New Delhi, October 12: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni is understood to have assured news broadcasters that Government had no intention to “muzzle” the media in the wake of the outrage sparked by its recent decision to amend licence rules for TV channels.
Soni had a meeting with the representatives of the News Broadcasters Association(NBA) yesterday in a bid to clear misgivings on the license rule issue.
The Minister made it clear their intention was not to “muzzle” the media by amending the license rules but to help them be responsible players in delivery of content, sources in I&B Ministry said today.
Soni told the Association members that the task of regulation has been already left to the NBA.
The NBA, however, refused to comment about the meeting when contacted.
The broadcasters had strongly objected to the Union Cabinet’s decision which said “renewal of the permission for TV channels will be considered for a period of 10 years at a time subject to the condition that the channel should not have been found guilty of violating the terms and conditions of permission including violations of the Programme and Advertisement Code on 5 occasions or more.”
Sources said the TRAI recommendations in this regard had already been uploaded in their website since February this year.
Soni had on Monday said “there should be no fear (among broadcasters). It is only a factor to be considered after 10 years.”
Soni noted that the government has left it to the broadcasters, through the National Broadcasters’ Association (NBA) and Broadcast Editors’ Association (BEA), to regulate TV channels themselves.
The BEA has reacted sharply to the cabinet decision, alleging it was an attempt to “control” the independent media and demanded withdrawal of the new regulations.
According to sources, out of the 800-odd channels in the country, only about 250 of them are members of the broadcasting bodies.
—-PTI—-