Govt forms cell to keep an eye on TV content

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Sarkari survelliance of television content has begun, despite strong misgivings of the electronic media which has expressed fears of restrictions being imposed on a free media.

The government on Monday launched an Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) that can simultaneously track over 120 commercial television channels. The centre is located at Prasar Bharati office in IP Estate and will allow the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry to monitor content in the Indian skies.

The EMMC has a budget of Rs 20 crore for the next five years and will expand to 200 channels in the second phase. The Centre is currently manned by 35 people who will be checking for programmes that violate the ministry's code.

They will receive content through Direct-to home (DTH), cable services and C-band antennae. "This will be a first step in independent monitoring of programmes aired in India. We have so far been dependent on TV channels for material," an official said.

The project was inaugurated by I&B secretary Asha Swaroop on Monday. Ministry official pointed out that the centre will help in gathering "evidence" required by the ministry in cases of complaints on violations of programming code.

Govt forms cell to keep an eye on TV content-India-The Times of India