India: Govt considering a code of conduct for TV channels

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The government is thinking of developing a common code of conduct for TV channels while also considering giving enhanced powers to the Press Council of India (PCI), information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday. Javadekar also asserted that government felt that it should not step into the regulatory domain and self-regulation by those in the profession was the ideal system, although, in the case of so-called over the top (OTT) platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, the government has effectively rejected any effort at self-regulation.

Speaking at an event organized by the PCI on the occasion of National Press Day, Javadekar said that while the Press Council oversees the print domain there was no similar system for the electronic media. There is no system like the Press Council for TV channels so there should be a system of self-regulation. An organization has been formed which is headed by Justice Sikri which even gives punishment and asks channels to apologise if required. However, many channels are not even members of this system and we can’t leave things like that.

The I&B minister said that many people were suggesting a common code of conduct for all TV channels. “e have not taken a final decision but are definitely discussing it. Complaints related to content are presently handled by the News Broadcasters Standards Authority which is headed by Justice (retd) A K Sikri.

Javadekar said that there was a demand to also increase the powers of the PCI. Some people are demanding that there should be more power to Press Council. This is being considered. For OTT platforms there is neither a platform like the PCI not a self-regulatory mechanism. There can be good films, bad ones and very bad ones on these platforms. That is why, what can be done there? People are giving suggestions and we are looking into all of them. These are the challenges.

The minister’s comments come days after the government brought digital media and OTT platforms under the I&B ministry’s purview. Rules for these are yet to be released, though. There have been demands in the past that the Press Council of India be converted into a Media Council with digital and even electronic platforms under its ambit.

TRP Fraud

Speaking on the issue of TRP manipulation, an issue that came to fore with the arrest of TV anchor Arnab Goswami, Javadekar said while the government is reluctant to enter this domain, it has set up a committee to look into the issue. To check the possibility of any TRP manipulation and address the issue, we have formed a committee which will give its report very soon.