Past forward: I&B tells channels to cut adult content

The Ministry under Jaipal Reddy went a step further when they shot off a letter on August 10 this year, directing broadcasters to stop programmes unsuitable for children, after 6 pm and before 10 pm.

Officials today asked the channels to comply or threatened to revise their licences by disallowing companies to telecast programmes unless they were registered in India, and invoke powers under Section 20 of the Cable Act.

Broadly, the clauses under the section empower the Centre to prohibit the operation of any cable television network in the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India; security of India; friendly relations of India with any foreign state; or public order decency or morality — by notification in the Official Gazette.

Channels called in for the meeting were Star, ETC TV, MTV and the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF). Censor Board chairman Anupam Kher was also invited. He said he had written twice to channels asking them to stop airing adult content at times inappropriate for children. ‘‘I was glad the meeting was called today. We might be able to work out a solution,’’ Kher said.

Kher has repeatedly expressed concern at music videos and adult movies on TV and has been pressing a larger role for the Censor Board. The IBF has been asked to work out guidelines by which channels registered with them conform to the programme code of the Cable Networks Regulation Act. IBF’s N.P. Nawani said: ‘‘The broadcasters aligned with IBF, broadly conform to the programme code of the country. It’s the other channels, who are not members, who transgress the code.’’

Other broadcasters present also said they were conforming to the programme code.