether they want a new, separate ‘techno-commercial regulator’. ‘Techno-commercial’ regulation When pointed out that the 12-minute restriction was a pre-existing rule, Mr. Tewari said, “Are you really going to kill the goose in the process of implementing rules?” He went on to draw an analogy with the telecom sector, a ‘success story’, “Look what has happened to telecom as a result of a cavalierly-written CAG report.” The minister emphasised that statutory rules had to be ‘implemented without causing unnecessary pain to the industry’. “It is time for the industry to reflect on whether broadcasting needs a new regulator on the techno-commercial side.” The minister clarified that the government would not ‘unilaterally impose’ any regulation, particularly on the content side. New revenue model Raising the issue of developing more sustainable revenue models from the current ‘skewed’ ad-dependent model, the I&B Minister also urged the industry to come up with a Broadcasting and Research Council.

Industry Tewari Trai  telecom  minister  mr  issue  broadcasting  broadcasters  industry  tewari  trai  regulator

History of this topic

TRAI recommends new approach to set radio ads, programme code
1 month, 1 week ago

TRAI recommends new approach to set radio ads, programme code

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recommended that radio broadcasters be allowed to concurrently broadcast the same content online to create a new revenue stream for the sector and suggested that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting prescribe a Programme Code and These recommendations were a part of the regulator’s recommendations on “Framework for Service Authorisations for …

TRAI releases recommendations for new broadcasting services Act
1 month, 1 week ago

TRAI releases recommendations for new broadcasting services Act

The Hindu  

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Friday released its recommendations for the Framework for Service Authorisations for provision of Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The recommended authorisation framework provides for two distinct sets of terms and conditions: “The Broadcasting Rules” and “The Broadcasting Services Rules”. The salient points of recommendations include that broadcasting service authorisations should be …

TRAI releases recommendations on “regulatory framework for ground-based broadcasters”
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TRAI releases recommendations on “regulatory framework for ground-based broadcasters”

The Hindu  

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Wednesday released its recommendations on “Regulatory framework for Ground-based Broadcasters ”, which is aimed at ensuring that technological advancements are fully leveraged for the delivery of television channels to the distributors. The Ministry had, through a letter May 22, 2024, sought TRAI recommendations on “Regulatory Framework for Ground-based Broadcasters”. The salient points include …

India revises Broadcasting Bill, online creators fear crackdown
7 months, 2 weeks ago

India revises Broadcasting Bill, online creators fear crackdown

The Hindu  

Digital rights activists and online content creators welcomed a decision by India's government to rewrite a contentious broadcast bill that they feared would have censored speech on the internet. “A later version of the bill casts the net wider to include all digital content creators — from social media accounts and online video producers to podcasters,” according to technology policy …

Broadcasting Bill: Back to first principles
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Broadcasting Bill: Back to first principles

Hindustan Times  

The Indian government's draft Broadcast Services Bill, aimed at regulating all forms of digital media, has sparked widespread discussion. The bill, drafted by the information and broadcasting ministry, has three additional flaws: it categorises over-the-top streaming services alongside TV broadcasting, an exceptional measure globally that may allow the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to intervene in digital commerce; it brings …

Govt guided by differentiated approach for OTTs, cable TV content regulation: MIB
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Govt guided by differentiated approach for OTTs, cable TV content regulation: MIB

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: The ministry of information and broadcasting told the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the government is guided by “a differentiated approach” for content regulation on over-the-top platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and cable TV networks. Minister of state for information and broadcasting, L Murugan, in a written response to Trinamool Congress’s Dola Sen, said that …

Media bodies voice concern over draft broadcasting services bill
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Media bodies voice concern over draft broadcasting services bill

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Media bodies on Thursday voiced concern on the provisions of the draft broadcasting services bill and contended that it sought to create a multi-layered legal system to regulate and censor content in the digital space. "The Broadcasting Services Bill is one more step in creating a multi-layered legal system to regulate, control, monitor and censor content in the …

Broadcasting Bill 2023 relies too much on delegated legislation: Industry bodies to MIB
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Broadcasting Bill 2023 relies too much on delegated legislation: Industry bodies to MIB

