May 3: Union Information and Broadcasting ministry is contemplating the setting up of a Broadcasting Authority of India, a nodal agency that would look into issues like foreign investment, digitalisation and a fresh TV rating mechanism and other broadcasting related issues.
Union I&B minister Ambika Soni stated on Monday that the ministry was looking at setting up an authority which looks after broadcasting issues. “Content is not the only issue. This new body will deal with issues like TRP, digitalisation and FDI in media,” said Ms Soni. Some of the names being considered for the new body includes Broadcasting Authority of India, she said, adding that a task force has been set up for this purpose. Official sources stated that the need for a new nodal agency to address critical broadcasting concerns was felt as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, which currently oversees such functions, was unable to respond promptly.
“We are working towards a mechanism of co-regulation,” she said. She added that her ministry has held several meetings with stakeholders on content regulation issue, but was in no hurry to push the pace of evolving consensus. The I&B minister stated that the government was also considering setting up a body that could flesh out a more representative audience research mechanism instead of the currently available TRP system of ratings. She also stated that the Centre had cleared the way for financial restructuring of Prasar Bharati to make it more self-reliant.
“The Group of Ministers (GOM) meeting cleared the way for the financial restructuring. The GoM meeting on Prasar Bharati, headed by home minister P. Chidambaram, approved the restructuring plan,” she stated. The restructuring plan includes the central government capping annual financial support to Prasar Bharati at 50 percent.