{"id":306029,"date":"2024-07-31T19:00:24","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T13:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=306029"},"modified":"2024-07-31T19:12:56","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T13:42:56","slug":"broadcasting-regulation-bill-2024-significance-and-concerns-explained-pointwise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/broadcasting-regulation-bill-2024-significance-and-concerns-explained-pointwise\/","title":{"rendered":"Broadcasting Regulation Bill 2024- Significance and Concerns- Explained Pointwise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently, concerns have been raised by several by the digital creators against the Broadcasting regulation bill 2024<\/span>. The draft Bill seeks to regulate broadcast of news and current affairs programmes (excluding print news). Such programmes will have to comply with the prescribed programme code and advertisement code.<\/p>\n

According to the CSDS<\/span> Lok-Niti<\/span> survey<\/span>, 29% of respondents consume political material every day on digital platforms. However, critics have been raising concerns that the Bill can lead to digital authoritarianism<\/span> in order to control online narratives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Table of Content<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What are the highlights of the Broadcasting Regulation Bill 2024?<\/a>
\nWhat is the significance of the Broadcasting Regulation Bill 2024?<\/a>
\nWhat are the concerns with the Broadcasting Regulations Bill 2024?<\/a>
\nConclusion and Way Forward<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>What are the highlights of the Broadcasting Regulation Bill 2024?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Some of the key features of the Broadcasting Regulation Bill 2024 are mentioned below-<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Regulating Mechanism<\/strong><\/td>\nMultiple types of broadcasters and broadcast network operators. The regulation will depend on their type. Television broadcasting networks<\/span> will have to register with the central government, while OTT platforms<\/span> must provide an intimation after meeting a certain threshold of subscribers.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Unified Regulatory Framework for Broadcasting<\/strong><\/td>\nThe bill aims to replace the\u00a0Cable Television Networks Act of 1995<\/span>. It also extends the regulatory purview to cover broadcasting of the over-the-top (OTT) content and digital news and current affairs, currently regulated through IT Act, 2000.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Programme Code and advertisement Code<\/strong><\/td>\nThe Bill seeks to regulate broadcast of news and current affairs programmes (excluding print news). Such programmes will have to comply with<\/span> the prescribed programme code<\/span> and advertisement code<\/span>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Self Regulation<\/strong><\/td>\nThe Bill provides for a self-regulatory structure<\/span> to ensure compliance with the programme and advertisement codes. This includes:
\n(i) self-regulation
\n(ii) constituting self-regulatory organisations, and
\n(iii) establishing a Broadcast Advisory Council.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Content Evaluation Committee (CEC)<\/strong><\/td>\nEach broadcaster will have to also set up an internal Content Evaluation Committee<\/span> (CEC). All broadcast content must be certified by the CEC.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities<\/strong><\/td>\n1) The Bill promotes the use of subtitles, audio descriptors, and sign language for persons with disabilities.
\n2) The Bill provides for the appointment of\u00a0Disability Grievance Officer<\/span>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Penalties<\/strong><\/td>\n1) Prescribes penalties such as advisory, warning, censure, or monetary penalties for operators and broadcasters.
\n2) Reserves imprisonment and\/or fines for severe offences, like obtaining registration with a false affidavit.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Infrastructure sharing provisions<\/strong><\/td>\nThe Bill introduces provisions for infrastructure sharing among broadcasting network operators.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dispute resolution<\/strong><\/td>\nThe Bill establishes a structured dispute resolution mechanism.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>What is the significance of the Broadcasting Regulation Bill 2024?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

1.\u00a0Consolidation and Modernisation-\u00a0<\/strong>The Bill replaces outdated Cable Television Networks Act<\/span>, 1995<\/span>. The Bill adopts a\u00a0unified, future-focused approach\u00a0by adapting to the dynamic world of OTT, Digital Media, DTH, IPTV.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Promotes \u2018ease of doing business\u2019- <\/strong>The bill seeks to promote \u2018ease of doing business<\/span>\u2019 by incorporating provisions for\u00a0Dispute Resolution mechanism<\/span>\u00a0in the broadcasting domain.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Further Push to \u2018Digital India\u2019-<\/strong>\u00a0The bill seeks to promotes\u00a0technological advancement<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0service evolution\u00a0in the broadcasting domain, which will give a further push to our goal \u2018digital India\u2019.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Provides for\u00a0\u2018Right of Way\u2019-\u00a0<\/strong>The Bill provides for\u00a0\u2018Right of Way\u2019\u00a0which would enable cable operators to easily obtain permissions from various local agencies<\/span> to roll out their network in a new city.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Promotes infrastructure sharing-\u00a0<\/strong>The broadcasters would be benefit from the infrastructure sharing, in the same way as the\u00a0telecom operators benefited\u00a0from\u00a0sharing cellular towers and spectrum<\/span>.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Empowers Broadcasters by providing for self-regulation mechanisms-\u00a0<\/strong>The Bill provides provisions for the establishment of\u00a0Content Evaluation Committees\u00a0which would be a self-certification body of the broadcasters<\/span>. This would provide\u00a0autonomy to the\u00a0broadcasting\u00a0industry\u00a0in matters of obtaining certification.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Promotes \u2018ease of living\u2019-<\/strong>\u00a0The bill promotes \u2018ease of living\u2019 by\u00a0enhancing the accessibility<\/span> of broadcasting services for\u00a0persons with disabilities\u00a0by promoting the use of subtitles, audio descriptors and sign language.<\/p>\n

