Govt to have final say on TV content?

Even as the formation of the 13-member regulatory body to monitor television content in channels is in its final stages, the government is keen to retain the final say as far as content goes.

Even as the formation of the 13-member regulatory body to monitor television content in channels is in its final stages, the government is keen to retain the final say as far as content goes.

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"The regulatory body, the Broadcast Content Complaints Council (BCCC), will be ready by the first week of May. It will get 21 days to act on any complaint. The information and broadcasting ministry will wait-and-watch over the functioning and will step in and ask the BCCC why it hasn't acted within the stipulated time," a government source told the Hindustan Times.

The proposed functioning framework of the BCCC is indicative of the government's keenness to retain the final word on what is being aired. As of now, there is no censor board for TV.

"Any member of the public can complain to the BCCC, which will be headed by a retired Supreme Court or high court judge and will comprise four members from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), four eminent civil society personalities, one member each from National Commission for Women, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and a representative from the affected party," the source added.

The BCCC's mandate is to weed out objectionable, sensitive and vulgar TV content.