Broadcasters want OTT to be kept outside broadcast bill’s purview

The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) has urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to exclude OTT platforms from the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill 2023, as they are distinct from linear broadcasting platforms.

The IBDF, which represents top broadcasters like Disney Star, Zee, Sony, and Viacom18, proposed that the programme code and advertisement code should be included in the draft bill for consultation, while the MIB suggested that they be prescribed later.

The IBDF argued that clubbing linear TV with OTT would constitute ‘reverse discrimination’ and violate Article 14 of the constitution, as unequals cannot be treated equally.