The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting today issued an advisory regarding guidelines which mandate private broadcasters to undertake public service broadcasting for 30 minutes every day.
In an announcement, the Ministry said the advisory incorporating its “Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022” dated 9th November, 2022, has been issued after taking inputs from the broadcasters.
The Ministry said: “The Guidelines, among other things, require private broadcasters to undertake public service broadcasting for 30 minutes every day.”
“In this regard, the Ministry undertook extensive consultations with private satellite TV channel Broadcasters and their Associations,” the announcement said.
Through the “Advisory,” the Ministry has clarified that the relevant content embedded in the programmes being telecast can be accounted for by Public Service Broadcasting.
“It is also clarified that the content need not be of 30 minutes at a stretch and could be spread over smaller time slots and requires the broadcaster to submit a monthly report online on the Broadcast Seva Portal,” the Ministry said.
The theme for the broadcasting should comprise content of national importance and of social relevance, including education and spread of literacy; agriculture and rural development; health and family welfare; science and technology; welfare of women; welfare of the weaker sections of the society; protection of environment and of cultural heritage; and national integration.
The “Advisory” seeks to achieve the objective of Public Service Broadcasting by private satellite TV channels through voluntary compliance and self-certification, the announcement said.
A copy of the “Advisory” is available on the website of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
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