Hindustan Times  

Multiple industry bodies and civil societies criticised the Broadcasting Services Bill for relying too much on delegated legislation, having ambiguous definitions, creating a pre-censorship regime through pre-certification of content, and not distinguishing between streaming services and traditional broadcasters among a host of other issues, according to RTI documents made public by digital rights organisation Internet Freedom Foundation on Tuesday. NBDA …

A licence raj for digital content creators
7 months, 4 weeks ago

A licence raj for digital content creators

The Hindu  

Could Dhruv Rathee and Ravish Kumar’s YouTube videos have influenced voter preferences in the 2024 general election? This data suggest a “content election” or an “influencer election”, with digital media critical of the Prime Minister challenging the dominance of television news. Writing on the first version of this proposed law in this daily, this writer argued that it will “increase …

TRAI keeps OTT out of regulations in recommendations for National Broadcasting Policy
9 months, 1 week ago

TRAI keeps OTT out of regulations in recommendations for National Broadcasting Policy

Op India  

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has kept OTT out of regulation in its recommendations for the National Broadcasting Policy-2024. “OTT is a pull-based medium, therefore, transposing legal broadcasting regulations onto OTT would affect EoDB and hinder growth,” the regulator added. The TRAI said it has recommended a vision to foster a competitive, affordable and ubiquitous ecosystem for sustained growth …

TRAI seeks more inputs for I&B Ministry’s National Broadcasting Policy
11 months, 3 weeks ago

TRAI seeks more inputs for I&B Ministry’s National Broadcasting Policy

The Hindu  

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on April 2 launched a second consultation to seek inputs on the National Broadcasting Policy, which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting seeks to put out later this year. The consultation seeks inputs on the broad objectives of the consultation; suggestions on measuring the broadcast industry’s contributions to the economy; strategies to improve TV …

Proposed Broadcasting Bill may result in greater government control of broadcast, digital media: NWMI
1 year, 2 months ago

Proposed Broadcasting Bill may result in greater government control of broadcast, digital media: NWMI

The Hindu  

Raising concerns about the proposed Broadcasting Services Bill, 2023, the Network of Women in Media, India, has said, in a submission to the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, that the Bill may potentially result in control and over-regulation of the broadcast and digital media. The government bestows inordinate powers on itself through this Bill to control the country’s entertainment and news …

Feedback on broadcasting bill to be taken in a few months: Anurag Thakur
1 year, 2 months ago

Feedback on broadcasting bill to be taken in a few months: Anurag Thakur

Hindustan Times  

The ministry of information and broadcasting will work on getting feedback on the Broadcasting Services Bill, 2023 in the next few months, around the time India goes to polls, I&B minister Anurag Thakur said on Wednesday. “The timeline depends on the nature of feedback and suggestions we get and the kind of changes we will have to make as a …

New broadcast bill may also cover those who put up news content online
1 year, 4 months ago

New broadcast bill may also cover those who put up news content online

Hindustan Times  

India’s new broadcast bill could cover even individuals putting up news and current affairs content online, including on platforms such as YouTube, and also WhatsApp and Telegram channels. The proposed Broadcasting Services Bill, 2023, seeks to directly regulate streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+Hotstar as over-the-top, or OTT, broadcasting services, but under the Bill, anybody who …

FM radio firms renew demand to broadcast news
1 year, 11 months ago

FM radio firms renew demand to broadcast news

The Hindu  

Private FM radio broadcasters reiterated a demand that they be allowed to transmit news and current affairs content in an open house discussion held by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. “Print is allowed news, television is allowed, digital is allowed… some are regulated, and some are unregulated; but not allowing news on radio is crippling the industry,” RedFM’s Chief …

GUEST COLUMN: MEDIA | A new phase of censorship creep in India
2 years, 1 month ago

GUEST COLUMN: MEDIA | A new phase of censorship creep in India

The Hindu  

Published : Feb 03, 2023 15:34 IST The Information Technology Rules, 2021, are back in active play, causing deep concern among those who value free speech and media freedom in India. The proposal has been sharply criticised by organisations like the Internet Freedom Foundation, which believes that “this will heavily impact the freedom of speech, expression and information online, and …

I&B minister dispels myths around new rules in meeting with OTT players
4 years ago

