Hindi movie channels may soon be back on air
The eight-day stand-off between cable operators and broadcasters over the nine channels is likely to continue but viewers can expect some relief with the Hindi movie channels on Thursday.
By Sonali Krishna, TNN |
MUMBAI: The eight-day stand-off between cable operators and broadcasters over the nine channels is likely to continue but viewers can expect some relief with the Hindi movie channels on Thursday.
The entertainment companies are likely to give a written commitment to the Bombay High Court stating that they would abide by the court directive at least when it comes to Hindi films.
The High Court has therefore summoned the broadcasters on Thursday, to render their submissions, stating that they would not air any A-rated movie, and will act in accordance with the directive, for Hindi movie content. Post the submissions, the cable operators are likely to start airing the Hindi channels from Thursday, officials of cable companies said.
The HC had on December 21, ’05, in a PIL filed by college lecturer Pratibha Naithani, restrained cable operators and multi-service operators from showing adult films in compliance with the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act.
Foreign Channels had managed a way out, stating that they beamed the signals from outside India and therefore were not covered by the Act.
However, in light of the Centre’s November ’05 Downlinking Guidelines, foreign broadcasters are now required to register themselves in India and comply with the Programme Code and Rules prescribed under the Cable TV Act. The Code and Rules prohibit the telecast of any material found “unsuitable for unrestricted public viewing” by the Censor Board.
Justice RM Lodha and Justice SA Bobade clarified that only films certified with a U and U/A certificate by the Censor Board can be telecast. The court allowed telecast of U/A films after it was informed that such films fall in the category for unrestricted public viewing with a word of caution for parents of children below 12 years.
The entertainment companies are likely to give a written commitment to the Bombay High Court stating that they would abide by the court directive at least when it comes to Hindi films.
The High Court has therefore summoned the broadcasters on Thursday, to render their submissions, stating that they would not air any A-rated movie, and will act in accordance with the directive, for Hindi movie content. Post the submissions, the cable operators are likely to start airing the Hindi channels from Thursday, officials of cable companies said.
The HC had on December 21, ’05, in a PIL filed by college lecturer Pratibha Naithani, restrained cable operators and multi-service operators from showing adult films in compliance with the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act.
Foreign Channels had managed a way out, stating that they beamed the signals from outside India and therefore were not covered by the Act.
However, in light of the Centre’s November ’05 Downlinking Guidelines, foreign broadcasters are now required to register themselves in India and comply with the Programme Code and Rules prescribed under the Cable TV Act. The Code and Rules prohibit the telecast of any material found “unsuitable for unrestricted public viewing” by the Censor Board.
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Justice RM Lodha and Justice SA Bobade clarified that only films certified with a U and U/A certificate by the Censor Board can be telecast. The court allowed telecast of U/A films after it was informed that such films fall in the category for unrestricted public viewing with a word of caution for parents of children below 12 years.
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