Advisory to telecast “public service content” released by ministry of information and broadcasting

• The guidelines were stipulated in the new uplinking-downlinking rules prescribed by the ministry on November 9 last year.
• The fresh advisory was issued after consultations with private satellite television channels and their associations.

Key features

Content

• Channel will undertake public service broadcasting for a minimum period of 30 minutes in a day on themes of national importance and of social relevance like education, welfare of women, protection of environment and of cultural heritage etc.
• Broadcasters have the liberty to modulate their content.
• Content can be shared between the Broadcasters.

Accounting of Timing

• Channels will be required to air national interest content for 15 hours every month.
• Content need not be of 30 minutes at a stretch it can be split over smaller time slots, but can’t be done from midnight to 6 am.

Reporting

• Voluntary compliance and self-certification would be the guiding principles.
• Broadcasters shall submit a monthly report on the Broadcast Seva Portal by the 7th of the following month.
• Exemptions
  • Foreign channels, downhinking in India (in languages other than those specified in the Eighth schedule of Constitution).
  • Channels broadcasting predominantly (more than 12 hours) sports and devotional, spiritual, yoga content will be exempt from furnishing the monthly reports.

Identification

• Electronic Media Monitoring Centre under Ministry shall keep the record of the content telecast for a period of 90 days.