Piyush Goyal calls for self-regulation within entertainment industry on content

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal Thursday asked the entertainment industry to self-regulate the content on television and over-the-top (OTT) platforms as some of them are beyond acceptable standards within the Indian cultural landscape.

“I do believe that some form of self-regulation within the media and entertainment industry is called for,” Goyal said at the Big Picture Summit 2022 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry. “On the one hand, we talk of our culture, rich tradition, our heritage, our family value systems and on the other hand, some of what we see on television and OTT platforms, certainly is beyond what is ordinarily acceptable standards within the Indian cultural landsca- pe,” he said.

He said that some of that content would never be acceptable when it showed in a movie, then why that would be acceptable on an OTT platform. “If you don’t self-regulate then there will be a clamour from society for the government to regulate…In the messaging, don’t give a message that’s completely disconnected with the Indian society,” Goyal said.


While we welcome modern content, the minister said: “I do believe that some form of self regulation and some levels of decency in the presentation of India, Indian families and Indian culture is something where the captains of this industry should also be in a position to play a role. I wonder if any of the Indian families use the kind of language that is sometimes reflected on some of these OTT shows. I do not know if it helps in sell your product any better. I suspect not”.