I&B minister dispels myths around new rules in meeting with OTT players

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The self-regulatory bodies formed by digital news publishers and over-the-top video streaming platforms will not have any member appointed by the government, the information & broadcasting ministry clarified on Thursday. The I&B minister Prakash Javadekar met representatives of OTT platforms and dispelled myths around the digital media guidelines notified last week. “Thus, it was decided that the government …

Content tracking: The Hindu Editorial on government regulation of online news, OTT services
4 years, 4 months ago

Content tracking: The Hindu Editorial on government regulation of online news, OTT services

The Hindu  

The recent decision of the government to bring video streaming services and online news under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was much anticipated, though with some trepidation. Recently, when the Supreme Court asked for its suggestions toward improving the existing self-regulatory mechanism for television media, in a case involving Sudarshan News, the government stated that regulating …

Media regulation that is quite over the top
4 years, 4 months ago

Media regulation that is quite over the top

The Hindu  

The government’s move bringing online news and current affairs portals along with “films and audio-visual programmes made available by online content providers” under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is as brazen as it is wily. In fact the excuse given by the government for this annexation of the digital media by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is that …

Digital/Online Media Brought Under Purview Of Ministry Of Information & Broadcasting [Read Notification]
4 years, 4 months ago

Digital/Online Media Brought Under Purview Of Ministry Of Information & Broadcasting [Read Notification]

Live Law  

Digital/Online media has been brought under the purview of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.The Second Schedule of the Government of India Rules has been amended to include following entries viz. Films and Audio-Visual programmes,News and current affairs content.Digital/Online Media would include Films and Audio-Visual programmes, news and current. Digital/Online Media would include Films and Audio-Visual programmes, news and current affairs …

India to regulate online news and social media sites
4 years, 4 months ago

India to regulate online news and social media sites

Al Jazeera  

New order brings online news portals and content providers such as Netflix under the ambit of the gov’t in a first step to regulate digital media. India’s government has issued an order bringing the regulation of online news portals and content providers such as Netflix under the authority of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a first step to …

TV news is in crisis. Regulate, reform it
4 years, 6 months ago

TV news is in crisis. Regulate, reform it

Hindustan Times  

The time for news channels to introspect is long overdue. Sane voices such as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s appeal “for self-restraint” or Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu’s condemnation of “Sensationalism, yellow journalism and TRP-generating news.” have had little impact. The Delhi High Court’s humorous comment in Tharoor vs Goswami that “TV viewers who want to watch action films should watch TV …

Trai tariff order drives 15m away from TV
5 years, 6 months ago

Trai tariff order drives 15m away from TV

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: The broadcasting sector is in turmoil what with the number of pay TV subscribers falling in millions, barely six months after introduction of the New Tariff Order in February this year. According to KPMG’s latest report on the media and entertainment sector, the new regulatory framework has already reduced the number of pay TV subscribers by 12–15 million …

Broadcasters wary of Trai decision on review pricing
5 years, 7 months ago

Broadcasters wary of Trai decision on review pricing

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Broadcasters have raised concerns over the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indias decision to review the issue of pricing, barely eight months after implementing the new tariff order. TRAI, which noted that the broadcasters have been offering discounts of up to 70 per cent for bouquets compared to a la carte rates causing discrepancies for consumers, has come out …

Democratization of Information: The age of alternate media
6 years, 7 months ago

Democratization of Information: The age of alternate media

Op India  

To understand the current Indian media scenario, one has to look back to the time when it all started. This was a matter of great debate since the broadcasting format takes away the required temper and approach of news and replaces it with haphazardly put together commercialized packages. The initial online news dissemination was aimed at creating an alternative to …

Trai proposes converged regulation for ICT and broadcast sector
7 years, 1 month ago

Trai proposes converged regulation for ICT and broadcast sector

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Friday proposed a converged regulator for information and communications technology and broadcast sectors and hence, integrated regulation for both, a move that has been opposed by the broadcast sector so far. In its recommendations for the formulation of National Telecom Policy 2018 released on Friday, Trai said that there should be …

Trai weighs regulations for online video streaming platforms like Netflix, Hotstar
7 years, 1 month ago

Trai weighs regulations for online video streaming platforms like Netflix, Hotstar

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is evaluating a consultation process to regulate online video streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar, two people familiar with the development said. The regulator has received multiple requests from industry stakeholders to develop a framework for the video streaming platforms and may add a separate section on such platforms in …

