The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on April 2 launched a second consultation to seek inputs on the National Broadcasting Policy, which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting seeks to put out later this year. A pre-consultation on the policy had been held by TRAI last year.
The consultation seeks inputs on the broad objectives of the consultation; suggestions on measuring the broadcast industry’s contributions to the economy; strategies to improve TV access in households and boost local manufacturing of broadcast equipment; improve India’s standing as an “uplinking hub” to attract foreign broadcasters; strengthening Doordarshan and All India Radio parent Prasar Bharati; upskilling broadcast industry workers and encouraging local content; and updating policy and regulatory frameworks.
The policy is likely to expand the ambit of broadcasting from linear television to streaming and online gaming. The I&B Ministry’s draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 has suggested more stringent controls on streaming services, something the Delhi-based Internet Freedom Foundation said “will have serious consequences for online free speech and artistic creativity”.
