The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) seeks to push indigenous manufacturing of broadcasting equipment, research & development, affordable television services and promotion of Indian content on OTTs, via the proposed National Broadcasting Policy, 2024.
The focus on these aspects, the regulator feels, is key for the country to have a competitive broadcasting ecosystem amid emergence of new technologies such as metaverse, convergence of devices, roll-out of faster 5G services, and lower data prices.
On Tuesday, Trai issued a consultation paper seeking inputs for formulation of National Broadcasting Policy-2024. This comes after the regulator received comments from the stakeholders on in a pre-consultation phase on the subject. The stakeholders can send their comments on the latest paper by April 30.
“This consultation paper aims to enable formulation of a national policy that would unleash the scope and reach of the broadcasting sector to become a torch bearer of ‘Create in India’ and ‘Brand India’,” Trai said. “The consultation intends to target broad roadmap for next 10 years with special focus on next 5 years,” Trai added.
Through the policy, the government is aiming to address the challenges posed due to technological advancements, security issues, particularly in content distribution by implementing measures to combat piracy, unauthorized distribution, and ensure copyright protection.
The plan is also to improve public broadcasting services and provide affordable television services in ‘TV Dark’ homes.
Other focus areas of the policy include making India a preferred filming
destination, promoting Indian content by utilising OTT platforms, developing ecosystem for animation, VFX and post-
production, skill development, grievance redressal mechanism in the sector, audience management and rating system, online gaming, among other things.
In the consultation paper, Trai has sought comments on 20 questions. The topics include – strategy to boost universal reach, indigenous manufacturing, skill development and startups ecosystem in the broadcasting sector; policy measures needed for creation and expansion of quality Indian content; measure to strengthen Prasar Bharti; growth of Indian regional content, among other issues.