Broadcasting sector requires light-touch regulatory regime, says IBDF president

The Indian broadcasting sector requires a “light-touch” regulatory regime for orderly growth, said K Madhavan, president of the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF).

The sector is experiencing a crisis as many consumers at the top end of the pay-TV spectrum opt for video streaming services, while those at the bottom move to free-to-air platforms, resulting in a subscription revenue squeeze. Also, advertisement revenues are yet to recover from last year’s Covid disruptions.

Madhavan told ET a few days after his re-election that the previous year had been “very hard” and that the IBDF had “sensitised the government about the rising challenges, with both subscription and ad revenues hitting new lows.”