TV channels object to content auditors clause in draft code

New Delhi, June 26 (UNI) Broadcasters, mostly of news channels, have registered strong protest to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting against the requirement in the proposed code for TV channels to appoint content auditors.

However, the draft of the code which is taking final shape is likely to have this provision in one form or the other, sources in the Ministry told UNI.

An official said the draft code will be put on the website within a week.

As per the earlier draft that had been circulated to various stakeholders, the Ministry had proposed that since the government was keen on introducing self-regulation in TV channels, they should themselves provide some mechanism for it.

For example, if a citizen or some organisation has some complaint against some TV programme, they should first file the complaint to the broadcaster concerned, and for that there has to be in place some system for attending to the complaints and assessing and examining the content objected to.

But most of TV news channels have not liked the idea and in their response to the Ministry over the draft code, they had said that it would introduce and extra authority other than the editors to decide on their content.

The Ministry officials feel that this argument does not hold water. Moreover, they say the government is just interested that TV channels appoint internal auditors and not in whom they appoint.

Even, the editors of the news channels can play the role of auditors themselves, they added.

The broadcasters do not like the clause according to which chief editor of a channel would be responsible for any violation of the code.

They also want the Ministry to review the clauses that define adult content.

The draft code categorises programme into three categories--U(for universal viewing, U/A(those for universal and adult viewing) and A(strictly for Adult viweing).

The U/A programmes will be given a the 2000 hrs to 0400 hrs slot, while the A category programes will be shown between 2300 hrs to 0400 hrs.

''The reason to give 2000 to 0400 hrs slot to U/A programmes is that by evening the parents are at home and they can exercise control over the choice of programmes they want their wards to view,'' said an official.

The content code in the making will be part of the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, which Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said will be introduced in the coming monsoon session of Parliament.

UNI