Independent regulatory body for content imperative: Soni

While emphasising that the government was not in favour of controlling content on media, Information & Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni today said it was clear that regulatory body was the only way to curb obscenity and vulgarity on the electronic media. Replying to a short duration discussion on increasing obscenity and vulgarity on television show and particularly in reality programmes, Soni said the regulatory body should be independent, credible and "with some teeth."

Soni said the government was in favour of a regulatory body that should have representatives of the stakeholders, members of consumer organisations and some government officials as ex-officio member. The body could also have some legal luminaries. Soni said that all the governments that had come since 1997 had worked towards setting up such a body but had failed either because there was no consensus or because they were overtaken by technology. The UPA government had drawn up the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill and put it on the Ministry's website. This bill also provides for a regulatory authority. She admitted that self regulation by the TV channels was not working, but it also indicated that the channels were conscious of the need to regulate. She stressed that the inter-ministerial committee set up to monitor the channels was only on interim measure.

Referring to TRPs and Tam, she said the government was aware that Tam was an organisation funded by advertisers and was not credible as it did not cover the entire country. A parliamentary committee and the Trai had made recommendations in this connection but the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) had opposed nomination of any government representatives on it. She said another endevour, aMap, had also failed. Earlier, a large number of members from all parties took part in the discussion which was initiated by former I&B Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad of BJP. Most speakers insisted that a regulatory mechanism should be set up as expeditiously as possible and should apply to the content of code, news and entertainment channels.

Prasad said while no one wanted a control on the media and the right to creativity, the media should realise its obligation to society. However, nominated member and noted filmmaker Shyam Benegal was opposed to any regulation by this government and said there was need for self restraint and self regulation.

Content - Indiantelevision