03-28-2005, 12:37 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->TV channel gets a month to clean up obscenity
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
In a decision that may become the precursor for formulation of tough law to check telecast of obscenity on small screen, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has revoked for a month the licence given to the channel Cine World for showing obscene English feature films.
The I&B Ministry had on Thursday issued a notice to Cine World, a Mumbai-based entertainment channel and simultaneously suspended their licence. "The channel will not be allowed to uplink during this period. Let them first explain why their licence should not be permanently terminated," said a Ministry official.
Pointing out that the Government has repeatedly asked the TV channels for self-regulation, the official said that Cine World was violating provisions of Cinematography Act and the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act 1995.
Even as the Government has strongly hinted in recent weeks at establishment of a separate authority to monitor content on the web and on TV channels, the action against the cable channel has been described as a first step. Sources said that the licence of the Mumbai-based channel could be permanently revoked if it did not change its ways.
The action followed complaints received from several women's groups, consumer groups and educationists about telecast of obscene material on TV channels. Cine World was launched about a year ago offering English films sourced mainly from Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong and some of the smaller Hollywood studios. It also offered regular blockbusters from Bollywood.
Meanwhile, sources said that the ministry is seized with the reply of India TV, which has also been show-caused for showing a 'steamy' sting operation involving three Bihar politicians.
The notice came in the wake of a case filed in the Patiala House courts by one of the former MPs featured in the programme. Sources said India TV had already replied to the show cause notice and action would depend on whether the reply was found satisfactory or not.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
In a decision that may become the precursor for formulation of tough law to check telecast of obscenity on small screen, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has revoked for a month the licence given to the channel Cine World for showing obscene English feature films.
The I&B Ministry had on Thursday issued a notice to Cine World, a Mumbai-based entertainment channel and simultaneously suspended their licence. "The channel will not be allowed to uplink during this period. Let them first explain why their licence should not be permanently terminated," said a Ministry official.
Pointing out that the Government has repeatedly asked the TV channels for self-regulation, the official said that Cine World was violating provisions of Cinematography Act and the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act 1995.
Even as the Government has strongly hinted in recent weeks at establishment of a separate authority to monitor content on the web and on TV channels, the action against the cable channel has been described as a first step. Sources said that the licence of the Mumbai-based channel could be permanently revoked if it did not change its ways.
The action followed complaints received from several women's groups, consumer groups and educationists about telecast of obscene material on TV channels. Cine World was launched about a year ago offering English films sourced mainly from Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong and some of the smaller Hollywood studios. It also offered regular blockbusters from Bollywood.
Meanwhile, sources said that the ministry is seized with the reply of India TV, which has also been show-caused for showing a 'steamy' sting operation involving three Bihar politicians.
The notice came in the wake of a case filed in the Patiala House courts by one of the former MPs featured in the programme. Sources said India TV had already replied to the show cause notice and action would depend on whether the reply was found satisfactory or not.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->