Media 2007: Much ado, less cheer
The glitz and glamour of media and entertainment sector was somehow overshadowed in 2007 by the one-oneupmanship game between the government and industry, especially over the controversial Broadcasting Bill and a content code.
By Agencies |
New Delhi: The glitz and glamour of media and entertainment sector was somehow overshadowed in 2007 by the one-oneupmanship game between the government and industry, especially over the controversial Broadcasting Bill and a content code.
Two incidents --one fake sting operation and an unsavoury remark by a radio jockey -- also did not exactly serve the cause of the industry.
In the year that otherwise witnessed an unabated proliferation of television and FM radio channels --both crossed over 400 and 200 marks respectively-- the government was seen increasingly seeking to impose itself on the industry and more powers to control the sector.
Wittingly or unwittingly, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi occupied as much air time and print space for his proactive steps as was the banning of TV channels such as AXN and FTV for a month. The two channels were pulled up for transmitting "vulgar contents".
The electronic media, despite a collective opposition over proposals to regulate the news content, provided the government ample ammunition to fire at it by doing a fake sting operation. The case in point being the Live India sting on a Delhi school teacher Uma Khurana for her alleged involvement in a sex racket.
While the industry vociferously contested the dos and dont's from the government, proposed in the Broadcast Bill, they were unable to defend the mandatory sharing of live feeds of sporting events of national interest with Prasar Bharati.
The government had brought in an ordinance earlier in the year for the same as private broadcaster Nimbus objected to the proposal of sharing of cricket telecast feed with the public broadcaster.
Two incidents --one fake sting operation and an unsavoury remark by a radio jockey -- also did not exactly serve the cause of the industry.
In the year that otherwise witnessed an unabated proliferation of television and FM radio channels --both crossed over 400 and 200 marks respectively-- the government was seen increasingly seeking to impose itself on the industry and more powers to control the sector.
Wittingly or unwittingly, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi occupied as much air time and print space for his proactive steps as was the banning of TV channels such as AXN and FTV for a month. The two channels were pulled up for transmitting "vulgar contents".
The electronic media, despite a collective opposition over proposals to regulate the news content, provided the government ample ammunition to fire at it by doing a fake sting operation. The case in point being the Live India sting on a Delhi school teacher Uma Khurana for her alleged involvement in a sex racket.
While the industry vociferously contested the dos and dont's from the government, proposed in the Broadcast Bill, they were unable to defend the mandatory sharing of live feeds of sporting events of national interest with Prasar Bharati.
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The government had brought in an ordinance earlier in the year for the same as private broadcaster Nimbus objected to the proposal of sharing of cricket telecast feed with the public broadcaster.
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