Trai to meet with telecom and broadcasting companies to discuss important issues for FY18
8 years, 3 months ago

Trai to meet with telecom and broadcasting companies to discuss important issues for FY18

Firstpost  

In a first, Trai will begin in January discussions with telcos and broadcasting companies to draw up and publish an ‘agenda’ of important issues for 2017-18 – a move Chairman RS Sharma says will improve “regulatory predictability” in the sector. “What we are proposing is to improve the regulatory predictability – we will identify important issues that would be taken …

TRAI reviews regulatory framework of broadcasting sector
8 years, 10 months ago

TRAI reviews regulatory framework of broadcasting sector

Firstpost  

The Indian telecom regulator, TRAI on Wednesday initiated a comprehensive review of the existing regulatory framework governing the Broadcasting and Cable Services sector. The TRAI stated that some of the issues like delay in signing of written interconnection agreements and allocation of specific responsibilities between MSOs and LCOs have already been addressed. “For allocation of specific responsibilities between MSOs and …

TRAI begins process for credible radio audience measurement framework
9 years ago

TRAI begins process for credible radio audience measurement framework

Firstpost  

Broadcasting regulator TRAI has initiated a consultation process for creation of credible radio audience measurement framework that is conducive, growth-oriented and protects the interests of the stakeholders. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India which released a consultation paper on ‘Issues related to Radio Audience Measurement and ratings in India’ said currently, radio ratings in India are conducted by All India …

Political bodies, corporates must be kept out of media business: Trai
10 years, 7 months ago

Political bodies, corporates must be kept out of media business: Trai

Firstpost  

New Delhi: In an attempt to ensure pluralityof news and views, broadcast regulator Trai on Tuesday suggestedrestriction on political bodies and corporates entering thetelevision and newspaper business. It also recommended a single independent media regulatory authority comprising predominantly of eminent non-media persons for TV and print media to check and impose penalties for “paid news”, “private treaties” and issues related …

Trai recommendation on media control and ownership by August
10 years, 8 months ago

Trai recommendation on media control and ownership by August

Firstpost  

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had issued consultation paper on Issues relating to Media Ownership in February 2013. New Delhi: Telecom regulator Trai will come up with its recommendation on media control and ownership by end of August. Give me a little more time…but definitely before end of August,” Trai chairman Rahul Khullar told reporters in reply to a query …

Cabinet approves regulatory framework for TV rating agencies
11 years, 2 months ago

Cabinet approves regulatory framework for TV rating agencies

India TV News  

New Delhi: The government on Thursday introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework for television rating agencies in India. The framework in the form of guidelines was approved by the union cabinet in a meeting here.The guidelines cover detailed procedures for registration of rating agencies, eligibility norms, terms and conditions of registration, cross-holdings, methodology for audience measurement and a complaint redressal mechanism.Sale …

TRAI recommendations on TV rating agencies accreditation accepted by ministry: Tewari
11 years, 4 months ago

TRAI recommendations on TV rating agencies accreditation accepted by ministry: Tewari

India TV News  

New Delhi: The I&B Ministry has accepted broadcast sector regulator TRAI's recommendations on guidelines for accreditation of TV rating agencies and will soon approach the union cabinet for its nod, Union Minister Manish Tewari said. The ministry had earlier asked the regulator to provide its guidelines on the issue, after which TRAI had in September released its recommendations including a …

Centre asks TRAI, Press Council to send comments on FDI in media
11 years, 7 months ago

Centre asks TRAI, Press Council to send comments on FDI in media

India TV News  

New Delhi: The I&B ministry has asked Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and Press Council of India to expedite their comments on foreign investment limits in broadcasting and print media sectors respectively. The I&B ministry had earlier sought comments from TRAI on a paper prepared by the Finance ministry in which it had suggested raising the FDI limits in the …

Government asks TRAI to reconsider ad-cap for TV channels
11 years, 7 months ago

Government asks TRAI to reconsider ad-cap for TV channels

The Hindu  

With Network 18, one of India’s largest broadcasters, engaged in downsizing exercise, and a general gloom in the news television industry, the government has expressed concern about the larger ‘systemic’ issues that afflict the broadcasting space in India, leading to a crisis in some of the companies. It has also urged the regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, to reconsider …

Media veterans, activists welcome TRAI proposal to curb corporate control
11 years, 9 months ago

