NBA urges MIB to incorporate its self-regulatory mechanism in Cable TV rules

The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has urged the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) to incorporate its code of ethics and redressal regulations in the Programme Code under the Cable TV Rules.

NBA president and India TV chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma noted that the self-regulatory model has worked well in the last 10 years since the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA).

The NBSA, which is an independent body set up by the NBA that adjudicates complaints about TV news content, will be completing ten years on 2 October.

“When we look back at these ten years, more than anything, it is the commitment of the news broadcasters to the “self-regulatory system” and not to impose upon itself government regulations, which made it such an excellent model,” Sharma said in a message in the NBA’s 2017-18 annual report.

He further noted that the commitment by members to accept an entirely voluntary system has enabled the NBSA to deal effectively with all content related issues.

Sharma also pointed out that the NBSA has handled over 2777 complaints and rendered several decisions/ orders. “The NBSA can firmly proclaim that it has fulfilled its obligations to its members and to the public,” he added.

He also lauded the efforts of late Justice (Retd) J. S. Verma, the first Chairperson of NBSA and the present Chairperson Justice (Retd) R.V. Raveendran in making NBSA a successful body.

“I hope the Government would now after seeing how effectively self-regulation has worked in the last decade accept the long standing demand of NBA to recognize the Code of Ethics and the Redressal Regulations of NBA and make it part of the Programme Code under the Cable TV Rules,” he averred.

The NBA represents the private television news & current affairs broadcasters. It has presently 29 leading news and current affairs broadcasters (comprising 71 news and current affairs channels) as its members.

Sharma said that the NBA is heard at the highest levels in the government on issues concerning the news genre has thanks to it being a unified voice of the news broadcasters.

He further stated that submissions/ views given by NBA are given due consideration while formulating polices /recommendations by the government, TRAI and other bodies.

“I would like to mention the unstinting support we have received during the year from the PMO in finding solutions to critical industry issues. The intervention by the PMO has been invaluable,” Sharma stated.

The NBA president also urged the MIB to resolve the issue pertaining to DAVP ads. The news broadcasters have stopped accepting DAVP advertisements for more than a year as the rates offered are unviable.

“In view of the huge viewership/ reach that the news genre commands, MIB should address this issue urgently to facilitate the widest possible coverage for the advertisements relating to the achievements and policies of the Government,” he said.

Sharma also rued the fact that the news broadcasting industry is yet to see the benefits of cable TV digitisation of cable TV services as carriage and placement fees continue to burn a hole in the pocket of news channels.

“We continue to be burdened with huge carriage fees, placement fees, and other fees, which is impacting our finances and survival. Implementation of the regulations is key to the success of digitisation. We hope that the TRAI would do what is necessary in this regard,” he stated.

Sharma also highlighted the issue of lack of interest from the regional broadcasters to become NBA members. He hoped that the regional broadcasters will see also value in being members of NBA.

“Every news broadcaster should voluntarily join the NBA to make it a unified voice of the news genre. NBA Board during the year under report decided to grant Associate membership to digital broadcasters and we hope digital broadcasters in the news genre will join the NBA,” he contended.