Govt orders cable operators not to air unregistered channels
PANJIM, AUG 24
In what could be termed as tactics to threaten local channels, the Government has ordered the Cable TV Operators not to carry or include in their cable service any television broadcast or channel, which has not been registered by the Central Government.
An order issued by the Director of Information Menino Peres states “the State Government has ordered all cable TV operators operating within the State to abide to the provision of Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 and the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and not carry or include in their cable service any television broadcast or channel, which has not been registered by the Central Government for being viewed within the territory of India”.
The order further states that it has been issued under Rule 6 (6) of the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 and the Cable TV Operators in the State have been directed to furnish an affidavit within 30 days that they were complying with the legal provisions as laid down in the Cable Television Network Rules and the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act.
The order issued to operators has cautioned that the Cable TV operators found contravening the provisions of the Central Act and rules are liable to face imprisonment for a term that could extend to two years or with a fine which would be Rs 1,000 or with both. For every subsequent offence the imprisonment would extend upto five years and fine which might extend to Rs 5,000.
The order also mentions the programmes/contents fall within the ambit of television broadcast in terms of Section 2 (g) (i) and (ii) which include (i) exhibition of films, features, dramas, advertisements and serials through video cassette recorders or video cassette players & (ii) any audio or visual or audio-visual live performance or presentation, and the expression “programme service” shall be construed accordingly.
Recently, the Digambar Kamat-led Government had come in for severe criticism from the local media including the news channels, over the drugs nexus issue and several other alleged scams unearthed by Opposition. Channel owners, who did not want to be named, said this is a bid to threaten them.
When contacted by Herald, Secretary Information and Publicity Narendra Kumar said that there was no attempt to ban local news channel.
“We are just asking the cable operators to follow central rules and nothing else”, Kumar clarified.
When pointed out that the circular will affect all the local channels as they are not registered with the Central Government since they are not satellite channels, he replied “I can’t answer your questions now…”.
Although the secretary did not clear the doubts the Director Information and Publicity Menino Peres stated that the order will not affect local channels.
“The local channels operating in Goa are not satellite channels but service providers and hence will not be affected by the order”, he said.
