Draft bill proposed to replace the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday released the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 for public consultation. The proposed regulation, once passed in Parliament, will replace the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, which has served as the primary legislation for linear content since 1995. The new bill aims to create a consolidated legal framework for the broadcasting sector, including new-age platforms such as over-the-top (OTT) players.

In a message on X (earlier Twitter), I&B minister Anurag Thakur said the proposed legislation was in line with the government’s ‘ease of doing business’ policy.