The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Thursday issued a pre-consultation paper on the framework and issues to be considered for forming the National Broadcasting Policy.
According to Trai, a policy is needed as the broadcasting sector is also undergoing unprecedented changes due to evolving technologies similar to the telecom sector. Moreover, there are social or behavioural changes in viewing patterns and viewers way
of consuming entertainment.
Therefore, a policy can provide a channelised approach for the sector and provide appropriate impetus for development, Trai said. Another reason for coming with a broadcast policy is to provide a common approach for licences, oversight, and compliances. Currently, the sector is governed by service specific Act, rules and guidelines for various licence/ registration/ permission issued from time to time.
In the pre-consultation, Trai has sought comments on public service broadcasting in India including its requirement, relevance, and review, as well as content priority including promotion of local content. The regulator also asked stakeholders inputs on how to simplify the policy and regulatory framework as well as adopt modernised framework for different broadcasting services such as satellite broadcasting, terrestrial television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, print media, and digital media.
Some of the key issues which Trai brought out in the pre-consultation paper are – need for incentives to promote local content through television programmes, framework for systematic and legal redressal for piracy and copyright, and establishing a broadcasting Standard Development Organisation as an autonomous body for experimentation and innovation.
Lately, the industry has been demanding a specific regulator for the broadcasting sector. Therefore, Trai will also explore the need for a separate regulator for broadcasting services and the required statutory and organisational structure of such regulator through the pre-consultation process.
Among other things, Trai has sought comments on enabling convergence of IT, telecom and broadcasting. It pressed for the need of establishing a unified policy framework and spectrum management regime for broadcast and broadband technologies.
The National Broadcasting Policy is also expected to frame guidelines for having a credible Audience Measurement System, besides focusing on the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) segment.
The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has already held consultations with stakeholder ministries on the National Broadcasting Policy. Trai, being the sector regulator, will now follow a consultation process to share its recommendation on the policy with the government.
According to a report by EY and Ficci, the Indian Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector grew 19.9% in 2022 to Rs 2.1 trillion from Rs 1.75 trillion in 2021. The sector is expected to reach Rs 2.83 trillion in 2025 with a growth of 10%. Television is one of the largest and fastest growing segments of the media and entertainment sector. It represents around 35% of the total M&E revenue.