New Delhi: The government, which is holding
discussions with broadcasters to find a way for improving
content creation, on Friday indicated that self-regulation should
be the "first step" for them.
"Broadcasters should practice self-regulation. We are in
talks with broadcasters on how to device ways to improve
content creation. However, I would like to clarify that even
as our discussions continue, the government does not favour
imposing any law or ban on media and self-regulation should be
their first step," Information and Broadcasting Minister
Ambika Soni told reporters here.
Earlier, inaugurating an exhibition on broadcast
engineers, she said the ministry is committed to improving the
technology used by Doordarshan and All India Radio.
"As Doordarshan is the official broadcaster of the
forthcoming Commonwealth Games and it would be showing the
event on high definition (HD) format, HDTV has to be and is
going to be in place before the Games commences," she said.
Soni said though many countries in the world have
switched to digital mode of broadcasting, India is still
dependent on analog system of transmission and therefore,
there should be a deadline for such a shift.
"Worldwide, there has been a complete switch over to
digital services from analog system by many countries.
However, India has not officially declared its switch over
date. We are looking at sometime around 2017 to do so, but as
yet there is no final date. It is felt that there should be a
definite deadline on this," she said.
Soni said the much-delayed third phase rollout of FM
radio stations would be done by the end of the current
financial year and that the government is also giving a
"serious thought" to a policy on mobile TV.
The minister said she has asked the Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI) "to look at an apparatus to help the
ministry rationalise the fight for TRPs".
She had earlier written to TRAI seeking its views on how
to rationalise the number of TV channels that have sought
permissions for starting operations.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 29, 2010, 15:30