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Content Regulation on Private TV Channels

As per existing regulatory framework, programmes and advertisements telecast on private satellite TV channels are regulated in accordance with the Programme Codes and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed thereunder. The Programme and Advertising Codes contain a wide range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements on TV channels....

The Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 have been amended vide Notification No.GSR 416(E) dated 17.06.2021 thereby providing for a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances/complaints of citizens relating to content broadcast by television channels. These rules are called the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021. The Rules provide that in order to ensure observance and adherence to the Programme Code and the Advertising Code by the broadcaster and to address the grievance or complaint, if any, relating thereto, there shall be a three-level structure (complaint redressal structure) as under: Level I - A self-regulation by broadcasters; Level II - Self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of the broadcasters; and Level III - Oversight mechanism by the Central Government.

Any person aggrieved by the content of a programme of a channel as being not in conformity with the Programme Code or the Advertising Code may file his complaint in writing to the broadcaster or to Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) if such pertains to the Advertising codes laid by it. A broadcaster shall establish a grievance or complaint redressal mechanism and appoint an officer to deal with the complaints received by it. The broadcaster/ ASCII shall, within the stipulated time, takes a decision and communicate the same to the complainant. The grievances/ complaints which have not been addressed by the broadcaster shall be dealt and disposed of by the Self-regulating bodies (Level-II), registered by Central Government, within stipulated time.

As a part of oversight mechanism, Central Government has established an Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) for hearing grievances or complaints and refer to the IDC grievances or complaints arising out of the decision of the self-regulating body, or if no decision has been taken by the self-regulating body within the stipulated time, or on receipt of such other complaints or references relating to violation of Programme Code or Advertising Code as it may consider necessary. The IDC is chaired by the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and consists representatives from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence. In March 2023, domain experts from Press Council of India (PCI), Bar Council of India (BCI), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have been included as IDC member.

The Government has also established Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) as state-of-the-art facility with a view to monitor and record the content of satellite TV channels with regard to violation of Programme and Advertisement Codes enshrined under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rules framed thereunder. EMMC is equipped to monitor and record around 900 channels and currently monitors all permitted channels.(website of EMMC- www.emmc.gov.in File size unavailable) Ministry issues advisories to TV channels to adhere to program and advertising codes and in relation with other important issues from time to time.

A.  Grievance Redressal Mechanism To ensure observance and adherence to the Programme Code and the Advertising Code by the broadcaster and to address the grievance of complaint a three-level structure, as under, has been formed: -
Level I - A self-regulation by broadcasters
Level II - Self-regulation by the Self-Regulating Bodies of the broadcasters
Level III - Oversight mechanism by the Central Government

Filing and processing of Grievance and Complaint
i.  Any person aggrieved by the content of a programme of a channel as being not in conformity with the Programme Code or the Advertising Code may file his complaint in writing to the broadcaster: Provided that where such complaint relates to Advertising Code laid down by the Advertising Standards Council of India, such complaint may be addressed to the said Council and that Council shall deal with such complaint in accordance with the procedure laid down by it: Provided further that Advertising Standards Council of India shall take a decision on the complaint within sixty days of its receipt, and communicate the same to the broadcaster and the complainant.
ii.  The broadcaster shall, within twenty-four hours of complaint being filed, generate and issue an acknowledgement to the complainant for his information and record.
iii.  Every complaint shall be dealt with in the following manner, namely: -
(a)   the broadcaster shall dispose of the complaint and inform the complainant of its decision within fifteen days of receipt of such complaint;
(b)   if the decision of the broadcaster is not communicated to the complainant within the stipulated period of fifteen days, or if the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the broadcaster, he may prefer an appeal to the self-regulating body of which such broadcaster is a member, within fifteen days therefrom;
(c)   the self-regulating body shall dispose of the appeal within sixty days of receipt of appeal and convey its decision in the form of a guidance or advisory to the broadcaster, and inform the complainant of such decision within a period of fifteen days;
(d)   where the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the self-regulating body, he may, within fifteen days of such decision, prefer an appeal to the Central Government for its consideration under the Oversight Mechanism.

