TV Channels Told To Sober Up, Else Get Heavily Fined
[Editor: It is good to see that at last the government has started to act, to trim down the activities of the media channels; many of whom have become nuisance, with fabricated news items to grab the eye--balls]
Several general entertainment channels including two music channels have been asked by the self regulatory body - Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) - to shift 'offensive' content to the adult slot, else be heavily fined.
To which UTV Bindass responded by changing the format of their show, Emotional Atyachar. Their representative had in fact been summoned to the capital by BCCC officials and reprimanded about the show's content. MTV and Channel V too were similarly warned. Once BCCC sounds off a cautionary note, producers have little option but to get their act straight before the next telecast.
When contacted, Shabana Azmi, who is a member of the BCCC Board, said, "Yes, we have received many complaints about these shows." BCCC has also directed channels to stop airing scripted shows in the name of reality shows.
"A TV programme cannot pretend to be a reality show, when they have constructed the scenes, and handed out scripts. We have instructed all such reality shows to come with the necessary disclaimer," said Azmi, adding that the BCCC is well within its rights to look into the grievances of the audience. "TV channels should know this self regulatory group wouldn't blindly listen to any complaint. We act upon only 20 per cent of valid complaints. We give them three warnings, but if they don't comply, we ask them to pay a fine. We haven't yet decided on the amount of fine," she said.
However, according to representatives of the TV channels , broadcasters live under the constant threat of licenses being withdrawn by the I&B Ministry, BCCC diktats notwithstanding. Said Paritosh Joshi, Principal Provocateur Advisory, Indian Broadcasting Federation, "More than these self regulatory bodies, TV channels have to worry about the I&B Ministry itself. Apart from these diktats, there have been instances where officials of television channels have also been summoned directly to the I&B Ministry office to be reprimanded about something the Ministry finds offensive. Sometimes, we are made to run a statement of apology. When the Ministry summons TV channels for a socalled hearing, they have already decided you are guilty, and they don't even give you an opportunity to present your side of the story. "
Apart from this, BCCC is also concerned about sexist remarks. "Even if you have to show a woman being tortured, don't do it so often that the audience starts getting a vicarious pleasure out of it. It is all in the intention of the maker," said Azmi.
To which UTV Bindass responded by changing the format of their show, Emotional Atyachar. Their representative had in fact been summoned to the capital by BCCC officials and reprimanded about the show's content. MTV and Channel V too were similarly warned. Once BCCC sounds off a cautionary note, producers have little option but to get their act straight before the next telecast.
When contacted, Shabana Azmi, who is a member of the BCCC Board, said, "Yes, we have received many complaints about these shows." BCCC has also directed channels to stop airing scripted shows in the name of reality shows.
"A TV programme cannot pretend to be a reality show, when they have constructed the scenes, and handed out scripts. We have instructed all such reality shows to come with the necessary disclaimer," said Azmi, adding that the BCCC is well within its rights to look into the grievances of the audience. "TV channels should know this self regulatory group wouldn't blindly listen to any complaint. We act upon only 20 per cent of valid complaints. We give them three warnings, but if they don't comply, we ask them to pay a fine. We haven't yet decided on the amount of fine," she said.
However, according to representatives of the TV channels , broadcasters live under the constant threat of licenses being withdrawn by the I&B Ministry, BCCC diktats notwithstanding. Said Paritosh Joshi, Principal Provocateur Advisory, Indian Broadcasting Federation, "More than these self regulatory bodies, TV channels have to worry about the I&B Ministry itself. Apart from these diktats, there have been instances where officials of television channels have also been summoned directly to the I&B Ministry office to be reprimanded about something the Ministry finds offensive. Sometimes, we are made to run a statement of apology. When the Ministry summons TV channels for a socalled hearing, they have already decided you are guilty, and they don't even give you an opportunity to present your side of the story. "
Apart from this, BCCC is also concerned about sexist remarks. "Even if you have to show a woman being tortured, don't do it so often that the audience starts getting a vicarious pleasure out of it. It is all in the intention of the maker," said Azmi.
Courtesy: The Times of India
