Complaints against TV channel content to go to broadcasters first

New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) Complaints against obscenity or any another objectionable content on TV channels would be examined first by the broadcasters concerned themsleves, the new programme code in the making requires.

Broadcasters and multiu-service operators would set up ''complaints committee'' for redress of the subscribers grievances.

These proposals were cleared at a meeting of broadcasters and other stakeholders at a meeting of the committee on programme code held at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting here, Ministry sources told UNI.

The steps are aimed at introducing self-regulation in broadcasting sector.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry asked the various stakeholders participating in the meeting to come out with elaborate mechanism for self-regulation of content.

The exercise has been taken up in view of the fact that it was not physically possible for the government to keep a tab on the programmes of over 200 TV channels broadcast round the clock.

The committee is preparing the content code which will be applicable to cinema, as well.

It would shortly give its recommendations so that the details of the code of content are also incorporated in the new and revised Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill 2006 which has been put up for consultation with various stakeholders.

The Ministry has also started consultations with the department of telecommunications finance, commerce and industry, company law and HRD and various other ministries like law and justice, to make the legislation more relevant and uptodate.

The committee on programes code has representatives of the Law and Home Ministries, National Commission for Minorities, advertising Industry, film producers and broadcasters associations, Consumer Council of India, social and women's organisations, PETA etc.

UNI NAZ SY GC1322