B.  Self-regulating Body (SRBs) Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021 provide a three level structure for to ensure observance and adherence to the Programme Code and Advertising Code. It provide for Self regulation by Self Regulatory Bodies (SRBs) of the broadcasters as Level II. SRBs are independent bodies constituted by the broadcasters and registered by the Ministry of I&B. They are headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court or by an independent eminent person from relevant field. The SRBs shall have members being experts from the relevant fields. At present two self-regulating bodies have been registered by Ministry of I&B as under:
(a)   Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) for regulation of content non-news Private Satellite TV Channel:
Click here to see TV channels registered with BCCC
Click here to visit the website of BCCC
(b)   News Broadcasters Federation - Professional News Broadcasting Standards Authority" (NBF-PNBSA) for regulation of content non-news Private Satellite TV Channels
Click here to see TV channels registered with NBF-PNBSA
Click here to visit the website of NBF-PNBSA

C.  State/ District Level Monitoring Committees This Ministry has issued detailed guidelines subsuming all the earlier orders regarding constitution of State/ District level Monitoring Committees to monitor the content broadcast on private TV channels and also authorizes these committees to monitor content broadcast on private FM Radio Channels and Community Radio Stations. So far, State Level Monitoring Committees have been set up in 18 States, 5 Union Territories and District Level committees in 347 Districts.
Click here to see complete list

