NEW DELHI: The government has set up an inter-ministerial committee to look into the violations of the Programme and Advertising Code by TV channels in the wake of criticism that crime shows telecast on the idiot box may have bad effect on some viewers.
This panel on receipt of complaints or suo-moto takes action against TV channels which are violating the code, information and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy informed Rajya Sabha (Upper House) today.
However, he added that no analysis has been made by the government about the impact on society of crime shows telecast by several major TV channels.
All programmes and advertisements of all TV channels transmitted/ retransmitted through the cable network are required to adhere to the Programme and Advertising Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
Earlier this year, the government has served a show-cause notice on India TV and some other channels for airing sex scandals.
Prasar Bharati’s Restructuring: Reddy also informed the Rajya Sabha that a committee has been set up for suggesting viable capital and financial (re) structuring of Prasar Bharati to strengthen its functioning.
The committee was asked to submit its report within a period of three months from the date of its constitution, but now the term has been extended to 30 September, 2005, the minister said.
The committee, comprising government and Prasar Bharati officials, shall take into account the role of Prasar Bharati as a public service broadcaster and the need to maximize its revenue-earning potential through commercial operations.
The 10-member committee is headed by secretary of the information and broadcasting ministry.
Uplink Permissions Granted: The government has so far permitted 58 companies to uplink 161 private TV channels from India.
Seventeen companies have been allowed to uplink 68 TV channels having varying degrees of foreign equity. The remaining 41 companies permitted to uplink 93 TV channels are wholly Indian companies, Reddy informed fellow parliamentarians.
However,, he said that the ministry does not maintain records of channels uplinked from outside India that are available to viewers in India. But the government is contemplating setting up of an autonomous body to regulate the content on television channels.
