Govt to Revise Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill Amid Criticisms

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th August. The Indian government announced today that it will hold additional consultations and release a revised draft of the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill. This decision follows concerns from online content creators and media bodies regarding certain provisions in the previous draft, which sought to classify them alongside OTT and digital news broadcasters, subjecting them to the Ministry’s Content and Advertisement Code.

The initial draft bill and its explanatory notes were made public in November last year. However, the proposal faced backlash from various media organizations, including DigiPub and the Editors Guild of India, who argued that digital media entities and civil society groups were not adequately consulted. Additionally, opposition Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the bill, alleging it was an attempt to “gag” digital media and independent content creators.

The government, in response, has emphasized that the bill is still in the drafting phase and is open to stakeholder input. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has extended the consultation period until October 15, 2024.

In a statement posted on X, the ministry confirmed: “The Ministry is holding a series of consultations with stakeholders on the draft bill. A fresh draft will be published after detailed consultations.”

The proposed bill aims to regulate streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+Hotstar as over-the-top (OTT) broadcasting services. It also includes provisions that would require individual online content creators to appoint a grievance redressal officer and a content evaluation committee once their subscriber count reaches a certain threshold. If enacted, the bill would replace the Cable Television Network Act and various subsequent policies and guidelines.

The government’s move to revise the bill comes amid ongoing discussions and criticism, reflecting the complex balance between regulation and freedom in the evolving digital media landscape.