Media veterans, activists welcome TRAI proposal to curb corporate control

The Hindu  

Veteran editors, media analysts and democracy activists have welcomed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ’s decision to recommend curbing corporate control of the media, while pointing to the complexities in operationalising it. The Hindu reported on Wednesday that in its submissions to the government on restricting cross-media ownership, TRAI will recommend creating an ‘institutional buffer’ between corporate owners and …

TRAI set to regulate corporate control of media
11 years, 9 months ago

TRAI set to regulate corporate control of media

The Hindu  

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is all set to recommend the creation of an ‘institutional buffer between corporate owners and newspaper management’ to the government. TRAI, which is also the regulator for the broadcasting industry, will also suggest ways to restrict cross-media ownership in line with practices in ‘most other established democracies.’ TRAI chairman Rahul Khullar told The Hindu …

Broadcasters oppose TRAI's rules on 12 minutes ads per hour
12 years ago

Broadcasters oppose TRAI's rules on 12 minutes ads per hour

India TV News  

New Delhi, Mar 29: With leading broadcasters and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India at loggerheads over rules on Leading broadcasters on Thursday fil met Information & Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari to express their reservations on the recent TRAI regulation which bars television channels from telecasting more than 12 minutes of advertisements every hour.In a meeting that lasted nearly 40 minutes, …

TRAI restricts on-air ad time
12 years ago

TRAI restricts on-air ad time

The Hindu  

Holding television channels in breach of existing rules, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has mandated broadcasters to restrict advertising-time on their channels to a maximum of 12 minutes per hour. In an explanatory note, it stated: “The issue… needs to be addressed for giving a respite to the consumer from onslaught of prolonged duration of The News Broadcasters Association …

PCI denies resolving to bring broadcast media under its purview
12 years, 7 months ago

PCI denies resolving to bring broadcast media under its purview

Firstpost  

A report that surfaced recently indicated that the Press Council of India has decided to include the electronic and social media under its ambit. A recent press release by the Press Council of India said that PCI has decided to include the electronic and social media under its ambit, as the efforts of the broadcast media to regulate itself had …

Broadcasters feel BARC could solve TV viewership concerns
12 years, 7 months ago

Broadcasters feel BARC could solve TV viewership concerns

India TV News  

New Delhi, Aug 10: The Broadcasting industry is deliberating on ways to measure television viewership in the wake of Prasar Bharati expressing dissatisfaction over alleged under-representation of Doordarshan's viewership and news channel NDTV's lawsuit against TAM Media Research. Most broadcasters feel that the problems related to television viewership measurement would get solved once the industry's own audience measurement initiative - …

Scope for discussion on TRAI order on TV ads, says Govt
12 years, 10 months ago

Scope for discussion on TRAI order on TV ads, says Govt

India TV News  

New Delhi, May 17: With broadcasters slamming the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's recent order capping television “ Broadcasters are not satisfied, we will sit and discuss.If the ministry feels we should intervene, we will also come,” Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said.She said channels could also approach new TRAI chairman Rahul Khullar, once he takes over.“When the new …

Govt mulls setting up nodal broadcasting authority
14 years, 10 months ago

Govt mulls setting up nodal broadcasting authority

The Hindu  

The government is looking at setting up a nodal broadcasting authority, to deal with issues such as foreign direct investment, digitalisation, spectrum and expansion of TV ratings, apart from content regulation. Last December, a taskforce was set up for such an agency, and on Monday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni indicated that a final decision could come soon. “We …

Centre sets up Broadcasting Authority of India task force
15 years, 3 months ago

Centre sets up Broadcasting Authority of India task force

The Hindu  

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni today said a task force has been set up for the proposed Broadcasting Authority of India, which would look into issues related to media and broadcasting. “A task force has been set up for the Broadcasting Authority of India and we are hoping that something concrete should emerge on it during the Budget …

India Economic Summit | Print media reforms to be completed by March
15 years, 4 months ago

India Economic Summit | Print media reforms to be completed by March

Live Mint  

New Delhi: India’s Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, is undergoing a makeover that would encourage foreign publications and Indian editions of foreign newspapers besides putting an end to entities squatting on titles. “The amendment process will be complete before the end of this financial year,” information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said at the World Economic Forum’s India …

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