<\/a>What are the concerns with the Broadcasting Regulations Bill 2024?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Threat of Digital Dictatorship-<\/strong> The Bill expands the scope to classify individual commentators as ‘Digital News Broadcasters<\/span>‘ and content creators as ‘OTT Broadcasters<\/span>‘. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting can prescribe and change thresholds for subscribers or users, which, when met, require registration. The Bill increases the Union Government\u2019s command and control over digital media<\/span>.<\/p>\n

2. Additional compliances for online platforms-<\/strong> It establishes a new safe harbor regime<\/span> independent of the Information Technology Act<\/span>, 2000<\/span>. In addition to the IT Rules,<\/span> 2021<\/span>, the government can demand registration<\/span>, enforce censorship<\/span>, and even require platforms such as YouTube to frame special compliances not only for news channels but also for creators.<\/p>\n

3. Issues with the Content Evaluation Committees (CEC)-<\/strong>
\na. The government will prescribe the criteria for the constitution of CEC<\/span>, which raises questions of its independence.
\nb. The requirement of disclosure of personal details<\/span> of the members of the CEC to the government and public, is against the Right to Privacy<\/span>. It also contradicts the provisions of the Digital Personal Data protection legislation.
\nc. Disclosure of personal details also puts them at risk of physical or online harassment<\/span>, for approving a content which may offend an individual or a group.<\/p>\n

4. Issues with the Broadcast Advisory Council (BAC)-<\/strong> All the members of the proposed Broadcast Advisory Council (BAC) will be nominated by the Centre. Since the BAC will have a final say on censoring content across all broadcasting mediums, government may push for content censorship through BAC.<\/p>\n

5. Selective targeting of Journalists-<\/strong> Critics fear that the bill may be misused to selectively target the journalists by the govt, like the IT Rules 2021 are being misused to arrest media personnel<\/span>.<\/p>\n

6. Potential Impact on Minority Communities-<\/strong> There are concerns of misuse of the vague language<\/span> in the bill for erasure or selective representation of Indian minority communities<\/span> and promotion of a universal majority identity of India.<\/p>\n

7. Conflict of Interest-<\/strong>\u00a0The bill does not address the conflict of Interest and opaque issues in media regulation, such as the unholy nexus involving cable operators<\/span>, politicians<\/span>, entrepreneurs<\/span>, and broadcasters<\/span>.<\/p>\n

8. Oligopoly in Media Ownership-<\/strong> The unbridled power provided to government officials in the broadcast media regulation may lead to collusion between the government and media houses to create oligopolistic media ownership.<\/p>\n

9. Reduced autonomy of OTT platforms-<\/strong> Application of the stringent rules and codes of cable or radio to \u201cOTT\u201d broadcasting services, may increase the financial and compliance burden for OTT broadcasters<\/span>. This will end up negatively impacting the user experience, choice, and costs borne by the users.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Conclusion and Way Forward<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

We must also seek to explore these ways for addressing the challenges of the Bill and for better media regulation-<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Stakeholder Consultation-<\/strong>\u00a0Extensive Consultations<\/span> with industry experts<\/span>, content creators<\/span>, broadcasters<\/span>, and the public<\/span> can give\u00a0extensive feedback\u00a0to the government regarding their concerns on the Bill.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Promotion of Media Literacy-\u00a0<\/strong>Investment in media literacy programs<\/span> to educate the public about responsible media consumption like\u00a0Singapore<\/span> and Australia<\/span>.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Responsible Media-\u00a0<\/strong>The media must uphold it\u2019s duty of being the 4th pillar of the Indian democracy<\/span> and ensure that\u00a0journalistic ethics\u00a0are\u00a0not compromised.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Ensuring the independence of the CEC and BAC-<\/strong>\u00a0The government\u00a0must nominate members from the broadcast industry<\/span> and from civil society\u00a0to keep the CEC and BAC<\/span> independent and impartial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More- The Hindu<\/a>
\nUPSC Syllabus- GS Paper 2 Indian Polity \u2013 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recently, concerns have been raised by several by the digital creators against the Broadcasting regulation bill 2024. The draft Bill seeks to regulate broadcast of news and current affairs programmes (excluding print news). Such programmes will have to comply with the prescribed programme code and advertisement code. According to the CSDS Lok-Niti survey, 29% of… Continue reading Broadcasting Regulation Bill 2024- Significance and Concerns- Explained Pointwise<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10357,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[130,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-306029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-7-pm","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10357"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=306029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306029\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=306029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=306029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=306029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}