Not only can TV channels in India be penalised for flouting norms but they may also have to run apology scrolls on the lines of school punishments.This has what recently happened with seven music TV channels when the ministry of information and broadcasting came down heavily on them for broadcasting objectionable remixes of Hindi film songs.
Channel V, B4U Music, Balle Balle Music, MTV Music, iTV Music and MH1 were pulled up for broadcasting what were deemed as sleazy songs in violation of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
Not only has the ministry banned the telecast of these music videos on the channels but they have also been asked to run a scroll on their TV channels round the clock for a period of three days saying they "have violated the Programme Code" and they "will be more careful in future".
Show cause notices were also issued to 31 satellite TV channels by the ministry for telecasting surrogate advertisements in 13 categories of liquor and tobacco brand extension in violation of relevant sections of the Advertising Code.
The code prescribed under Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed in accordance says, "no advertisement shall be permitted which promotes directly or indirectly production, sale or consumption of cigarette, tobacco production, wine, alcohol, liquor or other intoxicant".
-Indo-Asian News Service
(IANS)