S.No. Title Details Date
101 Advisory to Private Channels for adherence to Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 Download (1.01 MB) pdf 09/01/2023
102 Providing last mile connectivity to Access service providers/Internet Service providers through the Infrastructure of Cable Network Operators - regarding. Download (448.73 KB) pdf 30/12/2022
103 Implementation of the provisions of the Juvenile Justice & POCSO Act 2012 regarding prohibition on disclosure of identity of children by media. Download (947.2 KB) pdf 11/10/2018
104 Supreme Court direction WP(Civil) No.754 of 2016 in Tehseen S.Poonawalla vs Union of India and others regarding lynching and mob violence Download (457.97 KB) pdf 28/09/2018
105 Supreme Court Dated-07.08.2018-TV Channels not to display the photographs of the victims of sexual abuse either in morphed or blurred Download (481.37 KB) pdf 11/09/2018
106 Compliance with the order dated 06.08.2018 by High Court of Judicature at Bombay Nagpur Bench regarding using the nomenclature Dalit. Download (408.7 KB) pdf 13/08/2018
107 Notices/Warning/Order/Advisory etc Download (391.99 KB) pdf 26/05/2017
108 Directive for surrogatie advertisement to all TV channels dated 17th June 2010 Download (359.13 KB) pdf 10/06/2016
109 Advisory to all channels on Rule 7(10) of the cable Act dated 21 th June 2010 Download (359.13 KB) pdf 10/06/2016
110 Minutes of 55th Open House Meeting with MSOs/Applicants Download (269.12 KB) pdf 30/12/2019
111 Advisory to all private satellite TV channels regarding Reporting and Telecasting of Proceedings of Parliament Download (705.33 KB) pdf 19/03/2020
112 Notifying DD Retro and 11 DD Regional Channels as mandatory channels Download (1.28 MB) pdf 01/06/2022
113 Letter dated 8th Feb 2017 for compliance with court order relating to National Anthem of India Download (1.88 MB) pdf 08/05/2017
114 Advisory on displaying castings/credits/titles of Hindi / Regional language TV serials in the respective languages. Download (231.46 KB) pdf 14/06/2019
115 Implementation of Accessibility Standards for Persons with Disabilities in TV programmes Download (471.81 KB) pdf 14/08/2019
116 Advisory to All Private Satellite Channels to use the New Political Map of India Download (1.47 MB) pdf 19/11/2019
117 Advisory dated 11th December, 2019 under the CTN Act, 1995 to all Private Satellite TV Channels Download (360.46 KB) pdf 12/12/2019
118 Advisory dated 20.12.2019 to all private TV channels Download (346.77 KB) pdf 20/12/2019
119 Advisory to all Private Satellite TV channels to ensure strict compliance of Programme Code and Advertising Code Download (2.66 MB) pdf 26/02/2020
120 Remuneration of Persons engaged in Broadcasting Sector Download (1.4 MB) pdf 29/05/2020
121 Advisory on Advertisements on Online Gaming, FantasySports, ect. Download (1.01 MB) pdf 04/12/2020
122 Advisory to all private satellite TV channels to abide by Rule 6(1)(j) of the Programme Code and Rule 7(5) of the Advertising Code of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 Download (437.02 KB) pdf 04/02/2021
123 Media Coverage on cases under enquiry / investigation, etc. - Compliance of Judgement dated 18.01.2021 of Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay in the matters of PIL (ST) No. 92252 of 2020 and Criminal (ST) No. 2339 of 2020 Download (1.05 MB) pdf 08/03/2021
124 Advisory on Covid-19 dated 03.06.2021 Download (537.35 KB) pdf 03/06/2021
125 Advisory to comply with the Order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the matter of Sampurna Behura Vs. Union of India & Ors. in WP (C) No. 473 of 2005 Download (349.01 KB) pdf 20/01/2022
126 Compliance with provisions of Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2016 and Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Rules, 1988 in media production Download (28.71 KB) pdf 27/12/2021
127 Press Release on Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Satellite Television Channels in India, 2022 Download (76 KB) pdf 09/11/2022
128 Lead Community Radio Stations, their role and responsibilities Download (1.31 MB) pdf 02/02/2022
129 Format for Self Declaration and for furnishing details of applicant organization and its governing body members (MHA format) Download (78.23 KB) pdf 30/09/2020
130 Guidelines for providing grants to Community Radio Stations Download (1.73 MB) pdf 17/08/2018
131 Revised Format for GOPA Renewal Download (213.71 KB) pdf 28/09/2018
132 Claim Form for Financial Assistance for Purchased Equipment (CRS) Download (488.2 KB) pdf 21/09/2020
133 Guidelines for implementation of scheme 'Supporting Community Radio Movement in India' Download (654.59 KB) pdf 30/11/2021
134 Administrative Approval for continuation of scheme 'Supporting Community Radio Movement in India' Download (764.99 KB) pdf 30/11/2021
135 Guidelines for empanelment of CRS with BOC and for sponsored programmes on Community Radio Download (804.76 KB) pdf 07/02/2022
136 Beneficiary Details for the purpose of Bank Guarantee for Community Radio Stations Download (418.33 KB) pdf 07/03/2022
137 Administrative approval for continuation of scheme Download (429.78 KB) pdf 17/08/2018
138 Interference issues arising in DTH/HITS/MSOs etc. due to 5G Trial Services and Installation of Band Pass Filters Download (327.96 KB) pdf 18/05/2022
139 Notification of sporting events of national importance Download (1.13 MB) PDF 10/05/2022
140 Constitution of a Working Group to formulate a mandate for exploring Data capturing capabilities in STBs for Audience Measurement Download (470.75 KB) pdf 12/01/2022
141 Accessibility Standards for TV for hearing impaired (accessible version) Download (703.85 KB) pdf 09/11/2021
142 GAZETTE NOTIFICATION S.O. 3792 (E) DATED 15.09.2021-SANSAD TV SD AND SANSAD TV HD Download (1.23 MB) pdf 16/09/2021
143 Gazette Notification no. SO 1699(E) dated 07.05.2019 notifying DD Arunprabha as a mandatory DD channel. Download (271.67 KB) pdf 16/05/2019
144 Gazette Notification no. S.O. 4136(E) dated 15.11.2019 notifying ' DD Yadagiri ' channel under must carry DD channels and for change the genre of 'DD India' channel from 'Infotainment' to 'News & Current Affairs (English)'. Download (496.69 KB) pdf 03/12/2019
145 Policy Guidelines For TV Rating Agencies in India Download (761.08 KB) pdf 02/11/2018
146 Order regarding Policy Guidelines For TV Rating Agencies in India Download (509.54 KB) pdf 02/11/2018
147 Furnishing of information under Rule 10A of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994-reg. Download (1.32 MB) pdf 09/12/2022
148 Advisory to Private FM Radio stations dt.30.11.2022 Download (438.53 KB) pdf 01/12/2022
149 Guidelines for Platform Services offered by Multi System Operators. Download (1.75 MB) pdf 30/11/2022
150 Ministry views on TRAI recommendations on Implementation of Digital addressable Cable Systen in India Download (150.34 KB) pdf 02/11/2018

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