India’s authorities on Friday invited suggestions and feedback on the Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, which was launched on the identical day to modernize the regulatory framework for broadcasting providers, together with Over-the-Top(OTT) content material.  Releasing the draft invoice, the Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur wrote:

This pivotal laws modernizes our broadcasting sector’s regulatory framework, changing outdated Acts, Rules, and Guidelines with a unified, future-focused strategy. It adapts to the dynamic world of OTT, Digital Media, DTH, IPTV, and extra, selling technological development and repair evolution.

Thakur additionally mentioned that the invoice goals to advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s imaginative and prescient for “Ease of Doing Business” and “Ease of Living.” The new invoice would regulate OTT content material, digital information and present affairs and is split into 48 sections, with six chapters and three schedules. It would substitute the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995 and different Policy Guidelines presently governing broadcasting within the nation.

For practically thirty years, the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995 has been the principal legislation governing content material on linear broadcasting, which incorporates cable networks. With the technological developments, there have been substantial modifications to the broadcasting panorama which officers say necessitate the introduction of latest legal guidelines that present a consolidated regulatory framework. According to Thakur, the brand new laws replaces antiquated acts, laws, and tips with a “futuristic focused approach,” modernizing the regulatory framework for the broadcasting trade.

The invoice seeks to enhance self-regulation by creating Content Evaluation Committees and modifying the already present Inter-Departmental Committee right into a extra participative and broader Broadcast Advisory Council. The Broadcast Advisory Council can be established to supply steering to the federal government on violations of the programme and promoting codes, and would encompass distinguished people and officers, led by a sectoral specialist. Officials argue that these two our bodies are key for strengthening self-regulation and fostering inclusive decision-making inside the new platforms. 

Moreover, the proposed invoice would topic operators and broadcasters to statutory fines, which might embrace advisory, warning, censure, or financial penalties. In what proponents of the invoice say is a balanced strategy to regulation, the choice for imprisonment and/or fines will nonetheless be out there, however just for severe offenses. Any monetary penalties and fines could be linked to the monetary capability of the entity, considering their funding and turnover. 

Earlier in 2021, the Information technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 was launched by the Indian Government to manage the the social media platforms, digital media platforms and the OTT platforms.